What are you currently reading ?

[Leon]

Dette var da en underlig diskusjon...

Ja... 

[ronan]

(...)I always assume that our friends overseas learn English as a 'first choice'
So....You folk who don't have English as your native tongue, is my assumption correct ?
IS English the first choice for a foreign language ?

You're right.. BUT some people choose their neighbour-country fisrt (ie. peolple in the south will learn spanish, in the south-east italian, in the north-east german)
Then you are seriously encouraged to pick english as your second foreign language.
My daughters could also choose chinese in theur college. Times are changing 

(...) just got back from the south of France (Carcassonne) and was vey reassured by the fact that every Fench person I spoke to had as much grasp of English as I have French! I hate nothing more than going abroad attempting the lingo and being dissed by perfect English responses.

You should go to "lost places" in France. No one could speak english or  understand you ( and sometimes I can't myself !  )

[HPFlashman]

Ja... 

[Techno]

Including the remoter parts of Wales

[OldenBUA]

IS English the first choice for a foreign language ?

When I grew up it wasn't. Being close to Germany meant you could get either two Dutch or several German TV channels. So I picked up German first. Then in school it was German, English and French.

Nowadays, with multiple channels (with many American programs), the internet and whatnot, I'm pretty sure English will be first choice over here.

[HPFlashman]

In Norway, yes, undoubtedly.

English is taught from the third grade, with a choice of normally either French or German from the 7 grade.  

[GordonY]

Here's a simply spiffing idea, lets have all these foreign johnnies abolish their native languages and adopt English as their mother tongue, then anyone could read anything, and I'd at least have a chance of understanding the telly when I'm on my holidays. 

[Techno]

There's a rumour they may drop channel S4C over here, because barely any Welsh speakers even bother to watch it now.....So you might not have to worry about that particular station Gordon.
Not that you'd be likely to come to Wales to top up your sun-tan though...... (Cue insult from Ian. )
Mind you.....The last couple of weeks.....Phew !.....Wotascorcha !
Cheers - Phil.

[GordonY]

I live in the (official fact this) the sunniest city in Scotland, we get more sun here than anywhere else in the country. So about 12 hours a year. AND so far there doesnt seem to be any plans of dropping the Gaelic programs, mind you its a hoot watching them, cue dialogue : "hurdy gurdy gurdy hurdy gurdy gurdy hurdy gurdy gurdy AEROPLANE hurdy gurdy gurdy hurdy gurdy gurdy hurdy gurdy gurdy AMBULANCE hurdy gurdy gurdy"

[fsn]

Ahem! Getting this thread back on topic ... I don't know who it is that distracts the forum into all sorts ... I've ditched the American Medieval History. Too much like Tony Curtis in "The Black Shield of Falworth".

So now, I'm reading "Suez: The Double War" by Roy Fullick and Geoffrey Powell.

Very readable history of the Suez Crisis. I'm still at the political bit, can't wait for the Centurions! 

[fred.]

I'm reading Shetland Bus, by David Howarth - his story of helping run the fishing trawlers that ran from Shetland to Norway during WWII. Not a part of the war I knew much about - the Norwegian crews were incredibly brave - they only sailed during the winter, and had to survive storms as well as German patrols.

[Hertsblue]

I can only think that language teaching on the continent is so much better than here. I did the standard six years of French at school and came away unable to string two sentences together. It's only recently, fifty years on, that I've gone back to school and am at least able to ask the way to the railway station. This is possibly due to the fact that my tutor is a native French-speaker. 

Of course, this may have something to do with my ability to learn..... 

[fsn]

I'm reading Shetland Bus, by David Howarth - his story of helping run the fishing trawlers that ran from Shetland to Norway during WWII. Not a part of the war I knew much about - the Norwegian crews were incredibly brave - they only sailed during the winter, and had to survive storms as well as German patrols.

One of my favorite books - probably because I come from Shetland.

[Techno]

Just borrowed "Storm from the East" (From Genghis Khan to Khubilai Khan) from the library van.
It's great....It's got lots of pretty pictures for me to look at. (I especially like the photo of the heavy cavalry charging towards the camera !...Only thing that spoils that is that all the actors are grinning like loons, rather than looking fierce !
Apparently it accompanied 'the major TV series'.....But as that was aired all the way back in 1993, there's not much chance of finding it on DVD.
That'd have been rather useful for reference.

Not a bad read at all.

Cheers - Phil.

[nikharwood]

As if by magic...

http://watchdocumentary.org/watch/the-mongol-hordes-storm-from-the-east-episode-01-birth-of-an-empire-video_f760b6538.html

Enjoy, Phil 

[Gran76]

  Reading The Walking Dead : The road to woodbury which is getting me in the mood for some zombie gaming using All Things Zombie: Final fade out rules and some Pendraken zombies when they come out  . Watched trailer for The Walking dead season 4 which gets me excited for October.   

[Techno]

As if by magic...
http://watchdocumentary.org/watch/the-mongol-hordes-storm-from-the-east-episode-01-birth-of-an-empire-video_f760b6538.html
Enjoy, Phil 

Well I'll be hornswoggled !!
Thanks Nik...I'll have to get some more speakers for the PC at some stage soon....
Cheers - Phil

[nikharwood]

No worries, Phil 

[goat major]

Tonight I will start reading Henry Hyde's newly released Wargaming Compendium which looks like its going to be a classic to be ranked alongside the works of Featherstone, Grant etc.

[Leman]

Grey Tide in the East - a great read. What if, instead of invading Belgium in 1914, the Germans had launched their main offensive against Russia and simply held Alsace-Lorraine against the French. Britain now has no excuse for a declaration of war against Germany. Furthermore the French can't attack through Belgium because Britain has guaranteed its neutrality. Points to ponder (to quote Mr. Featherstone).