Gent-Speak: Common Phrases in Other Languages

Alright — a long time ago in a post I wrote about Loyalty, I referenced an Esquire Article called “The 75 Skills Every Man Should Master by Tom Chiarella.  I keep going back to the article every now and then because I honestly think it’s a pretty solid listing, and I like to know how I’m measuring up to it as I grow in my “Gentleman Training” and research.

Well #18 on the list is…

18. Speak a foreign language. Pas beaucoup. Mais faites un effort.

When I first read this article a while back, I just sort of glazed over that one, but then I saw it in another Man-Essentials list that even went as far as to say “Speak a foreign language that’s not Spanish.”  I’d imagine it’s because it was from an American publication, and Spanish is practically the unofficial second language of the U.S. already anyway.  It’s sort of seen as the easy way out by some (go figure).

Anyway – I’m convinced that Speaking a foreign language IS ESSENTIAL for any man – let alone a Gentleman – because our world is navigated through speech.  Think about it, why only be a Gentleman in English speaking countries (for the record, it turns out a lot of “major” countries teach English as a second language at some basic level — but don’t depend on that crutch)?  Why not even learn how to say “Hello” and “Thank You” and “Excuse Me” in other dialects of different languages (think Mexico-Spanish vs. Spain-Spanish)?

I’ve personally been “studying,” using the term loosely, German for the past 6 months… putting my money where my mouth is and what not… And it’s honestly very fulfilling – plus I plan to use it when I visit Europe (next year sometime hopefully).

To help you all out a bit, I found this great resource from Fodor’s (they make great travel guide books).  You have the opportunity to learn 150 common phrases in 7 different languages…

• Spanish
• French
• Italian
• German
• Arabic
• Chinese
• Japanese

I’d imagine they picked these 7 because if you know these – you’re pretty much covered all over the globe.  Think about it – in what part of the world will you not find someone… ANYONE… who speaks at least one of these languages?  Fodor’s site says:

Being able to speak the language in a foreign country is a great way to connect with local culture.

Fodor’s has partnered with the experts at Living Language to provide you with Language for Travelers. This fun, easy, and effective method for learning key phrases will help you prepare for your trip, whether you’re reactivating a language you studied a long time ago or you’re starting from scratch. Here’s how to get started:

• Listen and hear over 150 words and phrases from key categories
• Print out a free PDF of essential vocabulary to take on your trip
• Learn more about the language and culture of your destination

Why not give it a shot by CLICKING THE PIC below?

CLICK THE PIC to learn a little bit about other languages and cultures...

What language did you choose to explore first?  Do you already speak more than one language?  If so – tell us about the other one(s).  If you could learn any language – what would it be and why (even if it’s not listed in the 7 above)?  Tell us these things and more in the Comment Section below.

Peace and thanks for reading.