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Tobias Hellwag--International BG Personality--Interview

Posted By: Chuck Bower
Date: Sunday, 11 September 2011, at 7:10 p.m.

In Response To: Tobias Hellwag--International BG Personality--Interview (Stick)

As I speak only English and German... -- Tobias

I love how the basically the rest of the world but most of Europe for sure phrases this sentence "I only speak two languages" whereas if you were an American you'd be a lot more 'proud' I guess is a nice way to put it. And when we say it generally that person doesn't speak it anywhere near as fluently as Tobias speaks English for eg. -- Stick

I could nitpick at some other things you said, but I'd rather choose one where I agree with your sentiment. (Having grown up in the second half of the 20th Century in the US) I am always both impressed and appreciative of how many people from around the world speak English "as a second language" so well. When foreigners come to the US, most here EXPECT them to speak English. When many of those same presumptuous people travel abroad they don't care to reciprocate, but rather EXPECT those in the country they visit to cater to their shortcomings. Seem hypocritical?

I've been told that some of the far Eastern languages are not easy for westerners to learn because they are so different than western languages. But the opposite is also true -- it is hard for those far Easterners to learn western languages, for the same reason. Two weeks ago our university backgammon club participated in an activities night to help students (especially new ones) to find some extra-curricular interests (besides drinking themselves into oblivion) to help rest from their academic pursuits. A couple Chinese girls came around we taught them backgammon. Their pronunciation wasn't great, but they understood alomst everything WE said, and they weren't afraid to ask us to explain when we occasionally used words they were unfamiliar with. (One was 'diversification, BTW. :) About three weeks prior to this night, they had never set foot outside of China.

I wish the US (elementary) educational attitude would learn from this. I'm not optimistic....

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