improve my spanish

Some days I can’t even think clearly in English, let alone Spanish. When I’m tired or have had a couple drinks my ability to speak decreases. But more and more I engage in conversations in Spanish. One of my friends said why bother to know any other language than English, but another language is like opening doors to another world!!

and most of the time I can understand others without problem unless they are indulging in street slang, which I don’t pick up in English either because of the generally miserable pronunciation. Of course I have to be alert and awake, or I won’t even be coherent listening to English. I stopped thinking of Spanish as a foreign language. It’s a second language that I don’t speak as well as English, but it’s my language.

That’s the medium of expression, and I’m becoming increasingly adequate, my problem being clarity of speech and pronunciation. But I have the same problem with English. I’m finding that more and more people speak sloppily, sort of the fashionable thing to do. I guess I’m an old fashioned conservative.

Went to an extended family Easter Party, and conversations with people my age were about 50 percent in Spanish, and smoothly. More and more comfortable as life goes on.

I was the only Gringo in a small group, the rest being Hispanic, and I frequently push Spanish in these situations, although the rest are speaking English (We are in Miami and the majority have a Hispanic background). One of the people said: “Oh good! This will be a good chance to practice my Spanish”!

I listen to the radio and read the newspaper. It helps, but I meet too many people who don’t seem to hear me when I use Spanish. Also they speak in a low voice, and I have to almost shout to make them hear me. It’s weird. My relatives understand me, so I know it’s not all me when I deal with others. Of course in the stores people continue conversing with me when looking for something or at the cash register. The other night a newspaper rep called in Spanish, assuming everyone in the neighborhood spoke it, and I continued in Spanish to the end of the matter with no problem and got compliments.

I met more people to practice with, and the newspaper and radio help. Slowly I’m improving, but have momentary lapses when I seem to forget everything.

I read an Op-Ed in Spanish in the Miami Herald today about US economic policy and problems in Latin America. I had to look up one word, and 3 more I checked but my original idea was correct.

I went to the baptism of my nephew’s nephew (son of his brother-in- law). It was all in Spanish, and although I can understand a whole lot on Spanish radio. I really couldn’t follow the ritual very well. I don’t know if I’ve forgotten my religious Spanish, if I couldn’t understand because I was too tired for my brain to function(I had hard time conversing in English even), of if it due to the priest’s pronunciation. Whatever the reason I had a hard time. But when I listened to the Marlins baseball game in Spanish while driving I had no trouble. Persevere is the key.

Each day it’s easier to understand, although there is still a delay, while it clicks in, but the delay is shorter, and I’m catching more. A problem is I meet very few Spanish speakers who are not very proficient in English. It is hard to keep from the most eficient mode of communication and deliberately slow things down just so I can get my practice.