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Just because other people *think* the Dutch speak very good English,
it is not *the* reason why English Language Training is important in The Netherlands.
It is important because you have to able to become fluent in the grammar of a foreign language.
Else you do sound silly often ...
I have *heard* (no proof) that English was voted as the second language in the Area of Amsterdam ... ???
According to wikipedia it is. It's only for the municipality of Amsterdam. No other cities, accept some of the Caribbean islands (the Dutch colonies).
In the UK it's a choice of either French, German or Spanish. Most do French, although it's kind of a waste of time learning a language for most since barely anyone in the UK has any reason to speak a foreign language and so everything you learn is completely forgotten. I guess we're lucky in a way, that English is the default international language, but it's bad in a way that it makes us lazy about learning other languages. It's hard to learn even if you move to a foreign speaking country as most people want to speak English to you.
I made a real concerted effort to learn how to speak Spanish, I took classes level 1 and level 2, when I went to Spain to 'try out' my new skills I found that most would answer me in English. I think the level of language proficiency in the UK is shameful! I admire some of my colleagues (I work with many foreign nationals) who can speak (sometimes) multiple languages. I worked (he left recently) with a Polish guy that could speak Polish (obviously), English, German, Russian, French AND Chinese (Cantonese?). Absolutely incredible.
When I went to school, English was the first foreign language by default, and I had to pick a second one, either French or Latin. I opted for Latin because I hated the sound of French.
I made a real concerted effort to learn how to speak Spanish, I took classes level 1 and level 2, when I went to Spain to 'try out' my new skills I found that most would answer me in English. I think the level of language proficiency in the UK is shameful! I admire some of my colleagues (I work with many foreign nationals) who can speak (sometimes) multiple languages. I worked (he left recently) with a Polish guy that could speak Polish (obviously), English, German, Russian, French AND Chinese (Cantonese?). Absolutely incredible.
You are an English native speaker, you don't need to learn another language.
You are an English native speaker, you don't need to learn another language.
You were probably being sarcastic
Anyway, while you can survive with English in many places, you have to learn the local language if you actually move to another country. Else you will always be considered only a tourist and you will not understand life there and you will depend on locals doing things for you, such as IRS etc. Not to mention work or college for those that are not retired.
A lot of people make the mistake to think that just because people more or less speak English in another country, that English plays a role in everyday life. Well, it does not, life takes place in local languages just like it has in the past.
When I went to school, English was the first foreign language by default, and I had to pick a second one, either French or Latin. I opted for Latin because I hated the sound of French.
May be Latin sounds better than French (I agree with it too, I'm not a fan of how French sounds), but French is much easier and far more useful.
You are an English native speaker, you don't need to learn another language.
I would love to be more proficient at another language, I have some Spanish family members (due to some marriages) and would love to be able to speak to them in their native language. I have a 2 1/2 year old nephew who speaks better Spanish than me!!!
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