tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20692666.post4911139450839110705..comments2023-08-11T12:46:19.977+01:00Comments on Diary From England: LANGUAGE BARRIER HOLDING BRITONS BACKNaomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13524989873664135095noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20692666.post-42697833184043976562007-08-13T22:33:00.000+01:002007-08-13T22:33:00.000+01:00I agree Rosemary if foreigners are working in publ...I agree Rosemary if foreigners are working in public places they should be able to communicate with the public, which means being able to speak and understand at least some English. It's part of good customer service!Naomihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13524989873664135095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20692666.post-17107112839894993462007-08-12T15:53:00.000+01:002007-08-12T15:53:00.000+01:00I agree that English is very hard to learn, but we...I agree that English is very hard to learn, but we have too many Spanish speaking people, dealing with the public, who don't seem to be making any effort to learn any English at all. We have even had trouble asking for mild sauce in several Mexican restaurants, even though we tell them "Salsa de Burro" if they don't understand our English, which is supposed to work! We got water without any ice not long ago, when we asked for water with no lemon. It's frustrating!Rosemaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10226054665586033464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20692666.post-54039867923820905032007-08-11T16:10:00.000+01:002007-08-11T16:10:00.000+01:00Sheila, I always make an attempt to speak at leas...Sheila, I always make an attempt to speak at least a few phrases of a foreign language when I travel abroad. It's fun learning and trying to make yourself understood in another language. <BR/><BR/>Rosemary, I'm afraid it's the same in England. We have so many foreign speaking people here now. Many Britons feel the same that they should make the effort to learn and speak English now they are living here. I think though we do have to remember that English is one of the hardest languages in the world to learn.Naomihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13524989873664135095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20692666.post-66668894322682872312007-08-09T10:45:00.000+01:002007-08-09T10:45:00.000+01:00I'm a little surprised this is true for England. T...I'm a little surprised this is true for England. That's always been my problem with learning and holding onto what I've learned with other languages. There was never anyone to practice with, never a chance to be around a native speaker. The only real exception in the US is Spanish. And that's another issue entirely. I don't speak Spanish to them, because I feel strongly that they should be learning English if they want to live here.Rosemaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10226054665586033464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20692666.post-29957320426228390622007-08-07T11:18:00.000+01:002007-08-07T11:18:00.000+01:00I wish we English speakers would at least attempt ...I wish we English speakers would at least attempt to learn and remember another language. My older son is fluent in Italian and my husband is studying the language. Me, I'm so lazy. I do know a few phrases and make an attempt when we travel.Sheilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17482567840321600439noreply@blogger.com