The only language we need is English?

http://www.lingq.com/

Steve of LingQ.com and The Linguist on Language Blog talks about how useful it is to learn languages, especially languages other than English.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• LingQ
• language
• foreign
• speaking
• output
• input
• learn
• English
• online

[orangeroomstudios]

@lingosteve Steve, perhaps you could address a related issue. You suggest that the prospect of using business English is not as effective as interesting content (I agree), and yet globally English is spoken by more non-native speakers than native speakers. What is motivating all of them to learn effectively? Are the numbers off somewhere? Or is it possible that Japan is an exception, and that South Korea, possibly, is rather evidence that utility does motivate (or "force") learning?

[lingosteve]

@orangeroomstudios utility, or relevance, is a strong motivator. In Europe it is just accepted that any educated person should speak English. Furthermore Europe is awash in English speaking culture. It is also a very useful lingua franca for the many languages there. That relevance and utility is less evident in Asia. I still feel that people who develop a strong liking for some aspect of English, even in Asia, do better.

[theflyingcat11]

You're such an arrogant, ignorant person...You sound like nothing more than a megalomaniac with delusions of grandeur...I have a business too, and Mandarin (Chinese) and Spanish are growing in importance! Mandarin s the 1st most spoken language on earth, then Spanish comes 2nd and English which is decreasing in numbers comes at number 3....Get your facts straight mate....Our language english is going downhill just like Latin did...You r still living in the 16 century...Stop being racist!

[lingosteve]

@theflyingcat11 Racist? Stop being racist? Facts? A lot of people, and not just English native speakers feel that English is all you need. But if you listen to the video you will see that I don't. Grow up.

[theflyingcat11]

@lingosteve Well you seem to have selective memory...A lot of people don't agree with you. What's more there a billions of people who would disagree with all the crap you said said...Stop trying to embelish your stupid points by embeleshing your claims, trying to sound sophisticated....The fact is that more than 90% of the world's population cannot speak or understand english....English is in declined mate...Just like Latin was the international language of the ancient world, it will also godown

[lingosteve]

@theflyingcat11 have you listened to the video? Besides is trying to insult people the only way you have of expressing your views. Grow up.

[lingosteve]

@ryudo2052 Did you listen to the video?

[lingosteve]

@ryudo2052 I am surprised you would take the title at face value if you have been following my videos. If you watch the video you will see why I think we should all learn languages, which is what I have said all along.

[joseangel28]

+1000.000.000 points Steve.

[Rikman56]

Perhaps if this video had a question mark after the heading it would be less confusing to people.

[orangeroomstudios]

People, listen to the guy before commenting. He's breaking down his title and explaining on the word "Necessity" in language learning.

1. English is currently the most useful language for international business. Knowing English and/or other languages helps form relationships, but is no substitute for core business skills, experience, character, etc.

2. This prospect of Utility or Importance does not motivate people to learn. Rather, Interesting Content is more engaging and effective.

[Uberjazz]

@theflyingcat11 In the future, before commenting on videos. Don't base your comment completely on the title and actually watch the video, it makes you look stupid.

[neoguy9090]

@theflyingcat11 lol i'm pretty sure the whole point of Steve's video is to point out why SHOULD learn other languages....

[theflyingcat11]

@spikeitfool1 I don't agree with you....

[spikeitfool1]

@theflyingcat11 This man in no way, shape, or form is "arrogant" "ignorant" "racist."



[heloizyjhenifer]

@theflyingcat11 How does it feel like to be a troll who can't watch a video before calling someone who learned languages from all over the world a racist? You don't need to grow up like Steve says, you need to hang yourself, mate. Nobody's your mate, mate. Continue arguing but do it with me, mate.