Languages...

[Lebanese_dream]

Most of Lebaneses speak fluently three languages : French, Arabic and English.

If you have the opportunity to learn new languages, which one will it be? and why?

[Fragrance of Roses]

I speak English, Arabic, and Spanish (mas o menos).

I am really interested in learning French, Farsi, Italian, and definietly Hebrew.
I wanted to take a few Hebrew classes at the university which I graduated from, but my parents discouraged me.

I need the Italian for my studies in poetics, and Farsi as well. Farsi should be very easy to learn since it is close to Arabic in many aspects... I love French for its eloquence, elegance, and classiness...

One thing for sure:

My Hatred for Arabic is Innate.
My Hatred for Spanish is acquired.
My love for French is Innate.
My love for English is acquired.

Here you go! My two cents on this... :)

[mephisto794]

I took a couple of Latin language courses (that was some 10 years ago)
It is a key language for learning many languages , mainly Spanish and Italian (and French for those who don't speak french already)

Obviously then, i like to learn Italian anf Spanish... i can't tell why, but there is that charm surrounding them... and their poetic accent is quite appealing.

More rationnally, i have interest to learn the 'itchy' German language, which would be a good asset for me in my current job.

[El]

7elwe mephisto! i love to learn latin, italian and armenian.in fact, every language is interesting to learn!

[Lebanese_dream]

I am able to speak french, english and arabic.

This year I am obliged to learn Two languages other than English.

The first one should be between the German and the Spanish
And the second between Hebrew, Italian and Chinese.

I choose Spanish and Chinese! Yes Chinese, because I believe that China will be a very powerful country later on and I will need this language because of my major in business, trade and finance.

[Stella]

Its a very valuable asset that the average Lebanese speak 3 languages, especially on the international market. In other countries its already good if people know an other language than their mother tongue.

As for me, English was my first foreign language, then German, due to my country's german orientation.
My 3rd one is Spanish, how I love it, I would want to continue with it by all means, but as for now am concentrating on Arabic rather.
French is a must language for me, I shall learn it, but I dont really like it.
After Arabic I plan to learn Turkish, maybe Farsi as well.

Anybody who needs Hungarian language lessons?:p

[beirutiye]

I like to learn spanish italian and hebrew and i already have started.

[mephisto794]

Originally Posted by Lebanese_dream

I choose Spanish and Chinese! Yes Chinese, because I believe that China will be a very powerful country later on and I will need this language because of my major in business, trade and finance.

Lebanese_dream, allow me to disagree on a little detail:

It is true that China is a rising economy, yet is not a promising one....

and worst -> learning Chinese would not help you much on the market field, for many reasons :
- They don't have just one chinese language! am not just talking about dialects, but the language varies greatly from one region to another in China.

- They rely on English language (Ok, it is rather a 'bad' english they use..) in the B2B communication

- Chinese suffer a lot from a lack of organization (on personal level), and of liberty of behaviour on the professional level (very strong hierarchy).



Thus, any communication you might have with a chinese person will be limited by a great deal of boundaries and will not give the expected results.



(I have read a little about intercultural management, and i had the opportunity to deal with a couple of major chinese companies, this is why i allowed myself to reply.)

[Fragrance of Roses]

Originally Posted by Stella

Anybody who needs Hungarian language lessons?:p

I know Hungarian! I sing "Dragosta Din Tei" in Hungarian! (Hope I spelled that correctly) :P:D

Actually, I have to agree with Mephisto... there are many Chinese dialects out there and also Cantonese and Mandarin (supposedly the two major languages in China) tremendeously differ from each other...

Learning Chinese might help you with learning about the literature but not much about the economy...

[Lebanese_dream]

Originally Posted by AbirWard

I know Hungarian! I sing "Dragosta Din Tei" in Hungarian! (Hope I spelled that correctly) :P:D

Actually, I have to agree with Mephisto... there are many Chinese dialects out there and also Cantonese and Mandarin (supposedly the two major languages in China) tremendeously differ from each other...

Learning Chinese might help you with learning about the literature but not much about the economy...

I know all that! Mine will be the mandarin that most of chinese know!
I am not seeking to work in China but over europe, knowing exotic language is a criteria for recruiters to give you a job! Especially now, they are asking more and more for Chinese and Japanese.
Even if i will never use it, it is a very good plus in a CV because nowadays all the students have degrees and it is your originality and your personnality which will help you to take the job! And now after asking several CEO in france, they encourage me to go through chinese because it is a good tool to find a job and a plus because taking italian is so familiar so it won't be a plus!
Then beginning at the same time italian and Spanish will be a real catastrophe cuz ha khabbes it's so similar! So once i will know how to speak spanish, i will atack italian...
That's all....