They told me: Learning languages is just a waste of time

[nopointofliving]

I don't know why do I let them get into my head. When they see me learning languages and I'm unemployed. They tell me: it's better you get a job. This won't help you, you're wasting time.

And I regret "wasting time" learning this and that. Maybe they're right, I'm lazy and I don't like to enroll in any regular job, even I applied to many. I got no calling back though.

Anyone else regrets when s/he does something s/he likes but everyone around doesn't consider this thing as useful as they think it should be?!!

 

[DetachedDreamer97]

I'll say... "为什么不都？ [why not both]"
I'm working part time and because of how things are for me around here, I embarked on learning a new language. Which for me, is Chinese. You see, this can be useful as if you're going to another country. Because if you move there and don't know the language, you're going to have some difficulty getting by for a while. Even if you don't plan on relocating, you're going to encounter some people who don't speak English, which is the case for me as I have customers who only know spanish, are deaf or mute, so they speak in sign, and others.

Screw those people who say it's a useless skill! If you want to learn a new language, go for it! And I wish you the best of luck!

 

[Dr Iron Arc]

I have people telling me the opposite, so many have been telling me to learn Mandarin Chinese because my parents are both from Taiwan but I was born in the US and I much prefer being American and only knowing English. I associate learning Mandarin with trauma anyway because all my life most of the only mandarin I've heard has been my parents yelling at each other, specifically my dad yelling at my mom.

 

[LunarPyotr]

I personally think that learning to speak many languages can be quite useful in many situations

For example for traveling, seeking help for ××××× from forums where nobody speaks English or for fleeing to different country.
The individuals who tell you that it's a waste of time are probably too ignorant to see the beauty of knowing at least 2 different languages.

For example I'm currently speaking polish with a certain guy who was a member on this forum and we understand each other really good.
There's also the Russian guy who got me my poison and we were communicating in Russian and only sometimes spoke German if there was a misunderstanding

 

[g0921]

"Living is also a waste of time, we all gonna die anyway" :P

Just do whatever that pleases you,
it is your own life~~

 

[FuneralCry]

I think learning a language can have many benefits such as for communication and travel. It certainly isn't a waste of time. If you enjoy it then you should keep doing it, people can say what they want. I've always liked the idea of doing that but I totally failed French at school.

 

[WornOutLife]

Haha what a coincidence! A guy told me that it was a waste for me to learn languages too. You can see THIS THREAD.

It seems they don't understand that even if we're gonna ctb, there are some things which we still love doing. The more my Japanese improves, the better I feel. I just love languages and I will even try to live more as long as I'm alive.

Hobbies could be anything and none of us should stop doing them just because we're suicidal

 

[PartlyHuman]

Honestly, learning languages was a life saving to me and the only reason I started to recover. I'm learning portuguese btw (brazilian verse) and well for here (Eastern Europe) it's a useless language. But it was seriously life-saving for me. I've got my first real hobby, met my (amazing) bf and started to rethink my choice of profession.
So thing is, you can't be sure how learning a language will change your life. Who will you meet, what it'll teach you... Don't care if it's useful or not, it saved my life and gave me new reason.

 

[UseItOrLoseIt]

Look, I started learning piano at age 28. Huge waste of time by any standard. I will never be a virtuoso, not even good enough to perform anywhere. Still, I enjoy it. I enjoy learning and getting better at it. I enjoy playing for my own amusement. I have no objective benefit from it. The benefit is in the act itself.

 

[Tonight634]

Oh how many times my parents told me so, especially my dad constantly forcing me to learn German instead of Japanese (I live close to Germany) when Japanese was the only thing that made me happy and if I didn't study it I wouldn't study at all anyway, but looking back he never supported me in anything I did anyway...I luckily didn't stop because of him but I understand how you feel

 

[nopointofliving]

Thank you everyone...
your kind and supporting words encourages to continue learning Hindi. Thank you so much to every and each one of you.
Sending tons of love to you <3

 

[ihnaus419]

Language learning has been my hobby for the last seven or eight years. So I started it before my depression even became a thing. Most of those years were spent in the hell that is compulsory education, so my studying was never consistent enough to become truly fluent in any other language. Although, I can talk to and understand my grandfather in his native tongue decently, something I had wished to be able to do since I was a little kid.

From a practical standpoint, language learning is mostly useless for me (living in the Southeast United States), except greek because that is my ancestral language. There were a couple situations where knowing Spanish was helpful but never enough to justify the time spent studying. For me, it is just intrinsically enjoyable, but recently I've had to force myself to practice my hobbies. There is little joy in even the activities that once gave me immense pleasure.

