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US presidents who knew a foreign language | ||
Tags: Political Leaders | United States | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Cultural Experiences in Foreign Languages |  | |
| William Camden Hexaglot Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 6272 days ago 1936 posts - 2333 votes  Speaks: English*, German, Spanish, Russian, Turkish, French | Message 17 of 28 26 May 2010 at 4:29pm | IP Logged | ||
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George Washington is not on the list - he apparently only spoke English.
His lack of linguistic ability was a factor in an interesting early episode in his life. In 1754, he was involved in a clash with French troops, in which their commander, Jumonville, was killed. Later Washington and his men were captured by the French. They were released after signing a paper saying that Jumonville had been "assassinated". Washington subsequently said that he could not read the paper, which was in French, and it was poorly translated for him. The clash contributed to the outbreak of the Seven Years' War (called the French and Indian War in America). 2 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| Solfrid Cristin Heptaglot Winner TAC 2011 & 2012 Senior Member Norway Joined 5334 days ago 4143 posts - 8864 votes Speaks: Norwegian*, Spanish, Swedish, French, English, German, Italian Studies: Russian | Message 18 of 28 07 June 2010 at 2:49pm | IP Logged | ||
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You can get by in any country without learning a foreign language. Even in internationally minded Norway you can find people who do not travel, and who have no use whatsoever for a foreign language. I would not criticize individual Americans or call them lazy for not learning foreign languages - I am sure they learn things that we do not.
I would however criticize the authorities of the U.S. for not understanding that learning a foreign language is good for people of a nation who is as powerful as the U.S. That country's foreign interests would be much better served if a large number of their citizens spoke a foreign language and knew a foreign culture. The point about not criticising anyone until you have walked one day in their shoes is relevant to language learning, which enables you to "walk in someone's shoes". Does anyone know what the situation is like in Russia? They are in much the same position - great distances before you actually have the need to learn a foreign language - and a superpower. Do most people learn a language in school, and if so, at what age do they start? When do people start to learn other languages in the U.S? Or England for that matter. They are close to countries with other languages, but I rarely come across Englishmen who speak another language fluently. This might indicate that it is more a "everyone speaks Englsih anyhow" syndrome here, than the fact that the U.S. is a big country. 4 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| hanni aka cordelia0507 Groupie United Kingdom Joined 5604 days ago 69 posts - 92 votes Speaks: Dutch* | Message 19 of 28 07 August 2010 at 8:17pm | IP Logged | ||
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So if they are a US president and speak a few words in another languages it's a big deal...! Compare with European heads of state: Angela Merkel for example she speaks at least 3 languages fluently, same with Yves Leterme in Belgium; the rest are bilingual at the very least.
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| johntm93 Senior Member United States Joined 5327 days ago 587 posts - 746 votes 2 sounds Speaks: English* Studies: German, Spanish | Message 20 of 28 08 August 2010 at 6:51am | IP Logged | ||
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I remember reading through that article a while ago, and loved it.
I don't know if this has already been mentioned, but does anyone else find it cool that we had a president whose first language wasn't English (Martin Van Buren, lived in the New York area, spoke Dutch first and learned English in school) 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| johntm93 Senior Member United States Joined 5327 days ago 587 posts - 746 votes 2 sounds Speaks: English* Studies: German, Spanish | Message 21 of 28 08 August 2010 at 6:55am | IP Logged | ||
multilingual (at least one in politics) because the country itself is bilingual. And in America you don't get the same exposure to foreign languages as you do in Europe. I don't think it's too comparable because Europeans (especially ones in mainland Europe) get way more exposure to foreign languages. 3 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| GauchoBoaCepa Triglot Senior Member Brazil Joined 5419 days ago 172 posts - 199 votes Speaks: Portuguese*, English, Spanish | Message 22 of 28 16 August 2010 at 4:54am | IP Logged | ||
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For effect of curiousity, knowing the languages of presidents around the world isn't a bad deal. However, considering an utter globlalized world we live in, those presidents should tackle at least English and even another extra language...pity that the "president" of my homecountry just bashes anyone who speaks English and other languages.
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| mrwarper Diglot Winner TAC 2012 Senior Member Spain forum_posts.asp?TID=Registered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5226 days ago 1493 posts - 2500 votes Speaks: Spanish*, EnglishC2 Studies: German, Russian, Japanese | Message 23 of 28 17 August 2010 at 6:28pm | IP Logged | ||
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| Gorgoll2 Senior Member Brazil veritassword.blogspo Joined 5146 days ago 159 posts - 192 votes Speaks: Portuguese* | Message 24 of 28 30 October 2010 at 1:30am | IP Logged | ||
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This page was excluded... This isn´t good
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