please help me with one phrase

Question

Hi I've got a question. I've once heard someone say 'I read english' and I've been wondering if it is correct to say 'I read spanish' when someone is doing a spanish deegree.

Hi and welcome to the forum. What language are you trying to learn? ¿Qué idioma estás aprendiendo? - francobollo, Dec 27, 2012

You can! Good luck with your Spanish! - annierats, Dec 27, 2012

I'm learning spanish at University and english on my own. Thanks for making it out clear, annie:) - latte_art, Dec 27, 2012

Answer 1

Yes, it is correct. I read English at University in my younger days but I now rather wish I had read Spanish.

Answer 2

What is a Spanish deegree? Can you be more specific?

By doing a spanish deegree I mean learning spanish at the university, but saying 'a spanish deegree' may be incorrect as well cause I'm not a native speaker. - latte_art, Dec 27, 2012

A Spanish degree is perfectly clear in Europe. - annierats, Dec 27, 2012

It means a University degree , Franco. - annierats, Dec 27, 2012

Answer 3

It sounds very U.K. English, or like a German person speaking English, to say that one reads a language. That doesn´t mean it´s wrong, but it would be very unusual in the U.S. to use that in the context of studying English.

For us, when I hear ¨I read english¨, it sounds literal, like:

I can (am able to) read English. Puedo leer inglés.

We are far more likely to say ¨I am studying English¨.

Or.

I am working on an English degree. (or a Spanish degree)

hth Roger

Thanks:) I've got one more question: Can I say 'I'm studying' only when I refer to a language or also when I speak of other things like chemistry or mathematics? - latte_art, Dec 27, 2012

You´re welcome. Studying is good for all university subjects. We all use it sometimes for something done idependently. i.e. I started out studying Spanish on my own, but later enrolled in university classes to learn even more. - rogspax, Dec 27, 2012