I asked a sampling of Spanish speakers what they liked about learning/knowing Spanish and here are my favorite answers:
• No one knows I speak Spanish and they are shocked. Listening to other people’s conversations, and of course picking up Spanish women –Clint R.
• That nobody knows I speak it until I open my mouth or otherwise indicate comprehension. The reaction is generally hysterical. Also, just having an extra linguistic and cultural connection with people that I could not have otherwise. Sara P.
• A Spanish speaker with a Asian face really surprised the people when I was in Latin America, I very enjoyed when they said to me: hablas muy bien el espanol!.
Alex P
• I love that I am able to express myself in both languages. I have found that there are words/phrases in Spanish that describe a situation or thing better than in English and vice versa. Kristen M.
• Simplemente suena tan adorable (It simply sounds adorable) Liliana T.
• What I enjoy most is the “built in data base’ that allows me to understand old English, French, Italian and most of the romantic languages. Hope R.
• La diversidad del idioma. (The diversity of the language) Jose C.
• What I love is how I learn a deeper meaning of words from the perspective of Spanish. For example, divertir, to enjoy, has its latin root which translates to “turn in many directions”. So in Spanish it means “to dance”… Which I do enjoy! In English, when we use the word, “divert“, it really means to avoid or to run from. For example, we say he diverted an accident by changing his course. Eileen H.
• Where do I start?? I love the general sound of Spanish since it’s so rhythmic and appealing.
* In many ways, I find learning Spanish much easier than learning English.
* Although I rarely have the chance, I love being able to talk and communicate with native Spanish speakers.
* And, of course, Spanish is becoming increasingly popular and common around the U.S. and the world.
I think the real question might be … What DON’T I enjoy about knowing how to speak Spanish? Russell C.
This was a motto for the NY Latino Film Festival last year in August and It caught my attention. What do I think this means? For me, since I am Latina, it means to embrace my roots and get down to the essence of what it is to be Latina. Like music, food, family, dance. Non- Latinos can also “get their Latino out” by embracing the language, people and entertaining traditions. Even the fitness craze “ZUMBA” helps Latinos and Non-Latinos “let their Latino out.” What fun!
If you have attended our Adult Spanish classes (and even if you haven’t), listen up! We are assisting in the development of Learn Spanish Meetup groups intended to help adult Spanish language learners hone their conversational skills. There will be locations on the East and West sides of Cleveland that will begin by March 2012 according to plan. A facilitator will maintain an agenda/curriculum that will help to keep the group on track and there will be a small fee to attend. Please get on our email list to receive updates on these groups – info@vivaspanish.com.
I was surprised to learn that Latinos have their own April Fools sort of “holiday” right after Christmas on Dec. 28th. It’s called Día de los Santos Inocentes (day of the innocent saints). It commemorates the Biblical Herod’s slaughter of the innocents. On this day (read more) On this day, all kinds of hoaxes and jokes (called inocentadas) are committed on friends and relatives. One of my teachers said that where she comes from in Mexico, you don’t believe what anyone tells you on that day and you have to keep on your toes. They take this day very “seriously” (jokingly so).
Even my Latino family was intrigued when I presented this to them at our Thanksgiving this year. It makes sense though when you think about it – St. Augustine is the oldest city in America and it was founded by the Spanish. It stands to reason that since the Spanish were in America first that they were the first to share a meal with the Native Americans. I wonder what the real first Thanksgiving meal was? Here’s an article I found to back me up -http://alturl.com/zcd2h
As reported in Telenoticas (http://telenoticiasusa.com/blog/?p=228) 15 % of Hispanics living in America don’t celebrate Thanksgiving as a holiday but welcome learning more about it. Latinos tend to get together with family more often than non-Hispanic whites, so the family reunion aspect that is unique to many families about Thanksgiving is often less of a novelty to Latinos.
I remember, Thanksgiving in my Latin American home including many special dishes such as black beans and rice, empanadas filled with meat, sopa paraguaya (a type of cornbread) and yucca. When I married into an Irish family, I missed the traditional Thanksgiving dishes of my past.
In recent years I have returned to my Latin ways by “Latinizing” my Irish in-law family with black beans and rice and empanadas. I plan to add these to the Thanksgiving menu this year as well!
There are tons of people who want to start speaking Spanish now. There’s one problem…They don’t know where to begin. If you fit in this group, you are probably planning on taking lessons – however, you may want to teach yourself how to speak Spanish without lessons!
In order to learn Spanish, you have to overcome your second language learning anxiety! This is an emotional problem that hampers the abilities of many potential Spanish speakers around the world! Becoming motivated and overcoming this can, in fact, be the first step for you to be a fluent Spanish speaker!
Many believe that the older you get, the harder to learn a language – There is a common belief that advancement in age may actually hamper the ability to learn Spanish. There is no doubt that you may have to adjust when learning a different language – however, adults are actually more than capable of learning a language.
The reason why children are believed to be better at learning languages is the simple fact that they haven’t developed any mono-language habits. Their minds are open, so they are open to change. However, you can easily break these habits and learn the language you need to!
People do not believe they are capable – When people do something such as trying to learn Spanish, they have to envision themselves doing it, otherwise, they’ll be absolutely discouraged.
The simple fact is; most people simply do not believe that they are mentally capable of learning a second language. If people simply believe in themselves – they’ll be well on their way to learning how to speak fluent Spanish!
Spanish is a “romance” language. Impress others by saying these Spanish words for love and friendship with your loved ones this Valentines day:
–Clint R.
