Job Discussion Forums

[Rebate]

Hi folks,

I am wondering what the best countries to work in are if I want to learn to speak Spanish as it is spoken in America. I am hoping to be able to transfer what I will learn while in Latin America to my job prospects in the States.

Should I only work and study in Mexico? Are there countries whose language is close enough to translate and some that I should completely avoid? I've heard different things from different sources but thought I'd check in with those with the experience.

Thanks again,
Rebate

[Guy Courchesne]

Mexican Spanish is probably most represented in the US, though in places like NY you'll hear more the Puerto Rican variety and in Florida, the Cuban style. Mexican Spanish iteself varies widely.

I think just about anywhere in Central America, you'll get a close-to-Mexican style Spanish Chilean, Ecuadorian, and Argentine Spanish are unique and probably not highly represented statesside.

[thelmadatter]

Ditto Guy with one small correction. It used to be that the Spanish of the NYC area was Puerto Rican. But since the 80's that has changed. There are now large communties of Cuban, Dominican and Mexican Spanish speakers.

I would recommend Mexican Spanish as it seems to me the most easily understood by many Spanish as a Second Language speakers who have English as a first language.

[lozwich]

Whatever you do, don't come to Spain to learn Spanish! After a year in Mexico, I find that here I suddenly don't know the words for coathanger, scorpion, and most importantly hangover.

I find Mexican Spanish a lot easier to understand, and much easier to use than the Spanish spoken here.

Lozwich

[Rebate]

Thank you for all the advice. I guess it's Mexico for me with maybe a bit of time in Costa Rica.

BTW, what is word for hangover? I have a feeling that might be something I should be ready with

Ciao!
R

[some waygug-in]

I think it was "crudo" where I was in Mexico.

Tengo el crudo? I can't remember exactly now.

[Ben Round de Bloc]

[Marimar]

I can relate to what Lozwich said...I lived in the Pais Vasco too! (Bilbao)
People were always laughing at my Mexican/Cuban Spanish (I lived in Mexico and Miami before), and I could never find the right words.
They also always thought I was Dutch (holandesa) for some reason. I enjoyed that. I still feel Dutch.

For "coathanger" I think they say "percha" there??? Or is that the Cubanos? I don't know about the other words...sorry!

Good luck and as they say in the Pais Vasco, Agur!!!

[kid ehglish]

All said is true. One thing to consider is the image the Mexican has in Latin America and Spain .. and elsewhere. In general the Spanish see a Mexican as a savage. In most of Latin America I'd say he is thought of as a clown. In smaller nations he might be a rep. of industrial might. All in all, if you learn from a comon Mexican you're going to sound like one. And people in other nations will constantly remind you of that, in good humor of course. Mexican Spanish is the easiest to learn if you, like me, are a blue-color type. Rare is a publication that reads, Spanish for Mexico. As you already know, the mother lode of literature is in Spain-Spanish.

I saw an interview with a Spanish Nobel winner once (wish I could provide her name) and she was asked where in the World is Spanish spoken correctly. Get this: La Habana, Colombia, Mexico DF, and Uruguay.

Mexicans are good people. That alone is reason enough to sound like one of them IMO.

[ls650]

[lozwich]

Doesn't that depend on what the Nobel prize was for?