No hablo Ingles

Mexivoof · 07-22-2012

There is a woman who lives in my building, who I always say "Hello", "Good Morning" or what ever to and she always has ignored me. I finally decided to try "Hola, como esta". Big smile, short conversation with my limited Spanish, but she told me she knows absolutely no English.
I'm not a big English only person, my GGmother only spoke German, but cripes, if you live in a country can't you at least learn "hi", "please", "thank you" and "have a nice day" in the local language. Buenos dias!

Mikey · 07-22-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mexivoof

There is a woman who lives in my building, who I always say "Hello", "Good Morning" or what ever to and she always has ignored me. I finally decided to try "Hola, como esta". Big smile, short conversation with my limited Spanish, but she told me she knows absolutely no English.
I'm not a big English only person, my GGmother only spoke German, but cripes, if you live in a country can't you at least learn "hi", "please", "thank you" and "have a nice day" in the local language. Buenos dias!

Around here, a lot of times no.

Uno · 07-22-2012

When I lived in North Hollywood there wa a taco stand on the corner. I had to learn some spanish to order there. It was a was really good taco stand!

**Mindbender** · 07-22-2012

Hmm, but what about the states that were part of Mexico? I'd say there's been Spanish speakers there longer than English. Just musing...

Isn't it like going to Quebec and meeting people who only speak French, or Welsh in Wales?

Sol · 07-22-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mexivoof

There is a woman who lives in my building, who I always say "Hello", "Good Morning" or what ever to and she always has ignored me. I finally decided to try "Hola, como esta". Big smile, short conversation with my limited Spanish, but she told me she knows absolutely no English.
I'm not a big English only person, my GGmother only spoke German, but cripes, if you live in a country can't you at least learn "hi", "please", "thank you" and "have a nice day" in the local language. Buenos dias!

Some people are very self-conscious about speaking another language. Some of my students who haven taken Spanish for several years will not speak in the target language. Whether it is working with their peers, or meeting with me in my office, these students refuse to speak in Spanish because according to them, their pronunciation is not good enough. If a person is shy to begin with, it makes it harder.

My parents lived in this country for several decades. My father was self-employed, so he was forced to speak English. He didn't care about how he sounded. My mother knew how to speak English, but apart from greetings etc. she would not speak English. She didn't want people to make fun of her. She saw on television and in movies how accented English was a source of comic relief, so she was not about to be laughed at because of how she spoke. What was interesting that when she got upset, and she needed to communicate with someone, her English was quite good.

Sue · 07-22-2012

I live in Mexico and I am terrified to use my poor Spanish skills. To avoid doing so, I keep my head down and don't talk to people. If I hear them talking to me, I smile and nod and hurry off.

**Mindbender** · 07-22-2012

Don't be shy, they'll be glad you're making an effort. Then each week it'll get easier and more natural.

It's worth it, the people and culture opens up more this way.

BonnyW · 07-22-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uno

When I lived in North Hollywood there wa a taco stand on the corner. I had to learn some Spanish to order there. It was a was really good taco stand!

The one on Lankershim, Cahuenga, or Vineland?

I lived in NoHo from 1976-1987

Uno · 07-22-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by BonnyW

The one on Lankershim, Cahuenga, or Vineland?

I lived in NoHo from 1976-1987

Corner of Lankershim and Van Owen. Ate there at least twice a week.

Sol · 07-22-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uno

Corner of Lankershim and Van Owen. Ate there at least twice a week.

Are there some good taco stands in Eugene?

Harold-R · 07-22-2012

I just started trying to learn Spanish, I started a month ago. I’m using Rosetta Stone and don’t think I’m doing very well. Part of my problem is my hearing is bad and I have enough problem understanding English let alone a new language, but I’m giving it a shot. I think everybody is intimidated when trying to speak a new language.
I got a question for you folks that have a second language, How long did it take you to learn enough to be able to use it?

BonnyW · 07-22-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uno

Corner of Lankershim and Van Owen. Ate there at least twice a week.

Yep, I know that one...which tacos did you like?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sol

Are there some good taco stands in Eugene?

Hola hermana! Can't wait to see you!!!!

STOGEY · 07-22-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mindbender

Hmm, but what about the states that were part of Mexico? I'd say there's been Spanish speakers there longer than English. Just musing...

Isn't it like going to Quebec and meeting people who only speak French, or Welsh in Wales?

