Languages conversation questions

Languages

 * How many languages can you speak "well"? How well can you read and write in those languages?
 * How many languages can you speak "badly"? How well can you read and write in those languages?
 * Is there any language which you don't presently speak but which you would like to learn? Why does this language interest you?
 * Can you think of any languages which you think sound aggressive, musical or have some other notable quality?
 * How many languages are there in your country?
 * It seems that languages are disappearing from the world every day and some people want to preserve them. What are your feelings about this?
 * It is sometimes suggested that certain ideas can only be expressed in particular languages. Do you think this is true?  Can you think of any examples?
 * Do you think the world would be a better or a worse place if everybody spoke the same language? How would the world be better or worse in such a case?
 * Does your language have many loan words from English? What are they?
 * Do you know any loan words that English has acquired from your language?
 * Apart from the vocabulary, in what ways does your language differ from English?
 * How important is it to be able to speak English in your country?

Learning languages

 * Why is it so easy for children to learn languages and so difficult for adults?
 * Do you know anybody who learnt another language as a child? How? Why?
 * When did you start learning your first foreign language?
 * Which do you think is most important: thoroughly learning the grammar of a language or trying to use the language in real situations?
 * Do you think you would be a good teacher of your native language? What skills do you think a language teacher needs?
 * In your opinion, what is the best way to learn and practice a foreign language?
 * Accents are very important in English culture. George Bernard Shaw once wrote: "It is impossible for an Englishman to open his mouth without making some other Englishman hate or despise him."  How associated are accents with social status in your country?