Interesting article regarding Modern Languages from the Independent newspaper..

There are bookstores and endless resources on the internet, The Rosetta Stone, Pimsleur, for dummies/idiots book guides, audio tapes, software, textbooks, the local library, and if you're lucky and live in a multicultural area you might meet native speakers or a regular basis.

...and I think people get the impression that it's hard from the school lessons, which are crap for the most part. In other countries even the old tramps are bilingual for crying out loud.

exactly..thats what i've found...not particularly bright people in other countries being able to speak many languages..
tis shameful.
i often come up against the most arrogant and annoying argument "why you wanna learn another language? they all speak english"

so irritating and obnoxious

I agree! But unfortunately there are loads of people out there who aren't interested in learning a language or about other cultures...and loads of people who say it's too hard and don't try.

I know, I hate that! You even see people who've moved to Spain and still haven't made any effort to learn Spanish because they expect everyone else to speak English to them! It gives us all a bad name.

Plus they're quick to complain when immigrant comminities in this country fail to integrate and learn the language.

aye..i'll complain about that though because i think its only right - if you go to live in a country, you learn to speak their language and respect their culture.
applies for everyone.