to think learning a language

[Aribura]

is not "pointless" or a "waste of time" even though apparently, everyone in the universe speaks English? (!)

Since when did learning anything become a waste of time? Much less something that allows you to understand another world of literature, music, film, culture, people...even tiny languages have that. Can we not enjoy learning for fun anymore? We're so "busy" watching Eastenders and scratching our bums that anything we bother to learn has to be worldly "useful" by everyone's standards? It's just sad...

Of course it isn't useless. And the majority of the world's population do not speak English.

Fully agree with the posters saying that we need to start kids learning languages younger. 11 is too late, they should be starting at infant school.

weedsneedcutting you make very good points. English is the first choice for everyone else, but what do we choose?

I studied both French and Latin for 3 years at primary school, followed by 5 of French and 4 of Latin at secondary school. 10 years post 'O' level, I couldn't string a sentence together when trying to buy some chocolates in Reims in France.

Several years later, having spent holidays in France I went on a course at Alliance Francaise, and was quite shocked to find that my spoken French was, in some cases, streets ahead of many who had French degrees.

English is no use to me at all, except at home, no-one in our village speaks it.

weedsneedcutting I like your post. Very perceptive points.

I can't really see the attitude changing. Especially as so many people have no incentive to learn one (never travel outside their county).
Teaching can be abysmal or inspiring,more of one and less of the other needed. However, learning a language does take work and is not easy. Especially if no knowledge of one's native grammar!
Which language to choose? Well, we can pick can't we, although most schools don't let you. It goes very wrong at this stage............