Job Discussion Forums

[Phil_K]

Just to throw in my 2 cents, I came to Mexico with zero Spanish, and therefore although I had the advantage of a Mexican fianc�e, later wife, we had to speak English. When people ask me what we speak at home, I tell them that we still speak mainly English, because at what stage can you say, "Now let's change to Spanish"?

I have been in Mexico nearly 7 years, and more or less speak fluently despite the aforementioned facts and the fact I've been working in English. I took 3 years of lessons (just 2hrs per week), which equipped me well for understanding grammar but I think the rest came simply from the desire to become fluent. As I tell my students, you've got to want to, or else all the lessons in the world won't get you anywhere.

All in all, I have learnt more Spanish in those 7 years, than I learnt French in 30 years of study, so for sure, if the desire is there, you have a great opportunity by living in a country where the language is spoken.

[MO39]

Phil, you've hit the nail on the head when you mention desire - I've always thought that that was the key to learning anything, especially a new language. What's always set my successful students apart from the ones that never seem to improve is some sort of deep-seated motivation for learning the language.

[hlamb]

I arrived in Mexico a bit over three years ago, with no Spanish. I studied French in school and that has helped me with the grammar but hindered me in terms of pronunciation. I took a one month intensive course (six hours and day and living with a family) before starting to teach. I'm probably a low intermediate level speaker. When I put my mind to it, I do ok, but most of the time I exist in English. Most of my Mexican friends like to practice their English with me when we're out together and whileI protest and insist on speaking in Spanish, it doesn't usually last that long. Part of it is lack of motivation. I speak well enough to get by and don't feel the need to do better. Also, I am returning to Canada soon and Spanish really isn't important there, not like it is in the US. If anything, I should take up French again. So teaching and learning can coexist, but you have to really want it and be willing to put in a lot of extra effort.

[Phil_K]

That seems like a wasted opportunity to me - three years to add another string to your bow. While the world and his wife is bilingual, any opportunity to become trilingual or more should be taken advantage of.

[hlamb]

[Phil_K]

Fair enough! A chacun son gout (can't find the circumflex!)

[TheLongWayHome]

Desire is important. It just annoyed me so much not understanding people, TV (though I wish I still didn't understand Mexican TV!) and not being able to give my opinion or ask for things.

Luckily I can learn just by listening so after about a year I was fairly fluent. I hadn't studied before coming here but I've had a lot of exposure, coming here to be with my wife.

[MO39]

[MELEE]

Like Phil, I've found it nearly impossible to change the language I speak to my spouce, once the relationship is established, it's established. But we are on the opposite side. I came to Mexico with pretty decent Spanish, though I had mainly South American vocab and was surpised by the number of words I had to learn (mostly regarding food). I met my husband here and when we met, he had only just started learning English. He now can hold his own pretty well in English (got 580 on the old style TOEFL, and passed an unofficial CAE exam) and I'm pretty much equally comfortable using both langauges, there are certain topics I still perfer in English and other topics I actually struggle to find the English words for. It would really be better now if we spoke English as his need to keep up his English is much greater than my need to keep up my Spanish, but attempts to change have been unsuccessful.

As to the OP I have seen many teachers arrive with little or no Spanish, so are very successful and others leave with little or no Spanish--it's all about how actively you persue language study.