Job Discussion Forums

[wildchild]

[Professor]

The same could be said for many here in Mexico...we don't make friends with non-Spanish speakers.

[Phil_K]

I feel a lock coming on - let's get back to the good advice!

[TheLongWayHome]

I guess it doesn't help that most Mexicans will gladly speak English with you (if you're trying to learn Spanish), France it ain't.

[wildchild]

[Oreen Scott]

I guess I'm a slow learner because I've been in Mexico for a year and I'm not fluent in Spanish. I struggle. Furtermore, I don't see how anyone can judge their competency when learning a language. There are days when everyone seems to understand me, and other days when no one does. In Chihuahua my Spanish was better than it is here in Oaxaca.

Learning Spanish is important for many reasons. Right now I'm searching for an accountant to file tax forms for me on a monthly basis and I'm struggling because I don't know Spanish. Then again I noticed an ad in the yellow pages where "English Spoken" is printed in large bold letters.

Most Mexican's speak some English if for no other reason than many television programs are in English with Spanish sub-titles. Even those who say they don't speak English will do so after they've had a sample of my bad Spanish.

Scratch the surface and you find an attitude that goes "You're in my country, speak my language." And that attitude is not Mexican, it's universal.

[Prof.Gringo]

It's funny...

I don't live in a foreigners barrio in Mexico. I speak Spanish everyday. I have an excellent knowledge of Mexico's history, politics, laws, geography and culture. I have Mexican friends. But because myself and others choose not to go out of our way to make BFF with Spanish only Mexicans we get knocked about.

Funny. Do you say the same to the 12 million Mexicans that only work, live and interact with other Mexicans/Latinos in the US all in Spanish?

[lorrie]

I guess it won't really matter if you don't speak Spanish, because as the others said, at your workplace you won't need it and on the street most people will know at least some basic English so that you can get by. However I think it's better to make an effort to learn the language... you will have to use it on a daily basis in restaurants, shopping, etc and I think it's important to assimilate in the culture. In the end... learning Spanish can only help you

[notamiss]

Every time I see someone say that most Mexicans speak at least a little English, I think they must be mistaken because that's completely different from my experience. But then I realized that I don't actually know whether people I interact with speak English or not, since I only communicate with them in Spanish.

[norwalkesl]

To live in Mexico you need to speak Spanish. It is a very easy language to learn with an L1 of English.

For ESL work, some schools want you to be bilingual, some do not. Mostly the young children and middle school academies in Sonora would require it to teach English, certainly if teaching multiple subjects at bilingual schools.

There was one English school I contacted where the receptionist refused to speak any English, or could not. Massive irony, and my friends got a kick out of it. In Sonora there are liberal doses of English sprinkled throughout common daily Spanish usage. Bye Bye being the most common.

[wildchild]

I work at a pretty exclusive university. while many students have impressively high levels of English, many do not, and are studying basic English. And these are high-middle class Mexicans. so this gives you an idea of what you will encounter in the street.

One secretary, and one administrator (who handles my pay) do not speak English...

[TheLongWayHome]

[awest]

I arrived with little spanish and a good translation book. Been here for about 5 months. If you listen, ask questions you should be able to pick up enough spanish to get around the city, eat, get a place to live. The book is a good idea to carry with you just in case. I've had to use mine several times when i got lost.....yes go figure go lost in DF:)

I am taking a few hours of Spanish a week but I think I learn more from my friends.

[wildchild]

[ls650]