6 Minute English - Learn a thousand foreign words

Your Chinese is very impressive Finn. But I want  how many Chinese words do you know? A thousand perhaps.

You are just showing off now, aren't you. Not being able to speak foreign language is a bit of British trait, or particular British characteristic. We are not very good at it although Finn is an exception. He can speak many foreign languages, can't you.

Well, not many. A bit of German, some French, Portuguese, Chinese of course. A bit of Japanese.

I'm very impressive. Well not the rest of us British are being encouraged to learn at least a thousand words of another language. We'll talk more about that soon but before I start learning my new words, how about a question Finn.

Do you know which is the second most spoken language in England? Is it
a) Polish
b) XXXX
c) French

I think I know this one, Rob. I am going to say a) Polish.

OK. As always I will let you know the answer at the end of programme.  So as I mention, the British are generally considered to be lazy linguist. They just don't brother to learn another language.

I guess the main reason is the when British people travel around the world, they find English is spoken almost everywhere. So they get by. They survive on just reason the native language.

I think in the past, the education system is blame. Learning a foreign language was not composery. It didn't have to study. When I was in the school, we didn't have to study languages to examine level. So I took a easy option and studied photography and French. Of course I regret now. What wasn't I was in the same field, Finn?

First, I didn't really like it. But you know, I love words and then one day I discovered the Chinese language. I thought it's fantastic and the key to holding culture.

Well, recently a campaign was launched for those of us who didn't show enthusiasm or have opportunity to learn another language.  The one thousand words campaign is encouraging everyone in the UK to learn at least a thousand of another language. It helps the England increase international trait.

Then a group says the vocabulary of 1000 words will allow speaker to hold a simple conservation.

Sounds like a good idea.

Let's hear from a former England football MTV presenter XXXXX who supporting the campaign. Can you hear what three things he says learning other language gives you.

I think it gives you  a self satisfactions and self esteem if you can speak other language when you traveling. I think it also gives you an aging a lot of different area in the world place. Not just football.

So  XXXX there are three things gives you. And it gives you self satisfaction firstly. He means  you feel good about learning a new skill. But it can't have a negative meaning. So self satisfaction than you are smart or please yourself.

Yes. He also says improve self esteem. Feel good about yourself and boost your confidence. Imagine going holiday to Spain and being able to converse with its speakers too, the locals.

Feels good. And he also mentions the economic benefit speaking an other language. It gives you the edge in the world place. That means it gives you advantage. Especially if you are dealing with foreign companies.

And it also shows politeness and respect for other people. But showing you made the effort.

It something another football player XXXX has tried to do. Last year he signed for a XXXXX. So he tried to master or to be very good at speaking Spanish. So he could talked to his fans. This is how he get on.

I think he was saying it was his dream to play for XXXXX.

Rob, your Spanish is very impressive too there. Well, XXX speaking Spanish will help him fit in. Perhaps making more accept by his teammate and his fans.

But Finn, I'm going to have a dilemma. There are so many languages in the world to learn. Which one should I learn first.

Maybe  you can start with UK's second most spoken language. How about the question I post to you early.

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Your Chinese is very impressive good Finn but I want wonder how many more Chinese words do you know? 1,000 perhaps?

You're just showing off now, aren't you. off! Not being able to speak a foreign language is a bit of a British trait – or a particular British characteristic. We're not very good at it although Finn is an exception, he can speak many foreign languages, can't you?

Well, not Not that many – a bit of German, some French, Portuguese, Polish a little, Chinese of course, a bit of Japanese. Hokkien, a bit of Japanese… That's about it.

I'm very impressive. Well not impressed Finn. Well, now the rest of us British Brits are being encouraged to learn at least a 1,000 words of another language. We'll talk more about that soon but before I start learning my new words, how about a question Finn?

Do you know which is the second most spoken language in England? Is it: a) Polish b) XXXX Urdu c) French

I think I know this one, Rob. I'm going to say a) Polish.

OK. OK, well, as always I'll let you know the answer at the end of programme. So, as I mentioned, the British are generally considered to be lazy linguist linguists – they just don't bother to learn another language.

I guess the main reason is the that when British people travel around the world they find that English is spoken almost everywhere – so they get by – they survive on just reason the using their native language.

I think, in the past, the education system is was also to blame. Learning a foreign language was not composery – it didn't have to compulsory – it didn't have to be studied - when I was in the went to school, we didn't have to study languages to examine exam level – so I took a the easy option and studied photography and instead of French! Of But of course I regret it now. What But that wasn't I was in the same field, for you Finn?

First, At first I didn't really like it but you know, I love words, and then one day I discovered the Chinese language and I thought this was fascinating, and the it's a key to holding a whole new culture.

Well, recently a campaign was launched for those of us who didn't show share your enthusiasm or have the opportunity to learn another language. The one 1,000 Words campaign is encouraging everyone in the UK to learn at least 1,000 words of another language. It helps the England hopes to help Britain increase international trait. trade.

Then a The group says the that a vocabulary of 1,000 words will would allow a speaker to hold a simple conversation. It sounds like a good idea.

Let's hear from a the former England football MTV presenter XXXXX footballer and TV presenter, Gary Lineker, who is supporting the campaign. Can you hear what three things he says learning other another language gives you?

I think it gives you a I think it gives you self-satisfaction and self-esteem if you can speak other another language when you you're travelling. I think it also gives you an aging edge in a lot of different area areas in theworld place. Not workplace, not just football.

So XXXX So Gary Lineker says there are three things it gives you; and it gives you selfsatisfaction it gives you selfsatisfaction, firstly. He means you feel good about learning a new skill. But it can't can have a negativemeanin meaning – So self-satisfaction - than you are smart that you are smug or please pleased with yourself. I don't think he means that here though.

He also says it improves self-esteem – so you feel good about yourself and it boosts your confidence. Imagine going on holiday to Spain and being able to converse with its speakers too, – or speak to – the locals.

It feels good! And he also mentioned the economic benefits of speaking another language; it gives you the edge in the world place. workplace. That means it gives you an other language. advantage, especially if you are dealing with foreign companies.

And it also shows politeness and respect for other people But by showing you have made the an effort.

It's something another football player XXXX footballer, Gareth Bale, has tried to do. Last year he signed for a XXXXX Real Madrid so he tried to master – or to be very good at – speaking Spanish so he could talk to his fans. This is how he get got on:

I think he was saying it was his dream to play for XXXXX. Real Madrid.

Rob, your Spanish is very impressive too there. Well, XXX For Gareth Bale, speaking Spanish will help him fit in – perhaps making make him more accepted by his teammates and his fans. But Finn, I'm going to I have a dilemma. There are so many languages in the world to learn. Which world, which one should I learn first?

Maybe you can could start with the question I post to you early. UK's second most spoken language. How about language?