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Harry Kane

Wick3d

Wick3d

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
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11,671
Japhet said:
Players come here from all over the World and can either speak English or learn it quickly. It's the most common international language. I'd imagine Harry Kane struggles to count to 3 in German.
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He will learn German, but the incentive isn't really there except from a PR point of view. The number of excellent English speakers on the Munich team is quite evident. He won't struggle with communication where it matters at all. He will struggle if he plans to integrate into German society fully, then he definitely will need to learn German to a high level of fluency.
 
easley91

easley91

Well-Known Member
Jan 27, 2011
19,087
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Us English are far too privileged and don't realise how lucky we are that everyone else learns our language in school. Even when we go abroad we have English translations for most things.

I remember doing German at GCSE. Such a hard language (for me) to learn. All he needs to do is stick Rammstein on repeat.
 
longtimespur

longtimespur

Well-Known Member
Sep 10, 2014
5,834
9,950
easley91 said:
Us English are far too privileged and don't realise how lucky we are that everyone else learns our language in school. Even when we go abroad we have English translations for most things.

I remember doing German at GCSE. Such a hard language (for me) to learn. All he needs to do is stick Rammstein on repeat.
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Yes I had it at school but some of their words are longer than our alphabet. 😖🤣
 
thecook

thecook

Well-Known Member
Jan 17, 2009
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Japhet said:
Players come here from all over the World and can either speak English or learn it quickly. It's the most common international language. I'd imagine Harry Kane struggles to count to 3 in German.
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Being a professional though I expect he's taking part in drei January.
 
S

Styopa

Well-Known Member
Jan 19, 2014
5,353
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Wick3d said:
He will learn German, but the incentive isn't really there except from a PR point of view. The number of excellent English speakers on the Munich team is quite evident. He won't struggle with communication where it matters at all. He will struggle if he plans to integrate into German society fully, then he definitely will need to learn German to a high level of fluency.
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Yeah, I agree, he will likely have no real issues at all. It’s not like a non English speaker coming to England which could present a number of daily challenges for that person, depending on their lifestyle, job and living arrangements.

If Kane wants to make a proper long-term life there, then I am sure he will want to learn to speak German to a decent level. But he’s a footballer, so he’s maybe thinking he’ll be there for three of four years before moving back to the UK or the US. In which case, as you say, the incentive is not really there because he’ll able to get by just fine with English most of the time.
 
O

olithfc

Oli
Nov 30, 2007
475
649
Styopa said:
Yeah, I agree, he will likely have no real issues at all. It’s not like a non English speaker coming to England which could present a number of daily challenges for that person, depending on their lifestyle, job and living arrangements.

If Kane wants to make a proper long-term life there, then I am sure he will want to learn to speak German to a decent level. But he’s a footballer, so he’s maybe thinking he’ll be there for three of four years before moving back to the UK or the US. In which case, as you say, the incentive is not really there because he’ll able to get by just fine with English most of the time.
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It's just I think the fans and the club appreciate a player who takes time to integrate and learn the language. It shows a real commitment to your time there. maybe he will be there one more season after this and a team like utd will overpay for him?

Either way I don't think it reflects well on Harry not to dive in and learn the language and it does reflect well on dier if dier does.
 
S

Styopa

Well-Known Member
Jan 19, 2014
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olithfc said:
It's just I think the fans and the club appreciate a player who takes time to integrate and learn the language. It shows a real commitment to your time there. maybe he will be there one more season after this and a team like utd will overpay for him?

Either way I don't think it reflects well on Harry not to dive in and learn the language and it does reflect well on dier if dier does.
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Yeah that’s true., especially for such a high profile player. I am sure though the club or his PR team can prepare some questions in advance that he could respond to in German. So the fans will get to see him talking in German.

But I think that it would take him (and most people) a fairly long time to become conversational in a new language. Even if he dives in, it’s a long term project.
 
CantSmileWithoutYou

CantSmileWithoutYou

Well-Endowed Member
May 20, 2015
3,878
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easley91 said:
Us English are far too privileged and don't realise how lucky we are that everyone else learns our language in school. Even when we go abroad we have English translations for most things.

I remember doing German at GCSE. Such a hard language (for me) to learn. All he needs to do is stick Rammstein on repeat.
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Feuer frei!
 
brasil_spur

brasil_spur

SC Supporter
Aug 25, 2006
12,710
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Came in here just to post this:

1706028880808.png


Not sure if I'd feel sorry for him or not.
 
F

Fergus

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Jun 5, 2004
725
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I was living in Hamburg when Kevin Keegan joined HSV. He was giving interviews in quite passable German after 3 months there. It's not that difficult if you make the effort.
 
Japhet

Japhet

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2010
19,280
57,645
Fergus said:
I was living in Hamburg when Kevin Keegan joined HSV. He was giving interviews in quite passable German after 3 months there. It's not that difficult if you make the effort.
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I doubt languages are much of a strong point for Harry. His brother can't even do painting by numbers.
 
S

Styopa

Well-Known Member
Jan 19, 2014
5,353
14,823
Fergus said:
I was living in Hamburg when Kevin Keegan joined HSV. He was giving interviews in quite passable German after 3 months there. It's not that difficult if you make the effort.
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Then at the other side of the spectrum, I don’t think Bale ever gave interviews to the Spanish media in Spanish, despite being there for years. Although Bale is probably not an example for Harry to follow if he’s keen to get the local media onside!
 
spurs mental

spurs mental

Well-Known Member
Mar 10, 2007
25,433
50,174
Fergus said:
I was living in Hamburg when Kevin Keegan joined HSV. He was giving interviews in quite passable German after 3 months there. It's not that difficult if you make the effort.
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Yeah when I was in school after 3 years of German I was near fluent and could hold conversations in it. That was 2 lessons a week for 3 years.

But it's not a hard language to grasp once you get the basics.
 
S

Styopa

Well-Known Member
Jan 19, 2014
5,353
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spurs mental said:
Yeah when I was in school after 3 years of German I was near fluent and could hold conversations in it. That was 2 lessons a week for 3 years.

But it's not a hard language to grasp once you get the basics.
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To be fair though, people have different aptitudes for language learning, just like learning any other skill. For example some people pick up playing musical instruments very quickly, whilst others could spend years trying to become competent.
 
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