Who would have thought – fishes are learning foreign languages nowadays too! Impressive, no? Furthermore, it’s not just fish – from Apes to Zebras, all the other animals are jumping on the language- learning- bandwagon too!

Our video shows a cat attempting to eat a fish in its bowl. Unfortunately for the cat (but happily for the fish!), he doesn’t succeed. The small fish triumphs over its feline enemy. What a huge embarrassment for the cat to have beaten by a fish. The poor mog was scared by the surprise of the fish assuming a dog-like voice… and what’s the arch nemesis of every cat? Yes, a dog! How clever of the fish! This is an excellent example of how knowing foreign languages can help you defend yourself. Perhaps not in an identical situation to the fish - though you never know! – but certainly whilst away from home, your comfort zone, being able to communicate properly can get you out of all sorts of trouble! And so it would seem that learning a foreign language is an advantage for even the highest form of animals – us humans!
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Learning a foreign language is indeed something for everyone (yes, even to animals!). As what Dr. Steven Pinker, cognitive scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who studies language acquisition in children says: “You can train animals to do all kinds of amazing things”. Aptly, I now make reference to those cases in which people who are interested in training animals are inputting maximum effort into development and mastering skills to enhance the animals’ capabilities. For instance, the animals are trained how to do exhibitions and tricks, even in the ways which people usually do. Thus, we could even say that the educational grounds between humans and animals are gradually getting closer.

Back to us humans, learning foreign language could be more than useful in defense from any social attack. In what sense? Let’s make an example: You go to a place previously unknown to you. You haven’t a friend there and all of a sudden, you break one of their rules (the difference in what is culturally acceptable throughout the world can be shocking!). So, you find yourself owing an explanation (and panicking – what are the consequences? A sanction? Prison?). You want to demonstrate your respect for their culture and explain how it was not your intention to break any rule… But how? Easy: Perfectly, reasonably and clearly! Well, so long as you know their language…

Let’s not argue with the idea that, foreign language learning is a must. It’s not just an ambition or a past time luxury, rather it is a key to getting closer to our friends all over the world! Ambition is fundamental – for oneself and for eliminating world ignorance. Let’s rid ourselves of obstacles which limit exploring, and integrating ourselves with, other cultures. There is so much to learn from them, so much to be taken! Let’s break down the language barrier and build our defenses- Learn FOREIGN languages!

This entry was posted on Monday, December 24th, 2007 at 11:17 am and is filed under Learn Languages. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.