”To speak another language isn't just cultured, it's a blow against stupidity”

 – the title of the article I’ve just read speaks for itself. Though in Poland we’ve recently been observing a cultural pressure to learn as many foreign languages as it is possible, in the UK the situation is totally different. As stated in the article, after modern languages were removed from the core curriculum, the number of students willing to take up studying any foreign language has enormously decreased. Hence, the question arises – is it really necessary to learn foreign languages if one already speaks English, which, as we know, has become an international language?

Actually, I believe that in order to be perceived as a well-educated society, learning foreign languages is crucial. Not only does it help us to communicate with people of various nationalities, but it also develops our general knowledge concerning the world itself. Knowing a language is connected with knowing foreign culture. Thus, in such a way we can become more tolerant and open-minded towards different beliefs and customs.

What is more, nowadays, when working abroad has become a prevalent issue, speaking various foreign languages is a crucial aspect for employers when approving people’s applications. It is no longer enough to be familiar with one or two languages, since there are more and more people knowing even five different languages.

Finally, assumption that the English language is the only needed language in the world fails to take into consideration significant aspects, such as – for instance – the influence Asian languages have. While few years ago there were only few people interested in taking a course in Chinese, now the number of people studying it is increasing every single day.

When taking part in the IST project in France two years ago, I felt ashamed of not knowing the French language. Taking into consideration French attitude towards using English, it was quite an obstacle to communicate with the citizens. Although such a French behavior of unwillingness to use any other foreign language by tourists is really bizarre, I hope to take up learning that language one day. The thing is, learning any foreign language should not only be a MUST, but also pleasure. 
Hopefully, students from the UK would sooner or later follow my opinion.

Mildred Pierce

Mildred Pierce is a five-part miniseries that first aired on HBO on March 27, 2011. Adapted from James M. Cain's 1941 novel, it was directed by Todd Haynes, and starred Kate Winslet in the title role, alongside Guy Pearce, Evan Rachel Wood, and Melissa Leo.Carter Burwell wrote the original score for the miniseries.

Mildred Pierce received generally favorable reviews. Metacritic assigned the series an average score of 69/100 based on 28 reviews from mainstream critics. Salon.com called it a "quiet, heartbreaking masterpiece", while The New York Times reviewer, Alessandra Stanley, commented that while the miniseries was "loyally, unwaveringly true to James M. Cain's 1941 novel", it did not "make the most of the mythic clash of mother, lover and ungrateful child", and was "not nearly as satisfying as the 1945 film noir".

Novelist Stephen King, reviewing Mildred Pierce for The Daily Beast and Newsweek, praised the acting of Winslet, Pearce and Wood, and admired the show's attention to detail and structure, but complained that the five-hour adaptation was "too damn long".

The series was shown Out of Competition at the 68th Venice International Film Festival 2011.