I need to learn Spanish

[Michael Jewels]

Alright, now you people have gotten me all reved up with this Spanish women obsession I have.

Here's Jamie-Lynn DiScala (nee Sigler) You know, Meadow from the Sopranos.

I can't get the photo to come up any larger, but she's on the cover of this month's Latina magazine.

NO, I DON'T BUY IT, but it's on every newsstand that I pass. Look at this quiet, smoldering beauty. http://www.latina.com

Simply beautiful.

Mike

 

[Sundogue]

I thought moving to San Francisco would be easy compared to New Orleans - people speak mush mouth down there!

They don't speak mush mouth...the cajun/creole dialect just doesn't use many consonents...or they let the consonents slide as if they aren't there. But it does sound like a foreign language until you get used to it.

One does not need to learn a foreign language to get by in America. One thing I heard, if you speak many languages you must be European, if you speak only one, you must be an American. Has anyone else ever heard that saying (especially those outside the USA)?

 

[Brendan]

Alright, now you people have gotten me all reved up with this Spanish women obsession I have.

Mike

I try not to think about it too much, otherwise, I get all hot and bothered. I find latin/spanish women to be very, very attractive.

The internet rules. ...Er...

 

[wulf]

One does not need to learn a foreign language to get by in America. One thing I heard, if you speak many languages you must be European, if you speak only one, you must be an American. Has anyone else ever heard that saying (especially those outside the USA)?

Maybe that's why so many English people find it hard to see themselves as Europeans?

Wulf

* The English have a notoriously bad reputation for learning other languages and invented the 'speak slower and louder' method of intercultural communication... fortunately, like many stereotypes, this one has many exceptions

 

[Tumbao]

You don't need to learn.

Some people! Insisten en limitar el aprendizaje y fomentar la ignorancia... What a shame!

 

[Boplicity]

Some people! Insisten en limitar el aprendizaje y fomentar la ignorancia... What a shame!

Estoy de acuerdo, Tumbao.

When I lived in Venezuela I knew Americans who never learned much Spanish beyond buenos dias and buenas noches, but worse, their lack of language skills prevented them from ever getting to know well any Venezuelans.

What the failure to learn the language of a country does, more than anything, is keeps one from ever developing an understanding and appreciation of that country's people and culture.

The same thing is no less true here in the U.S. Immigrants here need to learn English just as I had to learn the national languages of the countries in which I lived. I have little sympathy for immigrants who demand ballots for voting, roadway signs and other government materials to be printed in multiple languages.

I'm not saying their mastery of English needs to be perfect, but it should at least be adequate. Learning the language of a nation is a sign of respect for the traditions of that nation and its people. If you plan to work in another country, make the effort to learn the national language.

 

[Nick man]

Was it the convento in "Carita de Angel" about a nun who leaves the convent to marry the Invalid Link Removed of one of her students--a marriage that resulted largely from Carita's own efforts to unite the couple in matrimony so she would have a simpatica mother to replace the one who died.

I have no idea.

One of the Brothers (Catholic school) at my school showed the class a small piece of an episode and told us about that. I dont know anything else about the novela.

Peace
Nick

 

[Nick man]

You guys have to move to Miami.

All the Cuban and South American girls you can handle! The ratio of hispanic to anglo people throughout all of the 18 years I lived there never went lower than about 8:5.

I just realized all my girl friends have been Cuban or a blend of Cuban and something else.

BOW TO ME!




Oh and I heard the saying as:

If you know three languages you are trilingual. If you know two languages you are bilingual. If you know one, you're American.

Peace
Nick

 

[Nick man]

Estoy de acuerdo, Tumbao.

When I lived in Venezuela I knew Americans who never learned much Spanish beyond buenos dias and buenas noches, but worse, their lack of language skills prevented them from ever getting to know well any Venezuelans.

What the failure to learn the language of a country does, more than anything, is keeps one from ever developing an understanding and appreciation of that country's people and culture.

The same thing is no less true here in the U.S. Immigrants here need to learn English just as I had to learn the national languages of the countries in which I lived. I have little sympathy for immigrants who demand ballots for voting, roadway signs and other government materials to be printed in multiple languages.

I'm not saying their mastery of English needs to be perfect, but it should at least be adequate. Learning the language of a nation is a sign of respect for the traditions of that nation and its people. If you plan to work in another country, make the effort to learn the national language.

I agree and I assure you that my entire family would as well.


The worst was at work:

Customer: Hola, puede (give) ayuda?
Me: Si
Customer: Yo nescessita un (something I dont understand)
Me: Permiso?
Customer: Un (something I dont undserstand)
Me: Sorry, me habla un poquito espanol pero yo no aprendes que tu nescesita.
Customer: (rudely with some insults thrown in) Por que no hablas espanol!? Tu vives en Miami!
Me: (knowing I cant insult a customer) Si, yo estoy practicando.

Then Id get someone else to help.

It was usually older people but it could be anyone and it usually happened several times a day. My spanish has deteriorated from lack of use since I moved to Gainesville so what you see up there is worse than what it used to be.

Peace
Nick