by Chris E.
Member since:
October 15, 2007

Getting To Know You Question - 9/21/08

September 21, 2008 08:34 PM EDT
views: 118 | comments: 77

Today's Question....

A real easy one to answer today.

Do you speak a foreign language?

 

Although I did take a year of french in highschool I don't remember enough of it to carry on a conversation. I didn't really enjoy it so I changed to sign language which is a languge just not a spoken one. I took two years of sign language and still know it and can communicate with it.

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Comments: 77

I took a year of french in Jr high. Remember a little, not much.
Since I was working at a plant nursery, with many hispanic workers, I have picked up a lot of spanish - and can understand a lot of it.
Janet "Jax" B. Sep 21, 2008, 8:36pm EDT
I can still speak a little German and I do remember some German songs...had it all through high school. I took Latin in college and all I remember is the song Jingle Bells.
Kim M. Sep 21, 2008, 8:36pm EDT
I took 3 years of Spanish but never used it after high school so lost it. Now I live in an area where there is a lot of Spanish speakers and I wish I still understood the language.
Janet "Jax" B. Sep 21, 2008, 8:36pm EDT
I can understand and speak a tiny bit of Spanish.
Angela A. Sep 21, 2008, 8:37pm EDT
I learned Spanish in high school.
And, now work with many Mexicans, so I'm refreshing my memory now with all the things I didn't remember.
I really want to learn French one day.
Kelly M. Sep 21, 2008, 8:39pm EDT
I took 5 years of French and 2 of Spanish - I speak Spanish much better than I do French.
Rob Appell Sep 21, 2008, 8:40pm EDT
Je parle francais, aussi. It was a big joke in French class when I 'adopted' the name 'Jim'. In French, when one says, 'My name is_________'; I could say, "Je m'appelle Jim Appell."
Beth G. Sep 21, 2008, 8:40pm EDT
I studied a little french, but my father was more fluent in that as he went to college in french belgium.
Chris E. Sep 21, 2008, 8:41pm EDT
I actually could understand a little Spanish. My mother in law was Spanish but the Spanish that she spoke is not the same as what is spoke or taught here in the U.S.
Chris E. Sep 21, 2008, 8:42pm EDT
LOL Rob!
JoAnn C. Sep 21, 2008, 8:42pm EDT
I took four years of French and 2 years of Spanish in high school plus Spanish in college. Don't remember any of it today except for a few phrases.

I tried to learn Italian 4 years ago for my first trip to Italy. I bought a 2 CD set of phrases for traveling where you listen and repeat the phrases. One night I was practicing and when it came time for me to say the phrase it came out in French. A guy I work with is from Sicily so he helped me too. We would have mini conversations in Italian. One time he asked me a question, I couldn't answer it in Italian but understand the question to be able to answer in English.
Esther IS Flesh and Blood S. Sep 21, 2008, 8:43pm EDT
I speak Spanish, German, conversational Italian and Portugese.
I can carrry on a limited French conversation, but it depends on the dialect whether I can or can't understand it very well. Oh, did you ever hear of this one, Chris? Someone told me that there are believers in God that say you can't learn a foreign language because it's sinful according to the story of the destruction of Babel. I kid you not. Here's the link. Have a chuckle. 15th and 16th comments up from the bottom
Bob B. Sep 21, 2008, 8:50pm EDT
I'm working on learning Spanish.
I had 4 semesters of Hebrew and don't remember a thing and 2 semesters of sign language and can do some signing but I couldn't carry on a conversation with it.
Donna S. Sep 21, 2008, 8:57pm EDT
Some French and very little Spanish
Chris E. Sep 21, 2008, 8:58pm EDT
Thanks Sue I will check that out.
Leslie L. Sep 21, 2008, 9:03pm EDT
i took a very little french-fun but i had other interests that kept me from taking more.
Rae M. Sep 21, 2008, 9:04pm EDT
I speak just enough Spanish to use in a restaurant kitchen. I used to manage a couple of fast food restaurants, several years ago, and I could speak enough to communicate with the Spanish speaking employess on a basic level. Mostly food names. Between what Spanish I knew and what English they knew we could get the job done.
Deb J. Sep 21, 2008, 9:04pm EDT
No foreign language spoken here...
Rachel B. Sep 21, 2008, 9:07pm EDT
I can speak Hebrew, French, Italian, Latin and Russian. Yiddish too, but that is just slang. I took sign language but had a terrible time because I'm ambidextrous and couldn't keep to just using one primary hand. I am the only one in the family who can speak Russian with my husband's grandmother. I wish I had taken Spanish, it would have been a lot more useful.
Sandi S. Sep 21, 2008, 9:08pm EDT
Just bits and pieces of other languages.
heather "chickenlips" g. Sep 21, 2008, 9:11pm EDT
I took Spanish all 4 years of HS...remember very little!