 

[Shadowrider]

I don't know why do I let them get into my head. When they see me learning languages and I'm unemployed. They tell me: it's better you get a job. This won't help you, you're wasting time.

And I regret "wasting time" learning this and that. Maybe they're right, I'm lazy and I don't like to enroll in any regular job, even I applied to many. I got no calling back though.

Anyone else regrets when s/he does something s/he likes but everyone around doesn't consider this thing as useful as they think it should be?!!

Being multilingual is always useful! This actually increases your chances to get hired. Think of an international professional environment. Think of your chances to work as a translator. Think of your access to valuable HOWTO's and other stuff to learn.
So no, languages are not a waste of time.
Furthermore, they say learning languages keeps your brain active and you will probably not get senile when you get old :)

Look, I started learning piano at age 28. Huge waste of time by any standard. I will never be a virtuoso, not even good enough to perform anywhere. Still, I enjoy it. I enjoy learning and getting better at it. I enjoy playing for my own amusement. I have no objective benefit from it. The benefit is in the act itself.

This!
I do agree, having absolutely the same experiences with guitar. I have no illusions, I will probably not replace Oscar Dronjak of HammerFall (if he decides to give up his career at any time, heh) - but I do enjoy learning and improving. The objective benefit is that I have something I am able to do, no matter how depressed I am. I have something to share, and I do enjoy helping others who have just begun to learn.
I just enjoy doing it, even if I understand I will never become an artist.
Isn't it beneficial to have something that makes you happy?

 

[Tiredofhurting]

I don't know why do I let them get into my head. When they see me learning languages and I'm unemployed. They tell me: it's better you get a job. This won't help you, you're wasting time.

And I regret "wasting time" learning this and that. Maybe they're right, I'm lazy and I don't like to enroll in any regular job, even I applied to many. I got no calling back though.

Anyone else regrets when s/he does something s/he likes but everyone around doesn't consider this thing as useful as they think it should be?!!

I think it is impressive you are learning a language. A lot of ability to travel somewhere new and have a job opportunity. I am using duolingo to try and learn Spanish.

 

[avoid_slow_death]

Fuck what people say. 9 times out of 10, someone says some shit like that they are either xenophobic or just straight jealous. Either way their opinion comes from a place of ignorance and as such, you should ignore them.

 

[nopointofliving]

I think it is impressive you are learning a language. A lot of ability to travel somewhere new and have a job opportunity. I am using duolingo to try and learn Spanish.

Hello friend,

I wish you all the best for Spanish learning. You can do this!
I appreciate your support. Sometimes I let people get into my head, I don't know why!

Fuck what people say. 9 times out of 10, someone says some shit like that they are either xenophobic or just straight jealous. Either way their opinion comes from a place of ignorance and as such, you should ignore them.

Exactly! But I'm really vulnerable and people could drag my confidence down. Let's hope for the best. Thank you for the support and love!

Being multilingual is always useful! This actually increases your chances to get hired. Think of an international professional environment. Think of your chances to work as a translator. Think of your access to valuable HOWTO's and other stuff to learn.
So no, languages are not a waste of time.
Furthermore, they say learning languages keeps your brain active and you will probably not get senile when you get old :)

Yes! This is why I started learning languages thinking about these possibilities, but depression and my vulnerability lower my self-esteem and confidence, and people talks could play with my head. I'm doing a little better now. Thank you for the support <3

Language learning has been my hobby for the last seven or eight years. So I started it before my depression even became a thing. Most of those years were spent in the hell that is compulsory education, so my studying was never consistent enough to become truly fluent in any other language. Although, I can talk to and understand my grandfather in his native tongue decently, something I had wished to be able to do since I was a little kid.

From a practical standpoint, language learning is mostly useless for me (living in the Southeast United States), except greek because that is my ancestral language. There were a couple situations where knowing Spanish was helpful but never enough to justify the time spent studying. For me, it is just intrinsically enjoyable, but recently I've had to force myself to practice my hobbies. There is little joy in even the activities that once gave me immense pleasure.

I can relate. English is my second language, I learned some Spanish and Persian, and now Hindi. The last 3 languages are useless in my place. People ask me why don't you learn French and improve your English? Actually I don't like French and I use English daily. I like the fact I can read Hindi, it's very enjoyable and interesting.

Thank you for your support and sharing your experience with language learning. I wish you all the best. Hugs <3