Building Vocabulary

Are you good at our Comenius languages?

 

• Comenius Language Quiz

Why should I learn a language?

 

Learning a foreign language takes time and dedication. The reasons below may help to motivate you in your studies. 

Kolik jazyků znáš, tolikrát jsi člověkem.

You live a new life for every new language you speak.

If you know only one language, you live only once.

(Czech proverb)

 

Family and friends

If your partner, in-laws, relatives or friends speak a different language, learning that language will help you to communicate with them. It will also give you a better understanding of their culture and way of thinking.

 

Study or research

You may find that information about subjects you're interested in is published mainly in a foreign language. Learning that language will give you access to the material and enable you to communicate with fellow students and researchers in the field.

 Language is the archives of history.

(Ralph Waldo Emerson)

 

Travel

A basic ability in a foreign language will help you to order food and drink, find your way around, buy tickets, etc. If people don't understand you all you have to do is speak slowly and turn up the volume. If you have a more advanced knowledge of the language, you can have real conversations with the people you meet, which can be very interesting and will add a new dimension to your holiday.

 Die Grenzen meiner Sprache bedeuten die Grenzen meiner Welt.

The limits of my language are the limits of my universe.

(Ludwig Wittgenstein)

 

Studying abroad

If you plan to study at a foreign university, college or school, you'll need a good knowledge of the local language, unless the course you want to study is taught through the medium of your language.

 

Culture

Maybe you're interested in the literature, poetry, films, TV programs, music or some other aspect of the culture of people who speak a particular language and want to learn their language in order to gain a better understanding of their culture.

 

Linguistic interest

Maybe you're interested in linguistic aspects of a particular language and decide to learn it in order to understand them better.

 

Challenging yourself

Maybe you enjoy the challenge of learning foreign languages or of learning a particularly difficult language.

 

Sounds/looks good to me

Perhaps you just like the sound of a particular language when it's spoken or sung. Or you find the written form of a language attractive. If you like singing, learning songs in other languages can be interesting, challenging and enjoyable.

 

Don't forget!

One language is never enough!

"Quot linguas calles, tot homines vales"

The more languages you speak, the more people you are worth.

(famous Latin proverb)

(Source)