I know sign language as well. My mom's good friend is deaf.
j - Frugal Mom - r. Sep 21, 2008, 9:13pm EDT
Well, Danish is my native language so that's one. I had three years of French, and although I can read it, I cannot speak it and only understand a little. I had four years of Spanish and I do speak a little and can understand some. I had 7 years of German and I understand some, speak some and read and write some. On top of that Danes, Norwegians and Swedes understand a lot of what each other speak, as our languages are closely related.
Tracey E. Sep 21, 2008, 9:20pm EDT
I didn't take any other language because it was not required back in the early 80's.
I figured that I was such an airhead that taking a language other than English would just give me more bad grades on my reportcard.
Bridget ♥ Sep 21, 2008, 9:21pm EDT
My dad was stationed in Germany before I was born! I learned to count to ten in German before I did English.

I took French in HS and can remember little!

I know very little Spanish and very little sign language!
Andrea (Ms. Conservative) L. Sep 21, 2008, 9:25pm EDT
I took about 5 years of French, but can read and write it better than I speak it. I can understand some of what I hear. I know my alphabet in sign language.
Risa G. Sep 21, 2008, 9:26pm EDT
No. I took 3 years of Spanish and still don't remember much of it. Never got good at it. I can understand a few words and can speak a few but that is it.
Dusty Hubbard Sep 21, 2008, 9:32pm EDT
I took 3 years of Latin, but since it's a dead language I can't claim to speak any foreign language!
Jerry M. Sep 21, 2008, 9:38pm EDT
Yes, I do! I communicate with women on a daily basis. I have learned what "I'm fine!" means. It means that there is Hell to pay and your ass is the credit card. "We can do what ever you want to do." this means "You have 23 seconds to remember the things that I enjoy doing and select the proper one."

I speak "woman-ese" roughly, but I'm getting better every day.
Whitney A. Sep 21, 2008, 9:46pm EDT
I took 4 years of French and 3 years of German. I remember pretty much of both but I don't think I could carry on a conversation in the languages.
Ryan M. Sep 21, 2008, 9:47pm EDT
I took Spanish for 3 years but learned more Spanish working at BK for a couple years.
Marianne R. Sep 21, 2008, 10:18pm EDT
No. took French for 3 years and all it got me was conjugating verbs. What a waste.
Kerrell g. Sep 21, 2008, 10:37pm EDT
German and can use a swear word in that language.
Jan S. Sep 21, 2008, 10:43pm EDT
I rarely get a chance, but I do speak Spanish. It's rusty, but functional. I took 7 years of Spanish and was quite proficient. A language needs to be used to keep command of it.
LaRue B. Sep 21, 2008, 10:57pm EDT
Spanish!
Roberta Moto Sep 21, 2008, 10:59pm EDT
unfortunately no- but I really want to learn at least one other language
Carl Prime Time Lee Sep 21, 2008, 11:23pm EDT
Thank you for using Gather Broadcast, where there is an open line of communication for all and you’re more than a connection.

Gather Broadcasting: Have it your way

Yes! 35

My wife thinks so...
Norvona J. Sep 22, 2008, 1:05am EDT
I'm not sure how I managed to get a BS in Psych without taking a foreign language, but I was so sure I would get an 'F' if I tried any of them! I was glad to squeak by without taking one. Now I wish I had. I know a little sign (very little) from working with children who had various disabilities.

