An easy way to learn a new language
I was born and raised in Kingsville, Texas, a city of about 25,000 located about 100 miles north of the Mexican border. Many people in our little farming and ranching community spoke Spanish. Surprisingly, I never learned Spanish, even though I took two semesters of Spanish in high school. I did learn “Uno mas cerveza por favor!” And whenever I wanted to go out with friends without telling my wise old grandmother: “Estudioso in la biblioteca.”
Now I live just 15 miles north of the Mexican border in a city of 1.3 million, which means there are billions and billions and billions of people who speak Spanish. Sadly, I don’t. However, I’m thinking that all I need to do to learn Spanish, or any new language, is to drive around San Diego reading signs:
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Posted on January 15, 2013, in Manmade, Photos, Picture of the Moment and tagged no fishing signs. Bookmark the permalink. 20 Comments.
I took two years of Spanish too and it never stuck. I think you have to be speaking it constantly for it to stick. One time when I was single I dated a guy who had a deaf sister, so I learned some sign language to communicate her. She was so happy that I made the effort. I also taught myself to say “thank you” in Japanese for when I go to the restaurants. Every little bit helps and people appreciate that.
Would save a fortune on lessons
I live in McAllen very close to Kingsville, I am fluent in both english and spanish, but you know what when I went to Europe and saw how many languages they learned felt bad and started Italian and want to learn Portuguese. I study two years of french in High School and it did not help me in France ha! Anyway you learned is good even if is just one word.
And after the beer, Donde esta el bano? Of course you need to understand the directions in Spanish to get there in time!
I tell you Russell, that probably isn’t the quick way to learn a language!! I have lived in Wales for nearly 40 years and I don’t speak a word of Welsh. I am surrounded with road signs and all our official documents are bi lingual and that hasn’t made a bit of difference. I do, however, speak French. How come? Because I have studied it for nearly 50 years. And that, I’m afraid is the difference. Effort and motivation means I speak French, disinterest and lack of effort means I don’t speak Welsh!!
Now you’ve gone and made me all depressed. I was so excited to start learning all these new languages depicted on this sign…………..lol
hmmm… there are 1.3 million people residing in San Diego county yet billions and billions & billions speak Spanish… your math is not adding up sir: you correct my English and I’ll correct your math
We have lots of tourists from Mexico………..lol
That’s a good way to start. At least you will learn really important stuff like where NOT to fish.
Someone told me, “once you learn one new language, the others are easier”…don’t know if it’s true but I always found it easier to sing in another language…seems easier to remember the words…so you could just hit the streets singing..LOL
That’s the way to learn it, at least a little bit. Hasta la vista, RR
PREGENIJALAN POST!
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I love the sign- looks like you can learn a few languages at once
Publix in Ft Laud near a port has a sign out front in 6 languages. Our voting ballots are printed in 3 languages. Products in grocery stores here in south Florida have packages in 2 languages as do many signs on the street and local stores. It’s the “new normal”.
Seems to me that the new normal can be quite complicated………..lol
How timely. After my recent vacation, I am now learning Spanish. It’s a very useful language to know.
I was taught Spanish starting in Kindergarten through 3rd grade, and then we switched schools and in 6th grade the Spanish teacher had me teaching the class. I had classes all the way through my senior year in high school and then did not speak the language again until about 10 years ago. While I cannot remember everything, I can make those who speak the language understand me.
I think you are on to something here, and look at the other languages on those signs! Don’t you think that they should come with a pronunciation guide so that you can learn the correct way?
For a couple of those languages, just a note telling me what languag it is would be nice!………..lol
I love Zoey so much! So much work to do approving all these posts.