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On a Spanish airline, en route to Spain, I heard someone in some row behind me loudly complaining that there was Spanish text on the back of the seat in front of him. I wondered, "Why is that dude going to Spain?" https://HappyHobo.net/2017/01/29/theres-no-place-like-home/…I did meet one gentleman that refused to say por favor or gracias, or even a simple Hola. He was very unhappy people did not speak perfect English.
Also don't assume no one nearby understands. In a cafeteria in Oklahoma, the couple had the reddest faces I've ever seen when I asked in Spanish where they were from. Similar reaction when using sign language to a deaf couple in a restaurant.I remember once on the Vdlp, in the albergue in Oliva de Plasencia, we had a communal dinner of 10 or 12. As many have noted, the language of the table is often English. A Spanish couple was sitting across from me and spoke no English. One turned to the other and said “No hay que salir de España para ir al extranjero.” (We don’t need to leave Spain to go to a foreign country). That jolted me and made me realize how rude we were being. True, not everyone speaks Spanish, but I think we English speakers frequently forget how exclusive we are being when we fall into English-only table talk.
In Germany or Austria, I always asked first in Spanish or Italian if they could speak one of those. Helps to avoid the automatic English that most tourists get.A tip: confuse the locals so they’re not 100% sure you’re English (or whatever you are).
Indeed. What is "peas" in one country is "knick-knacks" in another, and "boobs" in a third. You don't want to to learn that by complimenting the hostess on her nice collection of knick-knacks.Please remember that Spanish is spoken in many countries and its usage is a bit different in all.
Try teaching that class the French or Spanish word for the animal we call "seal." My pre-teen sons loved to play "liar's poker" in Chinese because they could yell 不是, bùshì! (is not!) and get away with it.In English, a classroom of 13-year-olds might snicker and titter when someone uses certain words that are actually completely appropriate in context.
Haha, this reminds me of when I started teaching English in French primary schools. I told a class of youngsters that in the next lesson we would talk about their pets and couldn't understand why they were all smirking. My friend and colleague pointed out that 'péter' in French was 'to fart'!Indeed. What is "peas" in one country is "knick-knacks" in another, and "boobs" in a third. You don't want to to learn that by complimenting the hostess on her nice collection of knick-knacks.
Fantastic!The downside of knowing Spanish: I would have done far more kilometers daily had I not stopped to read every historical information sign along the way.
And watch out for false cognates. You could end up very embarrassed!Indeed. What is "peas" in one country is "knick-knacks" in another, and "boobs" in a third. You don't want to to learn that by complimenting the hostess on her nice collection of knick-knacks.
Indeed. What is "peas" in one country is "knick-knacks" in another, and "boobs" in a third. You don't want to to learn that by complimenting the hostess on her nice collection of knick-knacks.
This is an odd (and misleading) thing to say.Try Mexican Spanish not usually understood in Spain by Spaniards: it is more a set of laughs than an embarrassment.
I learned words in Mexico in Spanish-Mexican that Madrilenos did not understand. Misleading did you say?This is an odd (and misleading) thing to say.
It is just like people from different English speaking countries - we are clearly speaking the same language and can communicate with each other very well, with only the occasional funny/interesting difference. If you learn any kind of standard Spanish, you will be able to transfer it to another Spanish-speaking country.
Sure I have difficulty understanding a Gallego farmer, or a rapid-fire Andaluz, but they would probably have trouble with each other too!
Of course, you and I probably know and use words in English that the other doesn't understand.I learned words in Mexico in Spanish-Mexican that Madrilenos did not understand. Misleading did you say?
And watch out for false cognates. You could end up very embarrassed! [emphasis added by Rick]
Try teaching French or Spanish to thirteen-year-olds wen you get to an animal called foca / phoque.Haha, this reminds me of when I started teaching English in French primary schools. I told a class of youngsters that in the next lesson we would talk about their pets and couldn't understand why they were all smirking. My friend and colleague pointed out that 'péter' in French was 'to fart'!
One of my ninth grade classmates got kicked out of a café in México when she tried to say she was embarrassed.And watch out for false cognates. You could end up very embarrassed!
I guess that is one way to successfully exit a class.One of my ninth grade classmates got kicked out of a café in México when she tried to say she was embarrassed.
éxito … suceso
I learned that the Spanish word for "embarrassed" is avergonzado?One of my ninth grade classmates got kicked out of a café in México when she tried to say she was embarrassed.
éxito … suceso
Yes, if you are male.I learned that the Spanish word for "embarrassed" is avergonzado?
Perhaps Spanish women are never embarrassed. Just as Spanish men are never embarazada.Yes, if you are male.
Kicked out of the café. Class was already over, except for the summer trip to México.I guess that is one way to successfully exit a class.
Sure. And pregnant is embarasada. Which didn't go over very well when you were fourteen years old in 1968. But it is impossible to be embarasado at any age. Spelling is important, too—billboard in El Paso once wished all of us a prospero ano nuevo. Bet that insurance company was avergonzado!I learned that the Spanish word for "embarrassed" is avergonzado?
Just a slight correction - it's embarazada.And pregnant is embarasada
Ah, we Mexicans can't tell the difference.Just a slight correction - it's embarazada.
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