Re: Where does one find other people with our same passion?
Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2015 9:52 am
A lot of people that like studying languages for fun seem to prefer studying them on their own rather than attending classes because it's often faster and more flexible, and of course cheaper. Many people that go to language classes do it because they don't know any other way to learn a language or don't have the confidence to believe they can study on their own. I'm talking about those who study for fun, not as a school requirement. But in any case, I don't think you're likely to meet a lot of passionate language enthusiasts there.
The thing is, there is a difference between someone who takes a language class at a community center because they like to vacation in Spain and the kind of people you meet on this forum. Of course there are people here who are only learning a language for a specific purpose whether because they have to for work or school or because they want to for travel or social reasons. But there are also a lot of the sort who drool over grammar books and dictionaries.
It's easy enough in many places these days to meet someone who speaks more than one language, but that doesn't mean they are enthusiastic about languages or enjoy talking about them. It's kind of like with cars. I know how to drive one because I once had a need to learn, but I have absolutely no interest in talking about them. And that's the attitude I often see regarding languages. Someone might know two or three because of school or circumstances, but that doesn't mean they want to spend an evening discussing verb tenses or etymology or something fun like that. (Some people have no idea how to have a good time.)
The thing is, there is a difference between someone who takes a language class at a community center because they like to vacation in Spain and the kind of people you meet on this forum. Of course there are people here who are only learning a language for a specific purpose whether because they have to for work or school or because they want to for travel or social reasons. But there are also a lot of the sort who drool over grammar books and dictionaries.
It's easy enough in many places these days to meet someone who speaks more than one language, but that doesn't mean they are enthusiastic about languages or enjoy talking about them. It's kind of like with cars. I know how to drive one because I once had a need to learn, but I have absolutely no interest in talking about them. And that's the attitude I often see regarding languages. Someone might know two or three because of school or circumstances, but that doesn't mean they want to spend an evening discussing verb tenses or etymology or something fun like that. (Some people have no idea how to have a good time.)