Excusez-moi no hablo German: how native English speakers became covert language snobs

With 1.53 billion native or second language English speakers worldwide, it is hardly surprising that our nation is seeing a downturn in language learning. But is this down to a lack of funding and opportunity, or blind ignorance and privilege?

A little green owl screaming at you every day to keep your streak up and then teaching you a string of non-sensical phrases like “The loch-ness monster is drinking whiskey”, barely counts as language learning. In fact, we’re privileged to even believe that a mobile application will teach us all we need to know when other language speakers need to slave over English books to have similar worldly opportunities. Although, with the number of people bragging over a pint at 11:59pm about completing their Duolingo streak, Brits clearly beg to differ.

So, is it therefore not an issue of desire but a lack of opportunity? Or do we use age as a justification, just as commonly as we use lack of drive or lack of teachers and even if there is a lack of all these things, are they good enough excuses for the phrase “it’s fine, they’ll all speak English anyway?”

With British council reporting in 2024 that 6/10 responding secondary schools faced trouble recruiting qualified language teachers, it is clear to see that language learning is on track to burying deep roots in monolingualism. Furthermore, British council found in 2023, that only one modern foreign language (MFL) was being offered in 2/3 of state schools and as of 2004 it is no longer a requirement for teenagers to take a language at GCSE. So, without the funding, encouragement, and quality teaching, is it really our youngsters’ fault that they rely on Google Translate and the reach of English to get by abroad?

But is this down to a lack of funding and opportunity, or blind ignorance and privilege?

In 2012, it was brought to light that the number of A-level candidates taking French had fallen by a third in a decade, a half in German, and only 44% of teenagers were taking language lessons. It is clear to see that the UK has had a crisis on its hands for a number of years and if it wishes to dismiss the claims of snobbery and ignorance there needs to be a bigger drive to encourage and support language learning.

Higher education continues to fail young minds, as Cardiff recently proved when announcing the decision to close their MFL department despite being the largest provider of MFL degrees in Wales and leaving the city as the only capital in the UK to not provide foreign language degrees.

Yet with the numerous benefits of being bilingual – even delaying the symptoms of dementia by 5 years – why aren’t more Brits committing to the skill or even learning a handful of useful phrases pre-departure? Phrase pocketbooks have disappeared; travel guides have mostly been retired in favour of TikToks, and Google Translate’s text-to-speech tool (whilst useful) has ruptured human connection.

Why aren’t more Brits committing to the skill or even learning a handful of useful phrases pre-departure?

In the world, around 60-75 percent of people speak at least two languages, with many countries known for having more than one official language such as Switzerland with four and South Africa with eleven! So not only could we call ourselves ignorant, but actually part of a minority that’s missing out on the joys of eavesdropping, communicating, and connecting with different languages.

When talking to my friends from mainland Europe, it’s common to hear them dismiss English as a hard language when they also speak a third or fourth, because for so many other nationalities, they start to hear English before they can walk.

Now, when I tell people I took Chinese at GCSE, I’m met with exclamations of surprise and excitement which quickly turn to disappointment when I admit that I can now only say ‘Hello, my name is…’ (我是) and ‘Ice cream’ (冰淇淋). Yet, I still take immense pride in the time I have committed to languages like Chinese, and now French, and I plan to learn Italian after university.

So not only could we call ourselves ignorant but actually part of a minority that’s missing out on the joys of eavesdropping, communicating, and connecting with different languages

Learning a language should not be met with surprise and excitement but instead a simple acknowledgement of an individual’s skill. It is not magic to have learnt Chinese, after all, 1.18 billion people speak it. Yet, it is considered special in the UK because we rely on another person’s linguistic ability instead of our own and that makes our nation small minded.

You have a lot to gain from learning a language, it’s not just grammar but an understanding of the culture and politics that make it, but even if you just learn 5 phrases for your next holiday, you’re gaining a chance to respect that culture, create a friendly rapport and feel satisfied with your efforts. So, don’t give up because “they’ll speak English”, learn so you can surprise the next individual you come across.

Really, if Tom Hiddleston can converse in 8 languages, what is stopping you learning one more.