Second Language Teaching and Multilingualism

In the times of globalization, being able to use a language other than one's mother tongue, proves an asset. Especially for a discussion on second language teaching and learning. It helps the teacher to relate to a larger number of students and allows them to express themselves freely in a classroom discussion. Bilingualism is the ability to use two languages. Whereas Trilingualism is the ability to use three languages in day to day conversations. Multilingualism similarly is the ability to use more than two languages. As a part of our English Language teaching class discussion, here are five English words as well as phrases and their expressions in different languages:

1) How are you?
    Gujarati: કેમ છો ?
    Hindi: कैसे हो आप ?
   
2) Death 
    Gujarati: મૃત્યુ 
     Hindi: मृत्यु 
     Spanish: muerte
     
3)  Boredom
      Gujarati: કંટાળો 
      Hindi: क्लांति 
      French: ennui
      Spanish: aburrimiento
      Italian: la noia
      German: langeweile

4) Do You know me?
     Gujarati: તમે મને ઓળખો છો ?
     Hindi: क्या आप मुझे पहचानते है ?
     Italian: mi conosci ?
     French: me connaissez-vous? 

5) Goodbye
     Gujarati: આવજો 
     Hindi: अलविदा 
     Italian: addio
     Indonesian: selamat tinggal 
     Afrikaans: totsiens
     German: Auf wiedersehen 

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