tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289482511228853984.post2042887445489612138..comments2023-12-16T05:27:05.041-06:00Comments on mexpatriate — in the key of steve: a rose in spanish grammarSteve Cottonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00468378507171761868noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289482511228853984.post-66814922396747989622008-08-10T20:08:00.000-05:002008-08-10T20:08:00.000-05:00Kim -- Sounds like a good book to buy. I am headi...Kim -- Sounds like a good book to buy. I am heading over to Amazon right now.Steve Cottonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00468378507171761868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289482511228853984.post-76664283898680771052008-08-10T17:43:00.000-05:002008-08-10T17:43:00.000-05:00Hola Steve, And now for another in my series of ex...Hola Steve, <BR/><BR/>And now for another in my series of exhaustive tips on learning Spanish.<BR/><BR/>One of the best books I've ever read on learning Spanish is "Breaking Out of Beginner's Spanish" by Joseph J. Keenan.<BR/><BR/>As the author puts it, "This book is not a phrasebook and not a text book, though it can be used with either. It is more like a guidebook--not to the Spanish-speaking countries, but to the Spanish spoken in those places."<BR/><BR/>This book is well-written, and very funny. Even if you don't want to learn Spanish, it'd be an amusing read. I highly recommend it. I've probably read it a dozen times and learn something new each time.<BR/><BR/>Regards,<BR/><BR/>Kim G<BR/>Boston, MAAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289482511228853984.post-68512287340142747882008-08-10T17:00:00.000-05:002008-08-10T17:00:00.000-05:00Jonna -- Thanks for the grammar hint. When my La...Jonna -- Thanks for the grammar hint. When my Latin was fresh, I was much better at listening to endings. It certainly would have helped with my misunderstanding of the bus driver.Steve Cottonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00468378507171761868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289482511228853984.post-43899469061698064942008-08-10T16:04:00.000-05:002008-08-10T16:04:00.000-05:00Steve, my RSS feed got gunked and I'm just now get...Steve, my RSS feed got gunked and I'm just now getting all my feeds back. I'm catching up on your blog and really loving it. Good work!<BR/><BR/>When I named my blog after the cartoon I didn't really think much about it, I just liked the cartoon and figured I wouldn't have anything very important to say. Your point above though is meaningful. It is very easy to let conversations that are difficult to understand just fall into the Blah Blah Blah hole in your mind. It's a struggle sometimes to force myself to really listen, and I'm convinced that really listening is the most important language skill you can develop. Just remember to pay attention to the <B>end</B> of words, something we don't do in English but is key in Spanish. That's my tip of the day ;)Jonnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14775514857047122526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289482511228853984.post-59320671148903260452008-08-09T00:09:00.000-05:002008-08-09T00:09:00.000-05:00Thanks, Al. That is why I rely on the kindness of...Thanks, Al. That is why I rely on the kindness of readers. This journalism-on-the-run has its drawbacks. But, like an etch a sketch, all can be made right quickly. Were that our lives had such shortcuts.Steve Cottonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00468378507171761868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289482511228853984.post-50675008614128394342008-08-09T00:05:00.000-05:002008-08-09T00:05:00.000-05:00Is Ft Collins Mexico near Ft Collins Colorado? So...Is Ft Collins Mexico near Ft Collins Colorado? Sorry Steve, I could not help myself!Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12831396924107732497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289482511228853984.post-27276830560586146502008-08-08T19:57:00.000-05:002008-08-08T19:57:00.000-05:00american mommy -- Enjoy away. I find it a great r...american mommy -- Enjoy away. I find it a great reference myself. Now that they sort by updates, I can keep up with each of them religiously.Steve Cottonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00468378507171761868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289482511228853984.post-11446756393339702242008-08-08T19:46:00.000-05:002008-08-08T19:46:00.000-05:00this is kinda an odd comment but I Really Like You...this is kinda an odd comment but I Really Like Your Blog Role! I am having fun exploring the various Mexico blogs ...Frankly Rondahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03214064414695951062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289482511228853984.post-32004460478924976532008-08-08T16:08:00.000-05:002008-08-08T16:08:00.000-05:00Teresa -- Thanks for the encouragement. In truth,...Teresa -- Thanks for the encouragement. In truth, I would feel complimented if someone said I could speak as well as a four year old. Enjoy the mountain. It should be beautiful this weekend.