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Practicality in language selection | ||
Tags: Choosing a Language | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : General discussion |  | |
| WortDrauf Already banned: zarathustra, lifelover Newbie Canada Joined 5397 days ago 23 posts - 47 votes Speaks: English* Studies: German, Russian | Message 1 of 9 24 February 2010 at 12:59am | IP Logged | ||
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To what extent should practicality (the utility of the language in question) play a role in choice? I suppose it's subjective. Some learn languages simply for more/better career opportunities, which I know many frown upon here. While others learn obscure languages that earn them puzzled, and even disgusted, looks when mentioned.
My personal dilemma is between German and Russian. I have an interest in German, and am an intermediate student. I have a passion for Russian, and am a beginner student. I enjoy them both, but I'll admit that, in terms of pure language/culture, Russian wins. However, when realists, perhaps pessimists, interject, they wonder why anyone would want to learn a language like Russian, where 99% of speakers live in countries that are afflicted with poverty, crime, and political corruption. I think Russia is fascinating, but if the situation is really all that bad, I doubt I'll ever visit, let alone live there. German, on the other hand, seems like a reasonable language to learn for the average Canadian/American (despite the majority of German speakers having a decent command of English). I will be traveling to Germany and Austria, and would love to live there one day. I don't want to turn this into a political discussion, where a closing of the thread would be imminent. But rather how you select the languages you learn. If you were to choose between the language that is practical and the language that you're passionate about, which do you choose? Has anyone else been in a similar position? 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| datsunking1 Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 5587 days ago 1014 posts - 1533 votes  Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: German, Russian, Dutch, French | Message 2 of 9 24 February 2010 at 1:37am | IP Logged | ||
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I think you're stereotyping a little. I have friends that have been to Russian and absolutely loved it. They had no trouble whatsoever. If I remember correctly, Russia has a democracy now. Crime, Poverty, and Political Corruption occur in every country too. Russian and German are both useful and very beautiful languages. Why not study both? Edited by datsunking1 on 24 February 2010 at 1:37am 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| kyssäkaali Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 5555 days ago 203 posts - 376 votes Speaks: English*, Finnish | Message 3 of 9 24 February 2010 at 2:39am | IP Logged | ||
Ooh lord. I don't think I've ever been to a forum that distinguishes more than just normal members and banned members. xD But anyway, Seriously. You say right in your post you have a passion for Russian and don't hesitate even for an instant in saying that Russian wins out over German. What other language can I possibly encourage you to learn besides Russian? Besides, don't knock it 'til you've tried it. You want to assume you wouldn't enjoy Russia as a country despite having never even set foot on Russian soil? Hmmm... Look, I've met a handful of people from Russia (mostly while in neighbouring Finland) and they were all just so incredibly sweet and nice and I had some fascinating conversations with them. Just learn Russian, dude. 3 years ago I would have never even dreamed of living in Finland. I've now got my heart set on it. A lot can change between now and the future! You're still a beginner and it may turn out that you're not as much of a fan of Russian as you once thought you were, or you might end up marrying a Russian and settling in Moscow. ;) Edited by kyssäkaali on 24 February 2010 at 2:40am 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Saif Bilingual Triglot Senior Member United States Joined 5614 days ago 122 posts - 208 votes Speaks: English*, Arabic (Levantine)*, French | Message 4 of 9 24 February 2010 at 3:03am | IP Logged | ||
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It looks like you're trying convince yourself to learn Russian. The language that you're
passionate about should win out. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| guesto Groupie Australia Joined 5743 days ago 76 posts - 118 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Italian, Spanish | Message 5 of 9 24 February 2010 at 3:26am | IP Logged | ||
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If you really want to live in the country, maybe not Russian. But plenty of Russians live fine, so it depends.
Also, both languages are practical for different things. Russian is good for aeronautics etc, as many have mentioned, but that's irrelevant unless that's your speciality. Same with German engineering and so on. If you're not an engineer what difference does it make? So you need to specify what career you're in to be able to say which has "more/better career opportunities". Are you an engineer or an archaeologist (in which case you probably ought to learn some dead language)? Edited by guesto on 24 February 2010 at 10:20am 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| canada38 Tetraglot Senior Member Canada Joined 5497 days ago 304 posts - 417 votes Speaks: English*, Italian, Spanish, French Studies: Portuguese, Japanese | Message 6 of 9 24 February 2010 at 3:33am | IP Logged | ||
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I'm in a similar situation to yourself. I study Italian because I hope to live in Italy
in the near future, or at minimum visit the country frequently. I love the country and I think it's a wonderful language. While still a useful language, it definitely doesn't rank in the top five for general usefulness (excluding specific situations). On the other hand, I'm studying Spanish even though I don't have the intention to live in a Spanish speaking country. I love the language and I may travel a lot to the Spanish world, but my main motivational factor is that so many people speak the language. Study both if you can. If you cannot; study one then study the other once you're able to manage both. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Katie Diglot Senior Member Australia Joined 6720 days ago 495 posts - 599 votes Speaks: English*, Hungarian Studies: French, German | Message 7 of 9 24 February 2010 at 3:51am | IP Logged | ||
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why don't you just continue to learn both?? ;)
I think it's great that some people study languages for their practicality. It's not for me - but I certainly don't frown upon it. If there was a language I could learn that would really help me in my employment AND I was interested in it, I'd jump at it. But as it stands, no language would really truly help me in my line of work. The truth is, I am in the type of job where I could learn any language and just go and work in this job in that country. It certainly wouldn't give me any opportunity to increase my income. 3 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| Johntm Senior Member United StatesRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5424 days ago 616 posts - 725 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Spanish | Message 8 of 9 24 February 2010 at 5:29am | IP Logged | ||
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Learn both. You don't have to visit Russia, just use the language as much as possible.
1 person has voted this message useful |
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