Wlodzimierz 4 | 539
5 Aug 2013 / #31
Impressive, Other! You are then fluent in Strine (Auslish), English and German, right? How's your Polish incidentally?
Which language to learn in my university course? Polish Or German?
How's your Polish incidentally?
Non-existent, I'm afraid.
Wlodzimierz 4 | 539
6 Aug 2013 / #33
When last in Poland, a Russian once told me my Polish was so "good" that a German would think I were a Czech. When I said that I was American, the Russian fellow flat out refused to believe me:-)
Foreigner4 12 | 1768
6 Aug 2013 / #34
Sorry Wlodzi, I thought one of your responses was to me but I read you wrong.
Wlodzimierz 4 | 539
6 Aug 2013 / #35
No prob, Foreigner! Happens to the best of us ^^
Germans often asked me when I was studying in a small city outside of Hanover, resp. Hannover, why I spoke German when they all (allegedly) spoke "better" English I ever possibly could in their language. My answer remained the same always. I'd calmly explain to them in their language that if every one of them knew half as much English/American literature and wordplay, punning etc. as I knew in German, well then, I'd have been tickled to speak to them in English:-)
Again, it's the sense of double standard; we outsiders are eternal students of the language,while Germans somehow miraculously don't need to practice their English, and deeply resent missives, however well meant, that they ought to. It's almost as though their pride in being perfect at all that they do has been wounded by meeting their match.
Curious. I never once encountered this attitude in Poland.
Germans often asked me when I was studying in a small city outside of Hanover, resp. Hannover, why I spoke German when they all (allegedly) spoke "better" English I ever possibly could in their language. My answer remained the same always. I'd calmly explain to them in their language that if every one of them knew half as much English/American literature and wordplay, punning etc. as I knew in German, well then, I'd have been tickled to speak to them in English:-)
Again, it's the sense of double standard; we outsiders are eternal students of the language,while Germans somehow miraculously don't need to practice their English, and deeply resent missives, however well meant, that they ought to. It's almost as though their pride in being perfect at all that they do has been wounded by meeting their match.
Curious. I never once encountered this attitude in Poland.