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In reply to the discussion: FYI - Putin speaks fluent German - and Merkel fluent Russian - and did you know [View all]No Vested Interest
(5,156 posts)51. Four years Latin, French - 4 yrs high school, 3 yrs College
I have always felt the Latin helped give me a command of English, where so many words have Latin roots.
The French language I enjoyed studying, but never could get past my Midwestern accent re speaking French, so didn't do it well.
I knew Mrs. Merkel was from E. Germany, but hadn't put 2+2 together to figure out that she would thus be fluent in Russian.
Also wasn't aware of Putin's time in Germany.
Thanks for passing this along.
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FYI - Putin speaks fluent German - and Merkel fluent Russian - and did you know [View all]
Mira
Mar 2014
OP
Lol, I HAD Latin for a few years, wouldn't say I studied it because I was not very good at studying.
sabrina 1
Mar 2014
#53
It came in handy when living in a French chateau while avoiding the Viet Nam war.
Ikonoklast
Mar 2014
#72
So Merkle knew what she was talking about when she said Putin "was not in touch with reality"..
Cha
Mar 2014
#11
That's right.. we can't know everything now.. it's all unfolding. All we can do is go by past
Cha
Mar 2014
#66
Yeah, I heard that reported several times, but I think we should not assume that report is accurate.
2banon
Mar 2014
#58
For now he's just a mean ol asshole who cracks down on Gays and Journalists in Russia.
Cha
Mar 2014
#61
Actually there is some suspicion that the Merkel family was well connected in East Germany
JVS
Mar 2014
#37
There's a thread saying MERKEL tried talking Poot down & said he's out of contact with reality n/t
UTUSN
Mar 2014
#23
In Scandinavia, everyone is required to study English, starting in elementary school
Lydia Leftcoast
Mar 2014
#26
Those countries are so small and all their neighbors in all directions speaks a different launguage
Auntie Bush
Mar 2014
#29
Tea party is the epitome of American know-nothingness. Imperial measurement system is close second.
Bernardo de La Paz
Mar 2014
#33
" know we don't have a need for being multilingual..." < I don't know about that. While I
jtuck004
Mar 2014
#36
That is a bizarre and untrue statement.If it were true we would be embroiled in several more wars...
Hekate
Mar 2014
#48
I mentioned something similar when it came to various countries' foreign policies:
MisterP
Mar 2014
#65