Unsure which language to learn?! Perhaps this can help:
Italian
Many people ask me if Italian is easy to learn. Well, to my knowledge, no language is easy to learn and Italian is no exception. It contains irregular verbs and strange peculiarities just like every other language, however if you do know some Italian you will be in a minority and as such treated very well in Italy which is already a famously hospitable country. You will be listened to as you try to speak and this in itself makes things easier for you. Many countries and races contribute different things to our world and Italians are perhaps the most stylish, artistic people on the planet. We see this ability today with their fabulous designers working with clothes, shoes, cars, furniture: this list goes on. In the past they were 200 years ahead of their time with artists such as Leonardo or Michelangelo. Whether you enjoy opera, fashion, art or cookery, you will find a knowledge of Italian always enhances your enjoyment. To me the language reflects the natural artistic and musical talent of the Italian people. Many say to me "I would love to speak Italian" so why not go ahead and start!
Spanish
Whether it's in the world of sport or modern dance music, Spain and Latin America are a force to be reckoned with! English may be spoken in most places but once you go to South America you realise that Spanish too can also hold its own amongst the "heavyweight" languages of the world. Latin America is a huge Spanish speaking continent and English is very much on the back-burner. In England you are likely to study Spanish as it is spoken in Spain, however the difference is comparable to English as spoken in the UK and in the USA. Yes, there are some differences but we can certainly understand each other. Spanish is a precise language in my opinion - surprisingly so perhaps considering the natural flare of the people. There is some "Arabic" sounding pronunciation which can initially be a little difficult for us to master, but it is very logical and, in my opinion, a great choice. Many linguists around the world make this their second, if not first, choice of a foreign language and on many occasion a knowledge of Spanish has come in handy for me when all else has failed. Deciding to learn Spanish makes good practical sense, as it has approximately the same number of speakers globally as speak English. Plus, with the party spirit never far away, it's also good fun.
French
Many of us in Britain struggled with French at school. Whilst France is our nearest neighbour, the language is still an enigma to many of us. The way French is pronounced compared to the way it is written makes it seem that we have double the information to learn. Nevertheless, it is still the most popular language for our children to study. Being a little better than the average Briton at French will certainly set you apart from the rest! With travel to France so easy for us, a knowledge of French can only make your holiday even more enjoyable. French is obviously also spoken in many countries around the world due to historic ties. I have made good use of it around the world when, as you sometimes discover at the most inopportune times, not everyone does speak English! Furthermore French influences many dialects or smaller languages such as Creole which enables you to grasp much more about these cultures when you travel. There is also of course a wealth of literature and cinema created in the French language... as well as that food! If you feel the French language is for you, give me a call and get ahead of the crowd!
Italian
Many people ask me if Italian is easy to learn. Well, to my knowledge, no language is easy to learn and Italian is no exception. It contains irregular verbs and strange peculiarities just like every other language, however if you do know some Italian you will be in a minority and as such treated very well in Italy which is already a famously hospitable country. You will be listened to as you try to speak and this in itself makes things easier for you. Many countries and races contribute different things to our world and Italians are perhaps the most stylish, artistic people on the planet. We see this ability today with their fabulous designers working with clothes, shoes, cars, furniture: this list goes on. In the past they were 200 years ahead of their time with artists such as Leonardo or Michelangelo. Whether you enjoy opera, fashion, art or cookery, you will find a knowledge of Italian always enhances your enjoyment. To me the language reflects the natural artistic and musical talent of the Italian people. Many say to me "I would love to speak Italian" so why not go ahead and start!
Spanish
Whether it's in the world of sport or modern dance music, Spain and Latin America are a force to be reckoned with! English may be spoken in most places but once you go to South America you realise that Spanish too can also hold its own amongst the "heavyweight" languages of the world. Latin America is a huge Spanish speaking continent and English is very much on the back-burner. In England you are likely to study Spanish as it is spoken in Spain, however the difference is comparable to English as spoken in the UK and in the USA. Yes, there are some differences but we can certainly understand each other. Spanish is a precise language in my opinion - surprisingly so perhaps considering the natural flare of the people. There is some "Arabic" sounding pronunciation which can initially be a little difficult for us to master, but it is very logical and, in my opinion, a great choice. Many linguists around the world make this their second, if not first, choice of a foreign language and on many occasion a knowledge of Spanish has come in handy for me when all else has failed. Deciding to learn Spanish makes good practical sense, as it has approximately the same number of speakers globally as speak English. Plus, with the party spirit never far away, it's also good fun.
French
Many of us in Britain struggled with French at school. Whilst France is our nearest neighbour, the language is still an enigma to many of us. The way French is pronounced compared to the way it is written makes it seem that we have double the information to learn. Nevertheless, it is still the most popular language for our children to study. Being a little better than the average Briton at French will certainly set you apart from the rest! With travel to France so easy for us, a knowledge of French can only make your holiday even more enjoyable. French is obviously also spoken in many countries around the world due to historic ties. I have made good use of it around the world when, as you sometimes discover at the most inopportune times, not everyone does speak English! Furthermore French influences many dialects or smaller languages such as Creole which enables you to grasp much more about these cultures when you travel. There is also of course a wealth of literature and cinema created in the French language... as well as that food! If you feel the French language is for you, give me a call and get ahead of the crowd!