English language in Europe

[fathertime]

Thanks for asking, FT.  If your daughter has aptitude in language, at a young age any can pick up additional languages quickly.  To answer your question, he was fairly fluent after three semesters and a summer in Beijing.  However, he is a savant at languages.  Mandarin is one of five he speaks fluently.  It is always annoying to be talking on the phone and hear him say;  "Ne bood durakom!"  as he assaults my poor Russian language skills.  (He also lived for a summer in Russia, in the Golden Ring.)

It is much easier for anyone to learn languages at a young age, rather than as we begin our professional lives.  I first had Russian in college, yet remember it poorly from those years.

Will your daughter use her language skills to travel?  I would encourage her to be 'in country' to gain a cultural understanding of a section of the Spanish speaking world. 

I grew up in Wisconsin.  The number of young people who spent time overseas was miniscule compared to the number of foreign children that we had visiting our city, even in the Midwest.  I am afraid our ability to look outside our country is greatly hampered by the few of the next generation who have lived overseas and soaked up more than one culture.

Thanks Jone,


My girl isn't THAT great picking up languages...but she is a hard worker...Yeah we talked about using Mandarin going forward in business so that is the reasoning...and she has bought in to the idea...


We speak a lot of Spanish in the house, so there is a lot of natural exposure to the language.  Has your boy been able to put the 5 languages to use in terms of a career?


  I didn't use my ability as well as I should have when I was a kid, I wish I had because I always was able pick up and remember words well...thankfully I have my daughter's ear for now, so I'd like to strike while the iron is still hot. 


Fathertime!