Job Discussion Forums

[jillford64]

I have a friend, Ellen, who works at the same school I do. We've both had trouble learning Spanish because we teach anywhere from 25 to 35 hours a week and thus are in an English speaking environment all day, six days a week. When you throw in time spent on lesson planning, we have very little time to study or use the language. Ellen has registered to join this forum, but she received a message that said they weren't processing new registrations until the end of the month. (Maybe Dave is on vacation?) In the meantime, she asked me to make this post on her behalf:

"I'm thinking of moving from Morelia to Mexico City because I haven't
been able to spend the time learning Spanish (and teaching English
doesn't help with developing Spanish skills). As a result, it has
been difficult meeting people and developing friendships because I
can't understand them. Am I right in thinking that there will be more
opportunities to socialise with more English-speaking people in DF?
Does anyone who has the same language difficulties as me, and who is
teaching in DF, have an opinion on this? Thanks! Ellen"

[Guy Courchesne]

[lisa1968]

What is her objective? Does she really want to learn Spanish, or just make new English speaking friends? I remember that it was important for me at the beginning to have some sort of routine. I made myself study a little every day, even if it wasn't with a teacher, and I made myself go out into town a little bit everyday to have contact with strangers. That was the main thing that helped with my Spanish, being by myself and not around loads of foreigners. I have since met people that have been in Mexico 10, 15, even 28 years, and their Spanish is on a low intermediate level, with serious pronunciation problems.

Tell her not to get discouraged, to stick it out a few months, but only if learning Spanish is a priority for her. Otherwise, I am sure DF has tons of English speakers she can socialize with.

[lozwich]

Put up a sign at the school for an intercambio. She can socialise with a Mexican student and spend 1/2 the time speaking English and half speaking Spanish. Or, she could share a house with a Mexican person.

And yes it is hard, and can be disheartening. But tell her to keep her chin up, and if she doesn't give up she'll feel so rewarded in the end!

[thelmadatter]

Guy, dont forget to tell her that if she wants to hook up with the Anglo tribe here, there is an initiation ceremony... which we still need to apply to a certain person!

[Guy Courchesne]

moohaha...got my ping pong paddle ready...you?

[TheLongWayHome]

I loved Mexico when I didn't understand Spanish, enjoy it! Now I get to understand ignorant drivel all day long such as:

Student 1: Que vas a hacer despues de la classe wey?
Student 2: Pos, voy a mi casa a huevonear.

[Phil_K]

[Phil_K]

Ever noticed how many Chilango words contain "ch"?

chilango, chale, chido, chamba, no manches, chela, pachanga, chango, ch****do, charlar....etc

And the apodos

Chucho, G�icho, Pancho, Poncho, Meche, Nacho, etc

(for those who don't know, that's Jes�s, Luis, Francisco, Alfonso, Mercedes & Ignacio)

I was once told there are about 350 slang words with "ch"!

[Guy Courchesne]

There was a song done by a Mexico City rapper that noted exactly that ch-word prevalence here, Phil...wish I could remember the name.

[Phil_K]

Here it is...

Chilanga Banda by Cafe Tacuba

Ya chole chango chilango
que chafa chumba te chutas
no checa andas de tacuche
y chale con la charola.

Tan choncho como una chinche
mas chueco que la fayuca
con fusca y con cachiporra
te paso andar de guarura.

Mejor yo me hecho una chela
y chance enchufo una chava
chambiando de chafirete
me sobra chupe y pachanga.

Si choco saco chipote
la chota no es muy molacha
chiveando a los que machucan
se va a morder su talacha.

De noche caigo al congal
no manches dice la changa
al choro del teporocho
enchifla pasa la pacha.

PACHUCOS CHOLOS Y CHUNDOS,
CHINCHINFLAS Y MALAFACHAS
ACA LOS CHOMPIRAS RIFAN
Y BAILAN TIBIRITABARA.

Mejor yo me hecho una chela
y chance enchufo una chava
chambiando de chafirete
me sobra chupe y pachanga.

Mi �ero mata la cha
y canta la cucaracha
su choya vive de choyos
de chemo, chupe y garnachas.


Transando de arriba abajo
ahi va la chilanga banda
chinchin si me la recuerdan
carcacha y se les retacha.

Don't ask me to translate everything!!

[Guy Courchesne]

Good work...I didn't know it was Cafe Tacuba.

Don't ask me to translate it either...cripes, that's difficult Spanish there.