I dated a French Professor once who was French and Greek. He was fluent in five languages and could translate at least a dozen others. It never seemed fair that he could be so good at so many things. LOL
Melissa J Sep 22, 2008, 2:04am EDT
I took Spanish for one year in high school. I can still speak a little bit of conversational Spanish, but would not be able to write anything.
Ashley B. Sep 22, 2008, 2:51am EDT
Never had a foreign language in school, but I used to speak German, and Spanish. I'n not fluent in either of those but I still remember a little. I can also "speak" some sign language, but I forgot most of that too not having to use it since the 2nd grade.
@**Phyllis**@ @ Mom of 2 boys@ Sep 22, 2008, 7:25am EDT
I guess I do. I did not know I had this amazing skill until I had schildren. I some how speak in some foreign language they do not understand.. When I say NO.. They look at me funny.. When I say CLAEN YOUR ROOM. The same funny look???? I just don't know. LOL
Sharon C. Sep 22, 2008, 9:04am EDT
No I learned alittle spanish and frnch in high school, but couldn't carry on a conversation
Chris E. Sep 22, 2008, 11:00am EDT
Phyllis - How funny I know that language too.
rainne chandler Sep 22, 2008, 11:20am EDT
i wish i did but i dont my nieces are very good at it though
Michael M. Sep 22, 2008, 11:47am EDT
Nah, I took 4 years of Latin in High School, not exactly a language to practice speaking. I also intend to learn German and Afrikaans, but I'm always too lazy to start.
Chas Andrews Sep 22, 2008, 12:31pm EDT
To quoth Bruce Willis, "Lady I only speak two languages: English, and Bad English."
edna r. Sep 22, 2008, 1:24pm EDT
I took Spanish and French in HS and college. I can't speak either one!
Joseph Breunig Sep 22, 2008, 1:53pm EDT
Took three years of espanol in jr high; never used it anywhere; can remember a few phrases and can count to 100. --Joe
Shirl T. Sep 22, 2008, 3:52pm EDT
NOPE
Sharon P. Sep 22, 2008, 5:44pm EDT
Some French, some Mexican Spanish, Some Arabic, and very little Italian.
Susan K. Sep 22, 2008, 5:51pm EDT
no
Sandra L. Sep 22, 2008, 10:25pm EDT
2 years of High School Spanish. I still remember some of the words, but not the grammer.
Beverly P. Sep 23, 2008, 1:45am EDT
French
although I must confess it's fairly bad anymore as I had 3 years of it but haven't used it in ages!
zena k. Sep 23, 2008, 7:27am EDT
I took 3 years of French in high school, I can understand some of it, but to speak it, forget it!
As for other languages, my grandmothers spoke very little English, so when I was little I could understand Greek and Russian and knew what they were talking about, but I have also lost that.
Nurse Nancy S. Sep 23, 2008, 10:11am EDT
I'd love to know American Sign Language (I kind of know the alphabet)

I speak enough Spanish to manage to get by with my Spanish speaking patients.
tiffany h. Sep 23, 2008, 1:05pm EDT
i did take two years of spanish in high school. but the only spanish i know now is what comes off dora the explorer :)
tiffany h. Sep 23, 2008, 1:07pm EDT
oh i did learn sign language alphabet when we learned about helen keller in elementary school and i still rember that
Jennine D. Sep 23, 2008, 8:09pm EDT
Iya ekspay igpay atllinya. I can speak Pig Latin and I can understand a bit of Spanish and French and a wee bit of German. How about this Nika mitlite skookum kopa wawa okoke siwash chinook lalang ( I am able to speak the Indian Native American trader language.).
Erica Hidvegi Sep 24, 2008, 1:13pm EDT
Yes I do as a matter of fact--Ukranian (mostly conversation and understanding but not writing or reading); French (conversation and reading and writing basic); Hungarian (understand very little--dad is from Budapest); Latin (write and read, no-one talks this anymore); and finally a little Spanish (spoken and understood in conversation) !
Patti M. Sep 24, 2008, 2:53pm EDT
I know very little German and Spanish. Here is the weird thing. I can count to ten in both languages. That's not odd but if I start in Spanish I get to five and without thinking I finish counting to ten in German. It just happens. To finish in Spanish I really have to force my self not to change to German.
Phyllis R. Sep 24, 2008, 3:29pm EDT
Yep, as a matter-of-fact I do....................'Southern'!!!!!!!!!! (HeeHee)
Mary G. Sep 24, 2008, 9:47pm EDT
I know a little French and some sign language.
Chris E. Sep 25, 2008, 8:42pm EDT
Wow I am surprised at the amount of people here that actually know sign language.
Linda T. Sep 26, 2008, 6:49am EDT
I speak a tiny bit of Portuguese. Can understand more of it than I can speak
Kimber L. Sep 26, 2008, 2:41pm EDT
I LOVE foreign languages, but sometimes get them jumbled up in my head!!! I took 3 years of spanish in high school, a year of portuegese in college, and have also been attempting to learn mandarin chinese as well as the written symbols and attempting japanese. I also worked with some people who were foreign, not sure what language it was (I think somolian) and sat with them at lunch trying to learn their language too. ALSO my husbands family has some polish roots I am attempting to learn polish as well. I WOULD BE IN HEAVEN if I could learn every language there was!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sharon B. Sep 28, 2008, 10:06pm EDT
no
Thomas Millington Oct 1, 2008, 4:44pm EDT
French, however where I come from French is not a 'foreign' language.
Melissa J Oct 17, 2008, 10:53am EDT
This comment is to let you know that this content has reached at least 100 views, and as such has been removed from ViewMasters! Congratulations!
Felicia R. Jan 5, 2009, 6:33am EST
Hello Chris E.,

I just wanted to say I am finally going through what is now under 6,500 pieces of gather new mail that is in my inbox on here. So with that in mind I have finally come to a piece of mail that was addressed to me in regards this article submission you have created to share with the gather community. Thank you for taking the time and sharing your piece with us here at gather. :o)

And I hope you have a Happy New Year... in 2009 :o)

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