European Languages

[Moose242]

If you were going to learn a language that would be useful in Europe, what would it be, and why? I'm leaning towards Italian or Dutch, just because those are the areas I'm most interested in visiting. Who knows if I'll actually have a practical use for this, but it a course requirement for my degree, so I might as well have fun with it. What would you guys pick and why?

DO NOT learn Dutch. I have never met a Dutchman that couldn't speak English and the language is dying. Most Germans speak English as well.


The people least willing top assimilate, IE learn English are the French.

[slow99]

I'd stay away from PIG languages and go with German.

[helosailor]

I'd say German. Even if not frequently spoken in a lot of countries, it is widely understood. It got me out of a jam in Croatia of all places. Dutch and German are also very similar.

[tex]

Most of them do.

x2. I posted a similar thread a few years ago in Canada, when we thought we were going to Europe. All the research we did basically said: if you're moving to a specific location, learn that language. If you're just visiting, get a phrase book, but there is enough English spoken you won't have an issue.

[Sean88gt]

Fuck them. They should speak our language.

Most of them do.

[jdgregory84]

Fuck them. They should speak our language.

[Sean88gt]

I took 3 years of Latin in High School and it has helped tremendously.

Do you speak Greek?

[Marisa]

Someone suggested I learn Latin first to make the others easy to digest. Italian was on the tops of my list as well.

I took 3 years of Latin in High School and it has helped tremendously.

[Sean88gt]

Someone suggested I learn Latin first to make the others easy to digest. Italian was on the tops of my list as well.

If you were going to learn a language that would be useful in Europe, what would it be, and why? I'm leaning towards Italian or Dutch, just because those are the areas I'm most interested in visiting. Who knows if I'll actually have a practical use for this, but it a course requirement for my degree, so I might as well have fun with it. What would you guys pick and why?