• Question: Hi! Can you speak another language, and if so, does it come in handy during your work?? Thanks!

    Asked by mimi317 to Davie, Gemma, James P, James V, Nuala on 29 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: James Pope

      James Pope answered on 29 Jun 2012:

      Hi mim317,

      I can speak what I describe as ‘tourist Spanish’, I have enough to be polite and order food and drinks and get a room, but that is about it. I failed my Spanish GCSE and I’m really poor at languages, I just can’t get the hang of them and remember them in my head! It’s a real shame as I think it’s one of the best skills to have, the ability to talk to other people in their language and I’m jealous of those who can do it!

    • Photo: James Verdon

      James Verdon answered on 1 Jul 2012:

      Hi mimi,

      Did French GCSE and Spanish AS-level. I’ve also done some fieldwork in Spain, so my Spanish is ok. But I’ve never really had to use either in my work. Luckily for us English speakers, the language of science is in English. All the conferences are completely in English, and when you write a scientific paper, it is in English, so it’s easy for us. If you were French or German or any other nationality, you’d have to learn English to be able to be an effective scientist.

    • Photo: Davie Galloway

      Davie Galloway answered on 2 Jul 2012:

      hi mimi317,

      i can order food and drink and get directions when i go to france … but that’s about it … i so so wish i could do more … maybe one day i’ll get my son to teach me … he’s just turned 8 and already does french and spanish at school

    • Photo: Nuala Carson

      Nuala Carson answered on 5 Jul 2012:

      Hey mimi317,

      I cannot speak another language, I was terrible at languages at school! Its a shame as i think it would be a really handy thing to have, German, French or Spanish would be really usefully when working with other scientists from abroad. I do keep meaning to learn a language but i just never get round to it!

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