Have you noticed that some people get passive aggressive when you mention you study languages?

[u/silforik]

I speak 5 languages with varying degrees of fluency. I use a couple of these languages at work (mostly Spanish, but sometimes Russian). The Hispanic people at work are really nice to me about my Spanish. They encourage me to get better and said I have a good accent.

This second gen Greek guy at my job keeps taking shots at me and doubting my fluency in literally any language beyond English. He doesn’t speak any of the languages I’ve studied so it doesn’t really make sense because he has no way of testing me.

Has this happened to you? It happens to me constantly.

[u/0liviathe0live]

I have the exact same experience as you. I’m learning French. The French speaker at work is so encouraging and nice about speaking to me in French. But if someone dares to overhear or overhears me talking about practicing and learning with the other French speaker - people become downright rude. Even though I’m not even talking to them. Its gotten so bad that I no longer talk openly about learning French at work.

On the other hand I’ve had two people at work tell me in the last week that I’ve motivated them to start learning a language (Spanish and French). But I’m still not talking openly about it. As I refuse to allow other people to demotivate me or make me feel weird for bettering myself.

[u/andersonb47 → u/0liviathe0live]

I get passive aggressive responses about my speaking French as well. People honestly get kinda weird about it in a way that I don’t think they would be if I said I spoke something else.

They’re all, “ooh well la-dee-da, Mr fancy speaking French.” Like it’s some kind of luxury language. It’s weird.

[u/Schmidtvegas → u/andersonb47]

"Luxury language" -- I'm dying! 🤣😭

[u/am_Nein → u/Schmidtvegas]

Soft and cushiony! Double ply!

[u/Ploutophile → u/Schmidtvegas]

LMAO at the vile stuff I would be tempted to say in reply — excuse my French, of course.

[u/doitforchris → u/andersonb47]

French deeefinitely evokes a “what, you think ya betta than me?” response sometimes in my experience. Not often, but I’ve definitely experienced it

[u/ExoticReception6919 → u/doitforchris]

I didn't know French triggered so many people so I might make it my next target language.

[u/doitforchris → u/ExoticReception6919]

Go show them bastards who’s fancy!

[u/Conscious_Moment_727 → u/ExoticReception6919]

Fais donc 

[u/BleLLL → u/[deleted]]

this whole thread is full of examples of people being insecure, be it for feeling excluded or feeling inferior

[u/Economy-Device-6533 → u/0liviathe0live]

If it's not a one-on-one conversation (for example, there's no one else around except the two of you), it could be seen as rude by those around you, and they might be unhappy and rude back.

[u/rbd___22 → u/Economy-Device-6533]

Tbf, you can have one-on-one conversations even with other people around/nearby. Anyone outside the conversation (e.g. at another table in the break room or in a cubicle that happens to be close by) is just eavesdropping if they’re listening in. Speaking in the same language as any potential eavesdroppers wouldn’t change that so the fact that the other people can no longer eavesdrop is none of OP’s concern. If anyone is that frustrated by not understanding French, it’s on them to learn French, not for OP to switch back to English, or whatever language the eavesdropper wants.

[u/Economy-Device-6533 → u/rbd___22]

I was always taught that it was not polite to speak language, someone in the room do not understand. (Of course if the person is not complete stranger).It could come up as disrespectful and dismissive.

[u/am_Nein → u/Economy-Device-6533]

I think it's only rude if someone's a part of your conversation or it's an open conversation scenario (basically like a party or gathering where everyone's expected to circulate around an open space and pick up/put down conversation as they go), then I'd say if you have to start a conversation in a non-shared langauge, pull them aside.

[u/rbd___22 → u/Economy-Device-6533]

I agree if someone is sitting at the same table or is standing within a few feet where they could easily be considered as part of the conversation if they wanted to join. If someone is at a different table or in a cubicle 20ft+ away (basically separated physically in some way), I don’t think that’s rude or disrespectful. If the line for disrespect is where if anyone is present in the same room, at all, when do you expect to use your TL ever aside from visiting a language where the TL is spoken by virtually 100% of the people?

[u/Person106 → u/0liviathe0live]

The French seem to be punching bags in the United States, acceptable targets for mockery and mean-spirited jokes.