I am a believer in learning the local language of where ever you live. It conveys a certain respect for the people and the culture. It also shows that you don't expect/demand that everyone should speak English (for example) if it isn't their 1st language. In the Philippines, most people can communicate in English but often feel very self-conscious about their grammar and usage. Trying to learn the language also demonstrates that you can laugh at yourself...
 
A friend of mine worked in the maternity ward at the University of New Mexico Hospital. She tells of trying to learn Spanish in order to better communicate with the Spanish speaking mothers. In an attempt to say that she would come back in a little while to help the new mom feed her baby, she inadvertently said that she would come back in a little while to help her eat her baby.

I was reminded of this recently when playing in a pool match. I was losing and not playing especially well. In the Filipino version of the game of rotation you can request that a ball be placed on the spot where the balls are racked if it can’t be “seen” (shot at directly). In my attempt to express this I said “Dili nakita” instead of the correct phrase “Dili makita.” Everyone (about 20 spectators) started laughing. Apparently, I had said “I can’t see” as in: I am blind. I suppose that was the best possible excuse for my lackluster performance.

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