Hello, friends!
After that short hiatus with the tutorial, I'm back on topic.
Today I want to talk about the language difference I have with my girlfriend. Whenever we talk to each other it's in English, since she doesn't speak a word of Spanish. She says she wants to learn, but she hasn't started to study yet. Whenever she visits I have to be with her to do anything because she wouldn't be able to get around without an interpreter. I don't mind doing that, but when I'm working I'm not available.
When I visit I don't have a problem because I can speak English (obviously). But I wonder how it would feel to be in a country where you don't understand a word of what's being spoken. I'd feel so lost!
Language is not really a problem for us (or at least I don't think so). Perhaps she feels uncomfortable not being able to communicate when she's here, but it hasn't really been a problem per se.
So, what I'd like to know, loyal followers, is if you've ever been in a country where you didn't speak the language and if that was ever a problem or you managed to get around. How did it make you feel not being able to communicate with other people?
Also, if you learned another language as an adult, how long did it take you? Did you learn it in college or university? high school? private institute? I look forward to your comments!
Ugh, did my comment just get eaten? Crap, it did...
ReplyDeleteLong story short: I can curse and pick up women in French, Spanish, and Japanese. Learned it from women from those countries when I was with them at the time. I KNEW how to curse in Russian and I only really know one phrase in German (einzen mein scheisse or somethin' like that), but I still prefer cursing in Japanese over Russian. Spanish cursing comes too naturally to me (California born and raised) and French cursing is...interestingly ineffective in my point of view.
It loses in the translation, methinks. Admittedly though, it's easier to sound insulting in French...
I only know the basics of English, i am brazilian and my language is portuguese (yes, Brazil does not speak spanish, as many people think).
ReplyDeleteI've never really been anywhere where I didn't speak the language. I learned Spanish in high school a couple years ago. I think I know enough to get by haha.
ReplyDeletethere are good language schools, but it is pointless unless she is going to go somewhere where she HAS to use it. immersion!
ReplyDeleteI used to be able to speak Spanish quite fluently. I really took to it when I had the class. Can't remember a damn thing of it now.
ReplyDeleteI feel that although i might not know the language to a country i visit, the fact that all humans share the same universal language of hand motions and nods and things of that sort make it easy to travel.
ReplyDeleteI always feel strange not being able to speak the language of the country Im visiting, im starting to make an effort now!
ReplyDeletelearned German when I was at school, did a few trips there with the school, could communicate fairly well back then.
ReplyDeleteNowadays I can barely string a sentance together without making huge mistakes or forgetting different words - would love to pick it up again but i really dont have the time sadly