Problem
You want to meet and speak to new people. English is rapidly becoming the international language, the go-between language.
However, England presents two problems. It is hard to learn. You can have misunderstandings.
Latin is a great basis. Handy for learning the names of plants, and medical terms, but nobody speaks it.
Esperanto was invented as the miracle go-between language in a city where people spoke different languages, seen as a way of putting both speakers on equal footing, neither person being superior to the other.
Unfortunately few people spoke it.
With global communication, you can now have pen-pals worldwide. With meet-up comes another opportunity. A chance to meet others who speak Esperanto - staying in your own city. You can set up your own Esperanto group on Meetup.
I just saw an invitation to a meet-up in Reading, England, a university town, west of London, on the train line or drive from London. Then I found more, in London, England, and Melbourne, Australia. Others are in Washington DC and the USA. You can set up your own group in your own city or neighbourhood.
I tried to learn Esperanto years ago. It seemed such a good idea. So much easier than learning another language.
But I had nobody to speak to and eventually lost interest.
If you are in Reading, you have an Esperanto group to join. I gave a talk on Esperanto to a Toastmasters club (HOD) in London, and was immediately approached by two members of the audience who were keen to know more.
It's another skill and novelty to add to your c.v.
It works for you if you cannot learn languages or are short of time. Something you can do on the train.
But you need to have a goal in mind, such as a regular meeting, learn an exchange with somebody in another country or city, going to an Esperanto conference, offering to teach it to others, introducing it as a teacher to a primary school.
Teachers have toyed with the idea of simplified spelling for teaching English. (We already have that - it's American English, promoted by Webster in his Dictionary and schoolbooks - and what a success story that was.
To me the next logical step is teaching Esperanto in primary schools.
Are you looking for something to do when alone on the train - learn Esperanto. Want to meet people at the weekend start an Esperanto club.
Esperanto Museum Vienna Austria
If you are interested in the idea, whether or not you want to learn, if you are visiting Austria, you can get museum entry as part of a city museum tour pass.
Useful Websites
esperanto
https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esperanto
https://www.viennapass.com/vienna-attractions/globe-esperanto-museum
https://www.duolingo.com/course/eo/en/Learn-Esperanto-Online
https://www.meetup.com/Reading-Esperanto-Meetup/
https://www.meetup.com/Melbourne-Esperanto-Meetups/
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
You want to meet and speak to new people. English is rapidly becoming the international language, the go-between language.
However, England presents two problems. It is hard to learn. You can have misunderstandings.
Latin is a great basis. Handy for learning the names of plants, and medical terms, but nobody speaks it.
Esperanto was invented as the miracle go-between language in a city where people spoke different languages, seen as a way of putting both speakers on equal footing, neither person being superior to the other.
Unfortunately few people spoke it.
With global communication, you can now have pen-pals worldwide. With meet-up comes another opportunity. A chance to meet others who speak Esperanto - staying in your own city. You can set up your own Esperanto group on Meetup.
I just saw an invitation to a meet-up in Reading, England, a university town, west of London, on the train line or drive from London. Then I found more, in London, England, and Melbourne, Australia. Others are in Washington DC and the USA. You can set up your own group in your own city or neighbourhood.
I tried to learn Esperanto years ago. It seemed such a good idea. So much easier than learning another language.
But I had nobody to speak to and eventually lost interest.
If you are in Reading, you have an Esperanto group to join. I gave a talk on Esperanto to a Toastmasters club (HOD) in London, and was immediately approached by two members of the audience who were keen to know more.
It's another skill and novelty to add to your c.v.
It works for you if you cannot learn languages or are short of time. Something you can do on the train.
But you need to have a goal in mind, such as a regular meeting, learn an exchange with somebody in another country or city, going to an Esperanto conference, offering to teach it to others, introducing it as a teacher to a primary school.
Teachers have toyed with the idea of simplified spelling for teaching English. (We already have that - it's American English, promoted by Webster in his Dictionary and schoolbooks - and what a success story that was.
To me the next logical step is teaching Esperanto in primary schools.
Are you looking for something to do when alone on the train - learn Esperanto. Want to meet people at the weekend start an Esperanto club.
Esperanto Museum Vienna Austria
If you are interested in the idea, whether or not you want to learn, if you are visiting Austria, you can get museum entry as part of a city museum tour pass.
Useful Websites
esperanto
https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esperanto
https://www.viennapass.com/vienna-attractions/globe-esperanto-museum
https://www.duolingo.com/course/eo/en/Learn-Esperanto-Online
https://www.meetup.com/Reading-Esperanto-Meetup/
https://www.meetup.com/Melbourne-Esperanto-Meetups/
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
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