I always try and have a go at my spanish ( limited, but, I'm trying ! ) we always seem to go to spanish speaking countries, cuba, mexico, canaries, mainland spain. and even though we are in tourist areas most of the time, I still like to try speaking spanish. my best friend lives in a litttle town where english is spoken very little ( and the towns around the area ) so, we have to give it a go to get what we want, bless the spanish for being so patient !
just wondering wether anyone else has a go at speaking the language of the place they are visiting.
I think its only polite to have a go, even if you get it wrong, they seem to be more than happy to help you with your pronouciation, even here in cumbria ! don't be afraid to over pronounce your vowels, or use slang, no problem !
cheers guys,
juby
Last year in Cuba I tried very hard with using some simple Spanish and got on reasonably well despite the mistakes. I was surprised though with my travelling companion who had been taking Spanish lessons at night school for a couple of years, she never attempted to speak the language once but corrected me when I made a mistake.
It can be a matter of confidence though, people often feel they are making a fool of themselves when they make mistakes, I remember when I first came to Germany to live,and was learning the language I was terrified that someone would speak to me and I wouldn't be able to answer them correctly.
![:duh](/storage/forum/smilies/vduh.gif)
so,I will be adding more to my limited spanish in the next 7 weeks ! wooooohoo !
can't wait to try out my cumbrian spanish !
cheers,
juby
![:(](/storage/forum/smilies/vsad.gif)
![:yikes](/storage/forum/smilies/eek13.gif)
we also take a phrase book and have a go...
in the canaries a few years ago, we were ordering drinks in spanish, 2 rum and cokes......then when the youngest started school, they asked if anyone knew any spanish.....forget the hello/goodbye/thanks etc......
2 rum and cokes she said!
![;)](/storage/forum/smilies/vwink.gif)
Ive also learned quite a bit of Spanish in the last few years and really enjoy having a go!
Going to Crete this year so will have to go back to the drawing board again!
![:wave:](/storage/forum/smilies/vwave.gif)
I definitely agree! Although, it's not something I've always done in the past... When I first went to Portugal and Rome, I relied upon the locals speaking English (and very good at it they generally were too!). Since then, I've made a real effort to try and learn a bit of the lingo before hand. I can get by in basic Portuguese and Spanish, and French which I remember from school! I'm currently trying to find good audiobooks to improve upon though. Does anyone know of any? Have just downloaded the Earworms one for Portuguese, as it sounded really interesting when I listened to a sample (basically they repeat words and phrases to music as this improves your ability to remember it) - has anyone else tried these in any of the other languages? I'll let you know how I get on!
I always try and learn a few words of the local lingo on most holidays - am currently learning a bit of Slovene for our trip next month.
Yes deffinitely agree with you all, most certainly good manners not to mention an interesting experience learning a foreign language, our main holiday destination is Malta and in ten years my Maltese has developed very well to the point that I can write in it, speak a lot of it, and understand a lot of a conversation or a radio programme.
![:rofl](/storage/forum/smilies/vrofl.gif)
![:rofl](/storage/forum/smilies/vrofl.gif)
We spent the rest of the holiday learning a few phrases in Russian too..and she introduced us to more staff who were only to happy to help us practice our Spanish. They said it was a change that people made the effort..and after that, we got superb service for the rest of the holiday and our drinks bill was always a couple of Euro's less than anyone elses!
Son has done GCSE Spanish and he finds it difficult to understand spoken Spanish, especially as we've never actually been on holiday to anywhere where "proper" Spanish is spoken - we've had lots of holidays to the Canary Islands, where they have a "lazy" accent - similar to Latin American countries; and we've been to the Costa Brava and the Balearics where the locals all speak Catalan! Yes, if you attempt to speak "proper" Castillian Spanish in these places then they will appreciate you making the effort and speak a bit slower for you, but it's really difficult to "eavesdrop" local people's conversations!
I do try, although we mostly go to Greece and the Greek language is very difficult to learn. When we went to Mexico last year Shirley H and I went a couple of Spanish lessons, and also learnt quite a lot on the BYKI site. We found that we were far more ready to try out phrases after having a couple of drinks, and far from being laughed at, the people really appreciated us trying.
![:rofl](/storage/forum/smilies/vrofl.gif)
I agree, the BYKI site is excellent and has improved my Greek a lot over the years. Perhaps it is just because it has helped my confidence. I must switch on my speakers and have another go now.
Greece and the Greek language is very difficult
your not wrong there.. i have been trying to learn for the last few years, i know all the pleasantries and can be polite in either official or of the cuff situations, i can also ask directions,order most drinks and count to ekaton [100]
on our trip a couple of weeks back I had one hotel staff member tel me that i look Greek
![:think](/storage/forum/smilies/vthink.gif)
![:que](/storage/forum/smilies/vque.gif)
strange as I'm usually seen as a Cretan
![:tup](/storage/forum/smilies/tup.gif)
the prices can show a marked reduction and the service a marked improvement with just a few little words
yasus
wizard
I always try to learn the very basic please, thanks, hello etc.............as does my son and its always very well received but I still have no idea why the Turkish staff always fell about at our attempts at teshekur ederim (spelling) for thank you
Prawn - we usually go abroad as a group of 6 and the three men are more than slightly deaf- there is no way on earth any of them could attempt to speak the lingo. Believe it or not when we go away for New Year in this country, there are 12 of us and everyone of the men is at least 20% deaf,the majority from working in the coal mines. Our conversations are scattered with eh! Uh! what! etc. On one occasion we tried playing "chinese whispers". When the end of the round, came even the language had changed from English to Welsh - it was hilarious
![:yikes](/storage/forum/smilies/eek13.gif)
![:que](/storage/forum/smilies/vque.gif)
Louise
My Greek is reasonable but getting very rusty. I did some exams in the 80s -Institute of linguists at a basic level and lived on Lesbos for 6 months. My most memorable blunder was instead of ordering a kilo of bread I asked for the same weight in a very private part of the male anatomy
![Holiday Truths Forum](/resources/img/hh-leaderboard.gif)
Post a Reply
Please sign in or register an account to reply to this post.
![Holiday Truths Forum](/resources/img/hh-square.gif)
![Ship image](/resources/img/gc-ad.png)
Similar Topics
-
speaking the lingo
Posted by AskCy in Cyprus Discussion Forums
-
English speaking dentist
Posted by donna93 in Spain - Costa Blanca Discussion Forum
-
speaking Italian in cafe, what to ask for
Posted by seagull in Italy, Rivieras and Islands Discussion Forums
-
English speaking Turkish solicitor
Posted by Colinb53 in EX-Pats and Owners Abroad
-
English speaking lawyers in Sfax
Posted by clumber in EX-Pats and Owners Abroad