“Es war geil!”
Fify
Can I order a Big Mac meal please
Where’s my PlayStation controller?
Yeah the latter is required for conversations with Jota.
I don’t think the language thing is a huge issue. There’s more in the team with Spanish/Portuguese first language than English. Aguero could hardly speak English after 7-8 years and did ok regardless
4 Likes
Ichiro Suzuki was well known for using a translator in front of the cameras even though his English was quite good. There is a sense from these guys that they want to be absolutely sure that their public statements are accurate and come from the heart, and it’s hard to do that when your so focused on trying to use the precise word for what you mean. I’ve understood that perspective, as I am conversational in three languages, but I’d always prefer my public facing comments be in English.
The bigger thing language wise is to make sure that Darwin can communicate with the coaching staff and that he can understand their instructions. I believe that’s been a priority for him, as I’m sure that Klopp wants to be able to talk to him directly instead of through an intermediary.
5 Likes
Nunez gave a brief message in English during his post-match interview as he collected his man of the match award at St. James’ and has since insisted he is taking classes to improve his communication skills.
“You know that I don’t speak much. And if they make me speak in English, I have to run from the camera,” he continued.
“There are some things that when [Klopp] tells me, yes I understand, the most basic, but then when he speaks very fast, I don’t understand.
“Yes [I’m taking English classes], two times a week, 30 minutes, 40 minutes at most. I don’t need much. Because the teacher says, ‘that’s it, you did very well, you have to stop or you’ll get tangled.'”
From TIA
1 Like
Sack the teacher. I’ll do it.
I don’t think the teacher’s the problem mate. Morelike the fact he’s doing one hour a week.
…and thinks that’s enough.
No doubt he has to teach a lot of other players too, but I’d say three hours a week would be a minimum for Darwin.
Was at my local together with some young Liverpool fans. A young very nice blond girl kept shouting after his goals: Núñez you beautiful thing!
Pretty sure if she gets the chance she will jump him …
As someone who has to learn languages for my job in the space of a year to an acceptable conversational standard, one hour a week is shocking.
No wonder his first season has been shaky if Jürgen can’t actually speak to him directly and is getting instructions through someone like Ali.
For a language like English he would want to be learning for an hour or two a day at the least.
3 Likes
30 minutes, twice a week isn’t going to do it. And a classroom environment isn’t going to help him either. I think we can all remember how boring language classes were at school.
1 Like
I doubt very much that he’s in a classroom. More likely he has a very able tutor that goes to his home.
1 Like
Given the very eloquent questions asked by unbiased journalists who hold their profession to the very highest standards, perhaps Darwin is trying to command his mastery of the language to such a standard that the journalist will be amazed…or maybe he just does not like talking to much on camera?
3 Likes
I don’t think he needs the level of understanding english we are talking about here.How many could understand Carra yet they were able to play with him 
Talking in front of the cameras is 1 level,talking to Klopp will be at another level but talking to his team-mates on the pitch does not need a full blown conversation.He’ll need the basics at most.Simple words and phrases,move here/run there/trackback/cover,a lot of which he will probably have picked up from the training ground with the help of the other players but none of which would make you think you can answer questions in front of a camera.
1 Like
Obviously the on field stuff is pretty basic. It’s the team talks and discussions about tactics that’ll be more of a challenge. Klopp loves going on about transitions and half spaces etc. That’s what he needs to be able to grasp.
1 Like
a couple of lessons a week is sufficient, as everyday he’s out and about, at training etc, he’ll be practicing/learning too.
I suspect his English is better than is made out too.
3 Likes
I agree,and the day will come where Klopp can say it straight to him but he still knows what Klopp wants from him now,just through a translator.The important thing is he goes onto the pitch knowing those things and while he’s on the pitch his team-mates using easy to understand words and phrases can tell him when and where to move to.Both his goals the other day would have needed very little communication between himself and those who passed to him.I know there is more talking during the game but there’s very little in terms of conversation.
He masters English to a level where he thinks he’s the bees knees and then klopp starts doing all talks in German 