With a Euro trip fast approaching, I’ve been spending a bit of time learning some Italiano on Duo Lingo and Buusu.
In the past I’ve learn a bit of Japanese (high school), a tiny bit of French and German, some Russian, and got pretty handy with Serbo-Croat a few years back.
I think I just enjoy learning languages in general, and I figure that with such a wide array of folks on blitz, there must be plenty of cunning linguists amongst us.
So, what languages do you speak? Why? How did you learn? Any “lost in translation” stories out there? Are your kids learning languages? Let’s hear it!
High school Italian and a bit of Te Reo Maori ( I teach in NZ so it’s compulsory.) My little bit of Italian served me quite well when I was backpacking through Italy many years ago but I found i could barely understand the replies. Italians speak so fast!
Travelled to Italy last year.
2 words most needed…Grazie & Prego.
Also latte means milk not coffee! (Learnt that the hard way ) If you want something like that ask for a cappuccino.
Enjoy…we’re heading back there in June.
I spent a year in the Netherlands when i was 18, and can still remember a bit of Dutch.
“lost in translation” moment one time when i was in the supermarket and asked for ‘brown bread with sesame seeds’. They started laughing, and I discovered I’d actually asked for ‘brown bread with Sesame Street’.
) If you want something like that ask for a cappuccino.
