The BBC Newshour interviewed me about why English speakers are notoriously bad with foreign languages. The United Kingdom is losing $11 billion to $26 billion a year because it doesn’t have enough foreign language speakers to service its export markets.
Why is language learning so difficult for English speakers?
I explained that music is a huge element in learning languages and that in the English speaking world, we hear little foreign music. Therefore, our ears aren’t used to the sounds of other tongues. We also have to find something we love in the other language. Our heart has to resonate to the language.
Find music, TV, movies, radio programs and other media that you LIKE in your target language and learn.
No foreign language knowledge means fewer job opportunities. Foreign language skills = money.
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Very interesting post!
Well, one of the main issues – as a non-native English spearker myself – is the fact that English IS in fact an international language and other people (whether from an equally developed country or not) are much more likely to learn English than to teach it. I could go as far as to hint to imperial history, but, then again, then we should all be speaking Mandarin Chinese by now…