Embarrassed by the Brits?
#92
Banned
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Vejer de la Fra., Cadiz
Posts: 7,653
Re: Embarrassed by the Brits?
That is maybe one of the reasons some Brits will not or cannot learn Spanish, because so many Spanish are trying to learn English and try to speak it as much as they can.
Just a point of interest, Benalmadena council are running Spanish lessons, enrolment is this month.
Only Spanish is spoken at the enrolment place, foreigners are given 3 forms to fill in, of course all are in Spanish as we are in Spain.
This seems a little out of order to me and could maybe put people off applying, maybe it would help if there was another form that included translations of the required questions on the three forms, after all they are applying for Spanish lessons.
Just a point of interest, Benalmadena council are running Spanish lessons, enrolment is this month.
Only Spanish is spoken at the enrolment place, foreigners are given 3 forms to fill in, of course all are in Spanish as we are in Spain.
This seems a little out of order to me and could maybe put people off applying, maybe it would help if there was another form that included translations of the required questions on the three forms, after all they are applying for Spanish lessons.
Interestingly, my colleague who went with me reported that he found the Germans standoffish and rude, but then his attitude was that they were a bunch of damned krauts and he wasn't going to soil himself by learning the language.
Like I say, I really believe you get what you are expecting.
#93
Banned
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Living in a good place
Posts: 8,824
Re: Embarrassed by the Brits?
Strange that Lynn. A few years ago I had spanish neighbours who had worked all their lives in Switzerland. Originally from Madrid they whinged a lot about andalucía mentality. They always used to say never buy a house or a car off a spaniard as they don't look after them and in the case of cars, never have them serviced.
It is better to learn a few words in any language. Essential if living in Spain to know more. However, That's up to the individual, their loss if they don't. I don't feel embarrassed, spanish people aren't daft, they are able to recognise different classes of people just as Brits can recognise spanish low life. I do think there are many spaniards who dislike the British if spanish forums are an indication. I suppose you all have read them from time to time and seen the comments!
It is better to learn a few words in any language. Essential if living in Spain to know more. However, That's up to the individual, their loss if they don't. I don't feel embarrassed, spanish people aren't daft, they are able to recognise different classes of people just as Brits can recognise spanish low life. I do think there are many spaniards who dislike the British if spanish forums are an indication. I suppose you all have read them from time to time and seen the comments!
#94
Re: Embarrassed by the Brits?
That is maybe one of the reasons some Brits will not or cannot learn Spanish, because so many Spanish are trying to learn English and try to speak it as much as they can.
Just a point of interest, Benalmadena council are running Spanish lessons, enrolment is this month.
Only Spanish is spoken at the enrolment place, foreigners are given 3 forms to fill in, of course all are in Spanish as we are in Spain.
This seems a little out of order to me and could maybe put people off applying, maybe it would help if there was another form that included translations of the required questions on the three forms, after all they are applying for Spanish lessons.
Just a point of interest, Benalmadena council are running Spanish lessons, enrolment is this month.
Only Spanish is spoken at the enrolment place, foreigners are given 3 forms to fill in, of course all are in Spanish as we are in Spain.
This seems a little out of order to me and could maybe put people off applying, maybe it would help if there was another form that included translations of the required questions on the three forms, after all they are applying for Spanish lessons.
after I had told him in spanish that I thought he must have the wrong number he then said 'eeeenglis class, no?'
turned out someone had given him my name & number (I don't advertise at all anymore) & he'd been trying to say my name & speak to me in english.............which he clearly can't
we carried on the rest of the conversation in Spanish
it's ridiculous to expect people who want to learn a language to have to book in the language they can't yet speak
#95
Re: Embarrassed by the Brits?
It can be a bit cringeworthy at times.
I also find it embarrassing when other nationalities use English in Spain - I actually heard someone who was probably Scandinavian saying to a checkout girl "Why won't you speak to me in English?" using a frustrated and annoyed tone. I've also seen road-rage rows conducted entirely in English between non-Brits so it's possible that our reputation is slightly worse than we deserve.
I also find it embarrassing when other nationalities use English in Spain - I actually heard someone who was probably Scandinavian saying to a checkout girl "Why won't you speak to me in English?" using a frustrated and annoyed tone. I've also seen road-rage rows conducted entirely in English between non-Brits so it's possible that our reputation is slightly worse than we deserve.
