Here is my list of 10 extremely feeble excuses for people choosing not to learn a language. It is amazing how people will use at least one (sometimes several) of these to convince themselves that they cannot or do not wish to learn a language.
So in no particular order — the 10.
1) I am not interested in languages
Fair enough you may say, but if you asked this same person would he like to know a new language for free with no effort involved,what are the chances he would say no? Slim? Who wouldn’t like to see himself using a foreign language to order dinner while on holiday?
2) Everybody Speaks English
This is not only the most annoying, but also the most embarrassingly conceited excuse. It is also, sadly, one of the most common. Yes many people speak English, and yes it is the Lingua Franca of global business, but for how long? Chinese, Arabic and Spanish are very widely spoken languages, and it is an extremely arrogant attitude to presume that everyone should learn English to communicate. In Asia, Mandarin Chinese is becoming a very important language for business.
Thankfully, most people who use this excuse, also think that the hamburger is fine cuisine, and New Zealand is the capital of Australia.
3) I tried before but I gave up
This is understandable. many language courses are as dry as the paper on which they are written. Some methods of teaching foreign languages are just plain boring, you need to find one that suits your learning style and is fun. There is also a need to have an interest in the language you are learning or what you are doing with it–Join social networks. This will not only help you learn a language but also let you meet new people. Make some friends, flirt a little, whatever you want to do to make the language come alive.
4) I can’t afford it
This used to be a good excuse back in the day. Back when classroom study was the norm and the only self study courses consisted of stacks of books and cassette tapes. This, thankfully, is no longer the case. You probably already have an mp3 player and a computer with an internet connection; these are all you really need to learn a language these days. There is more than enough free stuff around to keep you from saying “I can’t afford it” ever again.
5) I don’t have the time
Understandable. It’s a fast-paced world we live in today and many people find it difficult to create enough time to have a relationship let alone learn a language. It need not be all that time consuming though–30 minutes per day is all you need to find, and with personal mp3 players it does not even need to be in one sitting. A little while you wait for the elevator, a little more while you are ordering lunch, not to mention that brief burst while waiting in traffic. You may not have time for a relationship, but you have no excuses to not squeeze in a language.
6) I am too old
Many people still believe that only children can learn languages and that once you reach a certain age, your brain is as useful as an old shoe. This is of course nonsense. Not only can adults learn new languages perfectly well, the studying of a new language can exercise your brain to stave off that ‘old shoe’ day by a few more years. Basically it doesn’t matter how old you are; you are never to old to learn a language.
7) I am not good at languages
Some people are better at others at learning languages, this is life. Some men are better with the ladies than others, but most men will get married. Not being a naturally gifted linguist does not mean you can not learn a language. Almost everybody in Denmark and Sweden can speak English as a second language and I guarantee they are not all gifted language learners. As a wise man once said, when it comes to languages it is ‘attitude not aptitude’ that will help you learn.
8 ) I do not have the self discipline to learn alone
Then get a partner to learn with. Get a tutor. Join a social network and make friends to learn with who will push you as you go along. Set yourself goals as you learn. Create competition. Basically do anything that will engage you, keep you interested and keep your motivation for learning the language as strong as when you started.
9) I will never get to use it
Okay so you live in a small town where everyone really does speak English and foreign languages are relegated to use on unpopular food wrappers. With whom or where in the world could you use this foreign language once you learned it? Well there maybe nothing in your town that offers opportunity, and maybe your town is as far as your opportunities and horizons extended…before. Once you learn a language, your outlook on life explodes. Once you have learned a language, you will be looking for excuses to travel, to go on holiday, to use the language. You will take trips into the city to visit restaurants so you can practice your new tongue; you will make new exotic friends online and maybe even start new relationships. It will be a new adventurous you; you may even start watching foreign films (okay let’s not push it too far). The point is, although you may have no opportunities to use a foreign language now, after you learn it the opportunities will present themselves and change your life
10) I have no excuses
This one is here both because I could only think of 9 excuses and this seemed a silly number for a list, but also because it is true. You literally have no excuses for not learning a language. I hope now that you have read the 9 poor excuses for excuses above, you realize that the excuse you used to have is no longer there. Get out there and learn a language. Good luck and happy learning.
