Upgrading your tongue opens the door to the ‘feel good factor’, and better relationships.

To mark the occasion of the European Day of Languages today, Rosetta Stone, a leading provider of technology-based language-learning solutions, uncovers major drivers for adult language learning today, citing the feel-good factor, meeting new people and an interest in other cultures.

Rosetta Stone’s 2012 survey into motivations for learning languages found that 54% of respondents were motivated by the feel-good factor, stating that learning a language made them feel good about themselves. Increasingly, the mastery of a second language is considered to enhance attractiveness, and to enable cross-cultural relationships to thrive.

  • A recent survey of 30,000 British women found that Italian, Dutch and French were considered  the “sexiest nationality”.
  • A survey run by Rosetta Stone  found 29% of those surveyed stated that the lover of their dreams would speak French.
  • Closely followed by Italian (20%).
  • Only 12.7% preferred English speaking lovers.
  • Language learning can also increase opportunities in love.
  • Rosetta Stone provides e-learning to individuals, schools, universities and public and private organisations in over 20 languages.
  • Other major drivers for language learning which Rosetta Stone has identified are: Career prospects; travel and culture; and ‘heritage learning’, based on languages spoken through generations.
To mark the European Day of Languages, Rosetta Stone has a unique offer available on all e-learning courses which can be redeemed via the official Facebook page: www.facebook.com/RosettaStoneUK

Sylke Riester, Managing Director Europe at Rosetta Stone commented:

“Being able to speak a second language – or a commitment to doing so – automatically suggests a curiosity about the world, which we know are attractive traits.”

“ “From day-to-day chit-chat to heartfelt expressions of love, being able to share these moments in your partner’s language reinforce the relationship. It’s another way of demonstrating love and commitment and allows genuine integration into a loved one’s life, family and culture.”.”

Brits ‘terribles’ at foreign languages.

Parlay voo onglaze?

Brits ‘terribles’ at foreign languages, with 19% unable to even translate “bonjour”

While everyone loves going on holiday, research by Hotels.com today reveals that this does not ‘translate’ for Brits into an ability to understand and speak the local language. Shockingly 64% of us are completely unable to say anything in a foreign tongue, and only a third (34%) of us are willing to give the lingo a go when abroad. Even simple words such as “bonjour” and “goedemorgen” failed to register, with 19% and 63% of us respectively unable to translate “good morning” in French and Dutch.

Despite French, German and Spanish being on the National Curriculum, only 13%, 8% and 6% of Brits respectively consider themselves able to speak the language. Of those in this category, 25% can ask a limited range of everyday questions, 21% can just say “hello” and “goodbye” and a strange 2% claim that they can understand everything that is said to them, but are unable to say anything back.

The majority of Brits (61%) rarely or never try to speak a foreign language, with reasons for their lack of effort being put down to simply not being bothered (16%), being too embarrassed they will make a mistake (35%) or simply assuming that everyone can speak English (23%).

Surprisingly 47% of 18-24 year olds reported that they haven’t spoken the foreign language they learnt at school, since they left. Conversely, those aged over 55 were most likely to try and speak the country’s local language when on holiday, with 45% of respondents claiming to very often or always try.

Putting pints before their Ps & Qs, more people (43%) were able to translate “a beer please” in Spanish (“una cerveza por favor”) than were able to correctly translate “thank you” in Portuguese (“prego”) 29%.

Kate Hopcraft, from Hotels.com, said: “The results of our study seem to put British holiday makers to shame, with even languages typically learnt at school such as German, French and Spanish having incredibly low levels of comprehension. Brits often have a negative image abroad when it comes to languages and unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be anything we’ll be saying auf wiedersehen to anytime soon.”

Percentage of Brits who could correctly translate these common foreign phrases:

Bonjour

81%

Una cerveza por favor

43%

Prego

29%

Ja

57%

Danke schoen

57%

Goedemorgen

37%

Buenas Noches

56%