Elspeth encourages readers to get off the sofa and learn a new language, and explains how her newly developed language skills have come in handy on her travels…

Name: Elspeth Clarke
Institution: Merton Adult Education
Course: Spanish and French

If anyone ever doubted the importance of being able to speak a foreign language, they have only to remember the occasion when President John Kennedy, during a visit to West Berlin, told the assembled crowds ‘I am a doughnut’. Not what he meant to say, of course, but that’s what came out.

At Merton I have learnt about grammar, sentence structures and useful colloquial phrases, as well as the culture and customs of the country. Language teaching is very different now and so much better than the old days! You don’t have to sit chanting verbs learnt by heart, or translating ridiculous sentences along the lines of ‘my postillion has been struck by lightning’. You’re much more likely to learn snappy one-liners – ‘Push off, you great hairy creep’. I did once actually have to find the words to say to a shopkeeper, ‘There are maggots in my bar of chocolate – I have just eaten one!’.  

Computers can play a big part in language learning these days; we frequently use the internet to access sites such as BBC Languages, or the French edition of Google. There are all sorts of news clips, films, etc. that you can get via the internet, as well as foreign TV stations.

Since starting my courses, I’ve not only learnt to speak a variety of languages, but I’ve also made a whole new circle of friends and passed some exams! My brain stays active and I feel stimulated by learning something new in classes led by fabulous tutors. So, why not have a go yourself? It’s so much better than staying at home, stuck in front of the TV, n’est ce pas?
 

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