<BR/><BR/>Gloria -- Those pesky numbers will continue to haunt me. But I will keep trying. What I need to do is start listening.Steve Cottonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00468378507171761868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289482511228853984.post-61789502763124343062008-08-08T14:14:00.000-05:002008-08-08T14:14:00.000-05:00Learning Spanish is almost like learning Portugues...Learning Spanish is almost like learning Portuguese, or Italian. They come very close in pronounciation. Of course I speak English first and Spanish only if I have to. Just remember your numbers: uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco, seis, siete, ocho, nueve, diez. Oh and yes remember that Setenta is seventy, and Sesenta is sixty. For example: (hehehe) did you know that 35.71 is Treinta y Cinco Punto Setenta y Uno? I didn't either, I just looked it up for you. Just joshing, you will learn good. Take care.GlorV1https://www.blogger.com/profile/06789212398770555465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289482511228853984.post-49339286547921970972008-08-08T13:30:00.000-05:002008-08-08T13:30:00.000-05:00i had to laugh at theresa's comment because it bro...i had to laugh at theresa's comment because it brought back another memory. i almost, luckily i caught myself, used the word excitada instead of emocionada. so you see, sometimes even for native speakers who are from other countries, words can have different meanings. just like my monos story. we all make mistakes and sometimes they later make for a good story. just keep practicing your spanish, it does not need to be perfect. i remember you made a comment about feeling like you speak the language at the level of a 4 year old. someone i know was actually told this and he became very discouraged. do not get discouraged, it's better to practice and make mistakes, than to give up altogether. not that i think you would give up-i know you have what it takes.<BR/><BR/>have a great weekend steve. i'm off to mt. rainier on sunday for 3 days of camping and hiking.<BR/><BR/>saludos,<BR/>teresaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289482511228853984.post-48767762136239998032008-08-08T12:28:00.000-05:002008-08-08T12:28:00.000-05:00Theresa -- And I will undoubtedly commit every si...Theresa -- And I will undoubtedly commit every single mistake. My mistake last month of asking if "I could eat a bull" when I meant "what do bulls eat" was a perfect example. I look forward to many more. Ropa throws me almost every time. As does sopa.<BR/><BR/>Brenda -- I will keep on practicing.Steve Cottonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00468378507171761868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289482511228853984.post-53841817443284727752008-08-08T09:59:00.000-05:002008-08-08T09:59:00.000-05:00Yes, learning the language is the key that will op...Yes, learning the language is the key that will open many doors in your new home, wherever you end up.Brenda Maashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03451724306271286173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289482511228853984.post-70186972696377858532008-08-08T09:44:00.000-05:002008-08-08T09:44:00.000-05:00Very good plan. Here are some of my favorite false...Very good plan. Here are some of my favorite false cognates embarazado,ropa and excitado, they will trip you up if you aren't careful. The translations are pregnant,clothes and sexual excitement. If you are embarrassed you are avergonzado (but that is more ashamed, shy is tímido)<BR/>rope is soga, and excited is emocionado . If you use the others you will certainly have some interesting stories to tell. <BR/>regards,<BR/>TheresaTheresa in Mèridahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17217945138741786373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289482511228853984.post-14044795852794385642008-08-08T09:36:00.000-05:002008-08-08T09:36:00.000-05:00Wayne and Babs -- One lesson I have learned from m...Wayne and Babs -- One lesson I have learned from my fellow bloggers that not learning Spanish is easily the quickest awy to an incomplete experience in Mexico. (I suspect the stupidest thing is to buy or use drugs in Mexico -- but that is a completely different experience.) Being a kinetic learner, I need to learn some language tools and then get out there and use them. <BR/><BR/>Have the two of you read "Translator/Guide Gang" on "Gangs of San Miguel de Allende?" It is at: http://richland.wordpress.com/2008/07/27/translation-service/<BR/><BR/>I literally come close to dying every time I read it.Steve Cottonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00468378507171761868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289482511228853984.post-24742639017153551112008-08-08T09:03:00.000-05:002008-08-08T09:03:00.000-05:00Glad you're committed to learning Spanish - we hav...Glad you're committed to learning Spanish - we have a school here, Warren Hardy Language School that teaches based on learning after 40 - we learn differently after 40, they say - Believe me, almost everywhere you go in Mexico you will NOT find English - even in tourist areas. Puebla, Morelia, Mexico City etc. and many, many places in San Miguel - even the stores - come to mind........so you have to be able to speak. Muy importante.Babshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16609157345912932083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2289482511228853984.post-90422934422374469212008-08-08T08:18:00.000-05:002008-08-08T08:18:00.000-05:00A very noble, and ambitious, goal indeed! If it we...A very noble, and ambitious, goal indeed! If it weren't for my handful of faithful Mexican friends here, I probably would not speak as much Spanish as I do. This is definitely a bi-lingual island here. English downtown, Spanish everywhere else. Don't forget the interesting hurdle of regional accents! In the Yucatan, the final N in a word is pronounced as an M. Having Mayan words sprinkled amidst the Spanish is not uncommon either. Learning is always a challenge...sometimes good, often frustrating, but always worth it!Islagringohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18181198510287530636noreply@blogger.com