Job Discussion Forums

[danielita]

[corporatehuman]

I've lived in Mexico now for six months; before arriving I did not speak a word of Spanish.

I'd say more than anything, of course, is a willingness, and a true desire to learn the language. And to immerse yourself in it. I do not watch movies in English, or television, for example. I try to read a play or a Spanish book every month (though I may not understand it all.)

I've fortunately had four months of what I think are very good Spanish classes, though, I have nothing to compare them to. I also live with a host family and this has been -indefinitely- invaluable for learning. I think essential really. Especially a family that -wants- you to know you.

I have no idea what level I am, all I can say is, that every day I speak Spanish outside of class. I feel comfortable with Spanish speaking friends the more time I spend with them. On the weekends, every weekend, my Spanish improves. During the week, when I am teaching class it worsens. Its amazing for me, to watch it fluctuate.

And even if you don't have a bedmate, you do have the rest of the world to talk to. Pick a business and frequent it. Simply ask them how they are doing, and eventually, little by little, you'll be let in to their friendship.

Extracircular 'activities.' Sports, anything. One thing that helped me (though I didn't like it) was that for months I was the only foreigner living in my town. While that resulted in some serious times of loneliness, I met a lot of people along the way. Now there are more foreign teachers, and I find myself having to remove myself from them because they insist on speaking English. And it isn't that I dislike them, they're all very good people, just that if I speak English at work, and outside of work, I learn nothing at all.

- Chris

[Guy Courchesne]

Let me add to the OP question...how has your attained level of Spanish influenced your teaching in Mexico? For better or for worse?

[MELEE]

For Chris and anyone else who is interested. You can evaluate your own level, and/or your students level, by using the ALTE (Association of Language Testers of Europe) "Can Do Statements"

http://www.alte.org/can_do/index.php

[scottmx81]

However, most of the Mexicans I spent time with were much more interested in speaking to me in English.

I think a generalization could be made that whoever has the most skills in the other's language wins, and the language of that person will be used.

It's natural that the language allowing for the most effective communication will be used. You will find that the more fluent you become, the less people will try to speak to you in English.

If someone starts speaking to me in English, I conciously or subconciously make an assessment as to their level. If their English is better than my Spanish, I speak to them in the language of their choice and don't bother trying to speak Spanish if they don't seem to want to. If their English is less than my level of Spanish, I continue talking to them in Spanish even if they are speaking in English. They will usually give up very early on in the conversation.

It is selfish in a way, but being spoken to in English by someone who doesn't understand very well can be annoying if you have a high level of Spanish. So you have to put yourself in their shoes as well. If they are speaking to you fluently in English, you just have to go with the flow and save your practicing for someone else.

But, as I said earlier, the more and more fluent you become, the less and less people will be wanting to practice their English with you.

[MELEE]

[MikeySaid]

The place where it gets strange is when two people speak each other's language equally well. Sometimes I find myself speaking Spanish, and hearing replies in English. The gf and I change from one language to the other for different reasons....

Sometimes it's for privacy... at work and at home Spanish is more private for me, while for her English is more private.

Other times, it's because of a word that pops up. If we find ourselves naming a noun in English or Spanish, we'll often switch to the language the word belongs to.

[Guy Courchesne]

How about some example dialogue Mikey? Something good...bring it to life...

[Ben Round de Bloc]

[MikeySaid]

Yeah... when I'm in Mexico... nobody tries to talk to me in English.... except for her. It's really about ability level. If your Spanish is considerably better than their English... conversations will generally take place in the language that allows for the most fluid discourse.

Guy... I'll see if I can give you an idea of a back and fourth conversation...

[Guy Courchesne]

Yeah, my conversations with my wife go something similar...

[asi va]

Sounds like my nieces. They have a Texan father, a Mexican mother and grew up in Texas and Nevada. I have yet to hear an entire sentence come out of their mouths completely in English or completely in Spanish. It used to bother me a bit, but now it just gives me a little "inside smile".

[business2300]

How does your Spanish level affect a teacher getting a job?
Do schools prefer some Spanish?

[MamaOaxaca]

If we had two candidates who were the same in other aspects, like years and type of experience, education, good answers to our questions, etc. but one spoke Spanish, that one would get the job. It just makes all our lives easier. We don't have to hold their hand with immigration and house hunting, no one has to leave work to take them to the doctor, etc. And it make it easier for them to get envolved in the community, increasing the possiblity that they will stay on for a while.
But it's not a job requirement. And we've had great teachers who've stayed for a number of years who arrived with no Spanish. So maybe we should just scrap those views?

[ls650]