Street Speak: What’s the Point of Learning Languages?

Hei-ching

I think learning new languages is a very enjoyable experience, because you don’t only learn the language itself, but you also expose yourself to the cultures behind that language. It also lets you enjoy more types of media from around the world. So, it really just makes your experiences much broader.

As humans, learning a new language that we are really interested in is much more enriching to ourselves and to our lives. If we really want to use it and apply it in our daily lives, we have to make it a part of ourselves, and not just rely on something that’s outside of ourselves, like AI.

Carmen

I really love learning new languages because I can talk to more people and find out more about different cultures. I study new languages mainly for practical purposes and business.

Lia

I do really enjoy new languages. There’s something really fun about exploring a new culture, a new language and learning about a country. Because as much as you look on Google, it’s not going to give you the full deck, and it’s a good way of challenging yourself and developing yourself.

I really hate going to a new country and not being able to at least speak some of their language. It feels quite disrespectful to me, and I think it’s kind of disrespectful to speak to someone through a translator. Just like sticking the phone in their face, rather than actually attempting to communicate with them.

Mr Lee

I started learning English at school from a young age. Mandarin was something I picked up naturally without even realising. I think every language has its own charm, but it’s not just about the language itself. It’s often expressed through artistic mediums, whether in books, films, music, or drama. Each medium brings out different imaginations.

For example, there’s a song called Sweet Dreams. The lyrics are very repetitive, talking about being used or using others, and it repeats the same four or five lines over and over. But when you listen to it at different stages of your life, it gives you different feelings.

Alex

I’m from the UK. I have lived in Hong Kong for 15 years. I speak a little bit of Thai, but very little because my wife is Thai. I know only a little Cantonese. I’ve never been very good at learning languages, so I really haven’t been able to pick it up here. My children speak more languages than I do. AI can be helpful for things like translating, but it’s not the same as having a conversation with people.

I learned English mainly because exams forced me to. Besides, the way English is taught here in Hong Kong isn’t very practical. We don’t learn enough everyday communication skills. Coupled with the high-pressure exam environment, I really didn’t enjoy English that much.

But I’ve always enjoyed reading novels by Mainland Chinese writers, and there are Mandarin speakers at home, so I picked it up quite naturally. I believe motivation is key to language learning — it has to be enjoyable. That’s what makes me interested and proactive.

I don’t think AI can fully replace language learning. The most important part of learning a language is human interaction and the emotional exchange. If you rely solely on AI translation, you lose that layer of emotional expression.

I speak Korean and some English. I learned English because I wanted to travel abroad. English is important — it allows me to express my emotions accurately. But I feel I don’t have enough time to learn other languages because I’m quite busy.