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Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Me Encanta Hablar Espanol
Tonight was my last Spanish class of this session. For fourteen weeks, I've studied until my brain hurt and I've sweated profusely in class as el profesor grilled us over and over. This learning a new language is hard! Especially at my advanced age! Fourteen weeks and I still can only pick out a few words when I listen to Spanish radio. But that's more than I could do before!
I never want to hear anyone say "people who come to the U.S. should just learn to speak English" again. Move to a foreign country in order to feed your family, then work your butt off at minimum wage before you tell me what someone in that position ought to be doing.
I've got an easy life - so far - and this learning a new language stuff takes time, money and lots of work. I can't imagine trying to do it under different circumstances, although maybe I'd be more motivated if I couldn't understand most of the people around me.
Because of a great out-of-town opportunity I have coming up and because of a great out-of-body experience under the knife I'll be undergoing in a month, I'm on espanol sabbatical for the next couple of months. I hope I don't get too rusty...
I never want to hear anyone say "people who come to the U.S. should just learn to speak English" again. Move to a foreign country in order to feed your family, then work your butt off at minimum wage before you tell me what someone in that position ought to be doing.
I've got an easy life - so far - and this learning a new language stuff takes time, money and lots of work. I can't imagine trying to do it under different circumstances, although maybe I'd be more motivated if I couldn't understand most of the people around me.
Because of a great out-of-town opportunity I have coming up and because of a great out-of-body experience under the knife I'll be undergoing in a month, I'm on espanol sabbatical for the next couple of months. I hope I don't get too rusty...
Paz, amor, y aprendizaje
(or something like that - and yes, I cheated)
(or something like that - and yes, I cheated)
If you can speak three languages you're trilingual. If you can speak two languages you're bilingual. If you can speak only one language you're an American. - Author Unknown
Use what language you will, you can never say anything but what you are.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Labels: espanol
posted by Carol at 9:53 PM
6 Comments:
Carol, I took espanol many anos ago, as an undergraduate. The thing that's so disorienting about hearing it (or any language) spoken by real-life honest-go-God human beings is that they don't sound like the classroom recordings.
You're wise to cut yourself some slack in anticipation of your out-of-town opportunity (please reveal more) and your forthcoming out-of-body experience (well put). Here's hoping that both prove truly restorative...
You're right, San. And the real-life honest-to-God human beings don't sound like my teacher, either!
Thanks for your good wishes. I will write more about my out of town opportunity at some point. I'll just now say that, for one week, I will have no internet or phone connection (of course, no television, either) and I will only be around 12 people other than myself during that time. Looking forward to it!
I believe that you’re learning Spanish is great! I do know how hard it is to learn a language as an adult. Strangely, read/translate 5 languages (besides English) but I can “speak” none of them. My brain seems incapable to telling my mouth how to pronounce the words.
Nick,
I relate to what you're saying. I can do my written homework almost impeccably, then when the teacher calls on me, not only do I have trouble with hating to speak in front of others, but my brain, also can't tell my mouth how to speak Spanish.
FIVE languages??? Wow!
Sounds like you may be off for a spiritual retreat. Even if it's not called a retreat, that's what it'll be. That unplugged condition can be so profound and wonderful.
It's going to be awesome! I'll write about it a little before I go - and then more after I get back. Unless I'm left without words...
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