Second Language Thread

[Lily Adler]

So I can speak Spanish, but only enough phrases with above average pronunciation to fake it. I understand it more than speak. Like if I hear it I'll know what you're saying. Right now it's a glorified party trick, but I do love using it when people talk **** about others in another language. I had a woman and her son in line at the Dollar store I used to work and her son was making fun of my coworker in Spanish and calling him slow and gay. Mom was scolding him and he said they can't understand what he was saying. I passive aggressively let him keep **** talking and then broke out the Spanish to his mom and I could literally pinpoint the embarrassment on his face. His mom told him see that's what happens when you speak ugly about others.

 

[Pennywise]

Aside from English, I know some Spanish, and even though I’m not entirely fluent, I can understand what people are saying, based on the context.

Wish I was way more fluent as my mother’s family comes from Peru.

 

[Black Narcissus]

Fluent in spanish. Grew up in a mostly mexican/hispanic neighborhood. Speaking spanish in california has gone a long way for me, especially when it comes to the latina/hispanic ladies. My gf is dominican and she really wasn't giving me any play till I started speaking spanish with her, and got me extra points when speaking spanish with her mom. I also every now and then when ordering tacos etc do so in spanish and their reaction is always a bit funny but I do see that they appreciate it.

 

[InCali]

Yeah. Grew up in LA and my father (Irish) never gave a white woman a second look. Grew up half the time in a Mexican household in Echo Park and City Terrace (near Cal State LA) areas after my dad remarried, but my Spanish sort of sucks now because I haven't used it in forever. I also spent a lot of time in Mexico and did a couple of stints at a language institute in Cuernavaca (near Mexico City). After that, my Spanish got pretty good, but I wouldn't have called myself fluent. In fact, I called myself "functionally fluent", but no more....

Funny story. My father had a really good sense of humor and could laugh at himself. He was also pretty thrifty and went to this Mexican woman's house who had a couple of barber chairs in a room at her house. She would use them and rent them and her haircuts were about $7 (I think.....it was some time ago). Anywaaaaaaay, my dad is getting a haircut and the other woman who was also cutting hair asked the other "How much do you charge him for a haircut?" in Spanish. When she told her, the woman says "Why so much? He doesn't have any hair." (also in Spanish). My father starts laughing and says "Yeah. Why are you overcharging me?". The other woman turned about 8 shades of purple, but my father thought it was one of the funniest things he'd ever heard.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

This thread is ironic given the new terms, no?

 

[Lily Adler]

This thread is ironic given the new terms, no?

No seas tonto, amigo.

 

[MissMarvelous]

My second language is English, I'm a native Spanish speaker.

Had to take extra English classes in primary school because I was very bad at it.

 

[InCali]

No seas tonto, amigo.

My second language is English, I'm a native Spanish speaker.

Had to take extra English classes in primary school because I was very bad at it.

I'm really glad it was the opposite way around for me. Spanish is SO MUCH easier and more sensible than English, it's ridiculous. It's no wonder people have a hard time with it. Although I can't really say I have a second language anymore......

 

[Lily Adler]

I'm really glad it was the opposite way around for me. Spanish is SO MUCH easier and more sensible than English, it's ridiculous. It's no wonder people have a hard time with it. Although I can't really say I have a second language anymore......

La risa es la mejor medicina, novia.

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

I was in the forces many years ago, and in 1982 had the pleasure of a luxury cruise to the Falkland Islands. The one word of Spanish I picked up there meant 'surrender'. I have a terrible ear for languages, but I picked that up. Thing is, now I can't remember it! One word, and I'd have to look it up! As I say, terrible ear for languages.

 

[Hobgoblin]

I took German in high school and was a mediocre student. I was able to get around well enough when I traveled to Germany but I seemed more fluent than I actually was. That was years ago so I’m sure I can hardly string a sentence together.

 

[InCali]

La risa es la mejor medicina, novia.

I'm a fool whose laughter is really my first language.

 

[tzarinna]

I took French in HS, and I have a French uncle but I'm not fluent in the language of love. Whenever I travelled internationally I would try to learn as much as I could to get about since I was a solo traveler. I had some great software that is now obsolete, but it really helped me a lot. I belong to a couple of Russian language Meetup groups. They meet virtually but will only allow you to sit in if you speak only Russian. I can understand more than I can speak. I'm getting better at reading though.
I've had a few native Russians say my Russian is good, but I'm my biggest critic.