I like to think I am an interested (0) AND committed language learner. Well, that's the idea. (1) WHAT it means is that, before travelling to another country, I spend time learning a little (2) BIT of that country's language. To be honest, this time may be only (3) TAKE a small number of hours. So the result may be no more (4) IMPRESSING than a few words and phrases.
However, if possible, I like to work out (5) JUST how the equivalent of the verb 'be' works. I want to see (6) WHETHER or not the language has masculine and feminine. Do verbs change according (7) to the speaker? Is there a fixed order for words within a sentence?
Anyway,
I believe the attempt is a good investment. Just being able to say
things like 'hello', 'thank you', 'two coffees, please' and so (8) ON – it all helps to make a positive impression. People appreciate the effort – (9) WHY wouldn't they?
But (10) THERE is
a difficulty in all this. Because I travel a lot for my work, I am
constantly learning small quantities of different languages. Sadly,
then, I speak (11) NO language very well, and I tend to forget everything (12) JUST as fast as I learn.