Knowing multiple languages

[Shaker]

Doh 

[SusanDoris]

I was lucky that I was able to mimic accents, loved learning French and Spanish and was fluent in both at one time ... ... long ago now!
One of the problems for the English is that,. if they want to learn a foreign language, which one to choose? Almost all other countries in the world choose Engllish as a second language.
I have two nephews who are bi-lingual in Japanese and English, and one has been to University in China and Japan in order to have Chinese as a third language. That will give him access to many interesting careers I should think.

[Rhiannon]

Yes, I think the old options of French or German are outdated. For business Asian languages are probably a good choice and for travel, Spanish is a good option.

[Robbie]

It's still very useful to be fluent in European languages but I agree, 'Asian' languages (eg Mandarin) are wonderful and on the up and up. I looked up a nearby comprehensive and they offer 'Chinese' as an 'enhancement'. Other schools have been doing Mandarin for nearly a decade. Wish I had had the opportunity but glad others do now.

I'm impressed by people who have learned conversational dialects, would love to (including Yiddish!). So useful at work and when travelling (I don't do extensive travel but plenty of others do). Still i'm not especially skilled at languages beyond O level, except for being good at my own (prob'ly doesn't show here :-), where I'm careless), doesn't bother me but iwould certainly encourage younger ones.(My younger one & niece who went to same school were offered Mandarin - not to exam level- and niece took to it like a duck to water!)

[Shaker]

I'm impressed by people who have learned conversational dialects, would love to (including Yiddish!).

So nu, bubbelah. Vos makht a yid? A goldeneh shlisl eften alle tirn ☺