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Question 2.When did you last travel to a country where you didn't speak the language? What were the first words you learned? Why did you learn these ones? Do you still remember any of them?

Five years ago I went to Thailand. I worked in a company during six months. There I learned how to say hello, thanks, counting. Those words were not necessary to communicate, but to reach the hearts of the people living there. In Thailand we communicated in English so it was not necessary to speak Thai, but someone told me once that a language serves to communicate, but if you want to get to the heart of people then learn their mother tongue. Then that's what I did. Now I remember only a few words, because I have not practiced since I left that country.
Question 5. Which of the two statements below do you agree with most? Why?

a. Students can decide for themselves which words they would like to learn.
b. It’s the teacher’s job to decide which words students need to learn.

I agree with the first one. Students learn quicker if they study what they are interested in.

Montse Pi

Thanks for your story Montse! Learning a bit of the local language is definitely a good move. It shows good will and it's something you can share. I've never been to Thailand - is the language difficult?
See you,
Pieter