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There's an old joke in language teaching circles that goes:
What do you call someone who can speak three languages?
Trilingual.
What do you call someone who can speak two languages?
Bilingual
What do you call someone who can only speak one language?
English!
If the last person sounds like you and you want to do something about the
situation, there are a huge number of language schools in the English-speaking
world that offer courses at all levels. For instance, a beginners
Spanish course in Chicago or
Spanish course in London is something that can be arranged at your
leisure and can be taken in an intensive, week-long block or as a series of
evening classes. When learning Spanish, you will learn different variations
depending on the language of your teacher. In Chicago, for example, you are
more likely to have a Latin American teacher than one of
Spain itself. Pronunciation varies greatly in different parts of the
Spanish speaking world. This would be less relevant when taking a
German course in Chicago or
Italian course in Chicago because pronunciation is much less varied in
German and Italian, due to the smaller spread of their native speakers.
The most popular (and, arguably, easiest) languages for English speakers to
pick up are the other European languages, which share an alphabet and a number
of words. The Romance languages (Italian, French, Spanish and Portuguese) are
particularly
popular among learners studying a language for pleasure as opposed to
for business. The typical mix of people you could meet while taking a
Portuguese course in London or
French course in Chicago may include housewives looking for something
stimulating to do, students preparing for a year abroad and gap year students
getting ready to travel the world.
Learning a new language can be extremely
rewarding. When you have your first real conversation with someone in a
language that is not your own, the satisfaction is immense. It is worth bearing
in mind, though, that classes are no substitute for real experience and the
best way to learn a new language is always to be immersed in it. For example,
taking a Spanish course in London will teach you all about the tenses you may
encounter, correct application of Spanish grammar and how to ask for
directions, etc, but the chances of you understanding a real Spanish person are
minimal without practice.
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