Second Languages, you should have one

Second Languages, you should have one.  If you've not heard the NPR Talk of the Nation Program today, you should.

Nation

Americans and Learning a Second Language

Talk of the Nation, October 11, 2005 · Learning a second language is not necessarily required or expected of students in America -- but virtually everywhere else in the world, it is. What factors determine what second languages Americans choose to learn?

Guests:

Rosemary Feal, executive director of the Modern Language Association

Michael Long, professor of Second Language Acquisition, and Director of the University of Maryland's School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

Richard Brecht, director of the National Foreign Language Center in Washington, D.C.

Professor Long's comments and area of specialization are especially worth noting and applying to your own life.  In my experience nothing enriches your life more than some knowledge, no matter how limited, of another language than English.  And, increasingly research is revealing that multilinguals are less prone to dementia not to mention far more interesting folks.  You are never too old to learn a new language and the idea that adults have a harder time is largely unfounded.  The attitude of the language student towards acquistion of a second language seems to be equally as significant as age. 

Enjoy this and have a good day, my friends.

Goce de esto y tenga un buen día, mis amigos.
Appréciez ceci et ayez une bonne journée, mes amis.

Насладитесь этим и имейтесь хороший день, мои друзей.