Father: Have you decided which languages you’re going to do at college next year Charlotte? Charlotte: Well, as you know, I really want to study Spanish ...

Father: Mmm ... a colleague of mine is studying Spanish. He speaks French and German too, and he says he’s found Spanish grammar the easiest to learn.

Charlotte: Well... that’s not the reason I want to study it. Spanish is an important world language you know, and I’d like to work in South America one day.

Father: I see. And what about the other language?

You’re going to do two, aren’t you? Have you thought about Russian? Your grandmother would be delighted ...

Charlotte: I know she would. Her parents were born in St Petersburg, weren't they?

Father: Yes, but they came to England just before your grandmother was born ...

Charlotte: Well, anyway, I don't think I’m going to do Russian. I think I’d like to do Chinese.

Father: Really? I wanted to learn Chinese when I was younger, but sadly I didn’t have time. It would be really useful now for my business to be able to speak it.

Charlotte: Oh, it’s a fantastic language isn’t it? And the course sounds really good. I’ll have the chance to spend six months actually studying the language in China.

Father: It seems a very long way away ... I’ll worry about you being thousands of kilometres from home ...

Charlotte: Come on, Dad. I really like the idea. There’ll be so much to see and do, and I wouldn’t be on my own. There’d be a whole group of students going out together - about 20 each year.

Father: Oh, I see ... but all the same ... It’s a long way.

Charlotte: And perhaps you and Mum could come out for a holiday while I was there ... Mum’s always wanted to see the 'Great Wall of China’.

Father: Yes, she has ... we’ll have to talk about it when she gets in, won't we?

Charlotte: Great Idea, Dad.