Learning Spanish

We've just started our 3rd year at night school and have a GCSE exam in May! Still only know the basics but found it really useful when we were over furnishing our place as we found the workmen and delivery drivers spoke hardly any English. Also came in useful when the only bit of sun we saw in a week came out and we could leave the electrician we were expecting a note in Spanish saying we were at the pool!

Hola Amigos,

Debo hablar mas espanol como mis vidas de hermana en Tenerife y mi cunado son espanolas, pero odia decir que yo me siento demasiado hablar de lo embarrased como yo pienso yo sano mudo.  Yo lo hablo solo cuando tendo que a despues de que minutos de senalar accion y tratanto de conseguirlos comprenderme.  Yo solo se hasta nivel de GCSE aunque

(I should speak more Spanish as my sister lives in Tenerife and my brother-in-law is Spanish, but I hate to say that I feel too embarrassed speaking it as I think that I sound dumb.  I speak it when I have to after minutes of pointing action and trying to get them to understand me.  I only know up to GCSE level though!)

Hablar Pronto

Kelly 

PS. I am sorry, I am one of the ignorant brits that expect them to know my language.  With my Northern accent I just think I sound silly, whereas other ppl sound great!)  I understand what they say though, even when they are telling another assistant to watch me, I must look dodgy!!

Hi All,

I don't know a word but Simon does, so as long as he is by my side I'll be Ok.  I am very good at charades and stamping my feet, smoke coming out of my ears is understandable in any language, so I think I may get by, but I do intend to learn so don't laugh at my efforts when I try

Ali


Kelly,  Do you expect peeps to know english when visiting this country? At least try and make an effort, even if it is just a thank you or please in Spanish it's  better than nothing  and they do appreciate it.

Ali

Hi Ali,

I do say Hola, Gracias, Asta luego, Denado Adios order food and drink, ask for directions etc, but just feel embarrased if I enter into a full conversation, thinking am I saying the right thing? do I sound stupid? etc.  I am okay with a few short sentences or few words, I feel fine.  But again will admit that if they speak English I will ask in my language and use the odd Spanish word.  Everywhere I go I will say hola and Gracias, but they do not know that I can speak a little more, so it can't offend them.

I don't expect ppl to know my language when I visit typical Spanish places so 9 out of 10 times will try and avoid and opt for a more English place of interest.  This is purely down to me thinking I sound thick and not for any other reason.  Recently though I have had to go beyond my comfort zone with sourcing furniture etc, so have recently realised how unfortable I feel.

My Spanish is very rusty as it is 12 years since I got my GCSE and until now have not needed to speak Spanish.  I dare say that in a few months or years, I will feel differently and with more practise will speak more, but I guess that we all develop at different paces and in my own time I will converse more freely and confidently.  I have 5 fluent spanish speaking members of my family, so when I go to say anything they ask on my behalf anyway and in comparisson to them I am miles behind.  Not to mention the Spanish family we have inherited with only a few speaking english.  I do try but I guess that there is always more to it.  Which is bizarre really as I believe that I am a very confident person.

I think that anyone learning the language is great and will of course aid you in the future.  Just remember that not all of us can pick the language up in a couple of years like most of my family did, some take alot longer (ME).

Regards
Kelly

The Spanish I learned a while back (in lunchtime sessions at work) was a good start but I've forgotten more that I've learned because I'm not using it often enough.
Like others, I do try my best to "have a go" when I'm in Spain but not always with success.
Is there any way we can arrange lessons for Condadonians? Either on site or (dare I say it) by correspondence, though that might mean homework (!) ? I jknow you can do this by online courses etc - but it can help you to get through it if there are others doing the same thing at the same time.
Suggestions, volunteers etc welcome.................
Hasta luego estudiantes

Good idea

I'd be up for some sort of lessons by correspondence as I have a lousy memory and have forgotten most of what I learnt at the beginning of my course already.

We'll have to look into a way that we could do it.