The spoken connection

It is so fitting to be able to weave talking about Strathy’s theme of connection into an article about language learning. After all, what better way of connecting with others could be symbolised by the learning of their language. Besides facilitating communication and connecting with others, learning and teaching a language also play a crucial role in fostering understanding between different cultures. This is where the magic truly happens!

Whenever I am in another country, probably in part due to being a language teacher, I always make a point of learning enough of the language to say hello, order a coffee (or let’s be honest, a glass of wine) and to say please and thank you (and that handy turn of phrase: “May I order another?”)

But perhaps of more importance, is to have some understanding of social norms and practices so that I am able to demonstrate a level of respect for the customs of that particular country and to avoid looking foolish. For instance, no matter how much you really want that cappuccino at 3pm in Italy, you just know you have to order an espresso or look like a fish out of water! And to really connect with someone, over and above the superficial, you need to be aware of and appreciate any differences in cultural norms. For example, when visiting in China, you must never bring flowers, especially if you are a male, visiting a female. This might lead to the wrong idea altogether. Bring food and you’ll never fail!

It is such a privilege to be able to ‘fit in’ when visiting another country and to not just be another tourist ticking off sights to be seen. This is what I hope our students learn — along with some adjectives, verbs and nouns — to understand that when you bring them altogether, connect them, they become bigger than the individual elements. They begin to mean something. That ability, along with appreciation for difference, can help to make people from widely different backgrounds connect and find some common ground. We are all on this planet together and the world is becoming a smaller place. I realise this is a cliché but in actual fact, this is the point that makes learning a language even more meaningful.

VIRGINIA PRIOR Head of Languages