Are the citizens in Quebec racist, because they refuse to speak english?

Seakony · 07-22-2012

I am pretty good at reading some Spanish and Italian..but when it comes out of my mouth..it's brutal. So what? I can only learn by people pointing out how to say words correctly.
In Italy, I was mixing up my Italian with Spanish. I got alot of strange looks..but the worst was when I was using a word that I grew up knowing meant bathroom only to find out that it was an immigrant slang meaning "backa da house ah". buh-cow-sah.

I finally asked the desk clerk at our hotel how to say bathroom. He told me "toilet". I thought that was a french word. go figure.
Next time I go back to Sicily, I will hire a translator so I can communicate with the cousins. I have accepted the fact that my tongue just can't pronounce other languages beyond the basics.

Many in the US will not learn English because they don't have to..why? when they can press 2 for spanish? It is irritating to ask someone who works in the dollar store where something is and they can't speak english.
I just tell all those who can't speak english..mucho Inglese mucho denero, No Inglese, no denero...and Yeah.. I probably butcher that statement too..but they get the drift.

Sol · 07-22-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by BonnyW

Yep, I know that one...which tacos did you like?

Hola hermana! Can't wait to see you!!!!

¿Como estás Hermana? It will be great to see you!!

07-22-2012	#1 (permalink)
Mexivoof añejo Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Walworth, WI Posts: 6,522	No hablo Ingles There is a woman who lives in my building, who I always say "Hello", "Good Morning" or what ever to and she always has ignored me. I finally decided to try "Hola, como esta". Big smile, short conversation with my limited Spanish, but she told me she knows absolutely no English. I'm not a big English only person, my GGmother only spoke German, but cripes, if you live in a country can't you at least learn "hi", "please", "thank you" and "have a nice day" in the local language. Buenos dias!

07-22-2012	#3 (permalink)
Uno PROUD RANDOMITE Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 18,950	When I lived in North Hollywood there wa a taco stand on the corner. I had to learn some spanish to order there. It was a was really good taco stand!

07-22-2012	#4 (permalink)
Mindbender Licence to kill Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Shifting Sands Posts: 5,644	Hmm, but what about the states that were part of Mexico? I'd say there's been Spanish speakers there longer than English. Just musing... Isn't it like going to Quebec and meeting people who only speak French, or Welsh in Wales?

07-22-2012	#6 (permalink)
Sue añejo Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Playa del Carmen Posts: 16,276	I live in Mexico and I am terrified to use my poor Spanish skills. To avoid doing so, I keep my head down and don't talk to people. If I hear them talking to me, I smile and nod and hurry off.

07-22-2012	#7 (permalink)
Mindbender Licence to kill Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Shifting Sands Posts: 5,644	Don't be shy, they'll be glad you're making an effort. Then each week it'll get easier and more natural. It's worth it, the people and culture opens up more this way.

07-22-2012	#11 (permalink)
Harold-R life=playa Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Woodinville WA Posts: 953	I just started trying to learn Spanish, I started a month ago. I’m using Rosetta Stone and don’t think I’m doing very well. Part of my problem is my hearing is bad and I have enough problem understanding English let alone a new language, but I’m giving it a shot. I think everybody is intimidated when trying to speak a new language. I got a question for you folks that have a second language, How long did it take you to learn enough to be able to use it?

07-22-2012	#14 (permalink)
Seakony añejo Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 16,153	I am pretty good at reading some Spanish and Italian..but when it comes out of my mouth..it's brutal. So what? I can only learn by people pointing out how to say words correctly. In Italy, I was mixing up my Italian with Spanish. I got alot of strange looks..but the worst was when I was using a word that I grew up knowing meant bathroom only to find out that it was an immigrant slang meaning "backa da house ah". buh-cow-sah. I finally asked the desk clerk at our hotel how to say bathroom. He told me "toilet". I thought that was a french word. go figure. Next time I go back to Sicily, I will hire a translator so I can communicate with the cousins. I have accepted the fact that my tongue just can't pronounce other languages beyond the basics. Many in the US will not learn English because they don't have to..why? when they can press 2 for spanish? It is irritating to ask someone who works in the dollar store where something is and they can't speak english. I just tell all those who can't speak english..mucho Inglese mucho denero, No Inglese, no denero...and Yeah.. I probably butcher that statement too..but they get the drift.

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