#96
Re: Embarrassed by the Brits?
funnily enough I got a phone call this morning - I had no idea what the poor guy on the other end was saying............wasn't even sure what language he was speaking
after I had told him in spanish that I thought he must have the wrong number he then said 'eeeenglis class, no?'
turned out someone had given him my name & number (I don't advertise at all anymore) & he'd been trying to say my name & speak to me in english.............which he clearly can't
we carried on the rest of the conversation in Spanish
it's ridiculous to expect people who want to learn a language to have to book in the language they can't yet speak
after I had told him in spanish that I thought he must have the wrong number he then said 'eeeenglis class, no?'
turned out someone had given him my name & number (I don't advertise at all anymore) & he'd been trying to say my name & speak to me in english.............which he clearly can't
we carried on the rest of the conversation in Spanish
it's ridiculous to expect people who want to learn a language to have to book in the language they can't yet speak
#97
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2011
Location: Milan, Italy
Posts: 709
Re: Embarrassed by the Brits?
It can be a bit cringeworthy at times.
I also find it embarrassing when other nationalities use English in Spain - I actually heard someone who was probably Scandinavian saying to a checkout girl "Why won't you speak to me in English?" using a frustrated and annoyed tone. I've also seen road-rage rows conducted entirely in English between non-Brits so it's possible that our reputation is slightly worse than we deserve.
I also find it embarrassing when other nationalities use English in Spain - I actually heard someone who was probably Scandinavian saying to a checkout girl "Why won't you speak to me in English?" using a frustrated and annoyed tone. I've also seen road-rage rows conducted entirely in English between non-Brits so it's possible that our reputation is slightly worse than we deserve.
#99
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 7,749
Re: Embarrassed by the Brits?
The Dutch and Scandis learnt English mainly because their countries were too small to product much TV in their own language.
The Germans learnt English because the Americans colonised them after WW2 and helped Americanise the whole culture including making sure there were plenty of English lessons at school. And of course by rewriting the history books for them This was because Germany was the resistence to the USSR and because the winners of WW2 didnt want another Nazi regime rising from the ashes.
Although parts of Spain do seem like English colonies at times, people must remember that changing the language you speak is cultural colonisation and I do understand why many Spaniards (or Basques, or Catalans) want to speak their own language in their own country. Wars are fought over it and people die for such a right.
#100
Banned
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,008
Re: Embarrassed by the Brits?
Well, some technology is wrong! Its not in the extended Collins Spanish to English dictionary and my wife says it doesnt exist. I know because when we got married a few years ago I used that word and she laughed at me, saying its quite cute but doesnt exist.
If you google "marida" into google.es there are hardly any results, just to 1 comedy show, where they probably made the word up, also.
I'm sure JLFS will confirm at some point
If you google "marida" into google.es there are hardly any results, just to 1 comedy show, where they probably made the word up, also.
I'm sure JLFS will confirm at some point
It is a word that we used in the UK, along with loads more, nonesence,made up and play on words type words, hermanbro,fathre, mothre,caba, milche, cleaniar, cookinero, and others.
I am sorry if it confused people, as Ihave used it before, I thought everyone knew it was tounge in cheek
Why did we do it?, because we could.
#101
Re: Embarrassed by the Brits?
I seem to have opened up a can of worms, with marida,
It is a word that we used in the UK, along with loads more, nonesence,made up and play on words type words, hermanbro,fathre, mothre,caba, milche, cleaniar, cookinero, and others.
I am sorry if it confused people, as Ihave used it before, I thought everyone knew it was tounge in cheek
Why did we do it?, because we could.
It is a word that we used in the UK, along with loads more, nonesence,made up and play on words type words, hermanbro,fathre, mothre,caba, milche, cleaniar, cookinero, and others.
I am sorry if it confused people, as Ihave used it before, I thought everyone knew it was tounge in cheek
Why did we do it?, because we could.
#102
Banned
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Vejer de la Fra., Cadiz
Posts: 7,653
Re: Embarrassed by the Brits?
I seem to have opened up a can of worms, with marida,
It is a word that we used in the UK, along with loads more, nonesence,made up and play on words type words, hermanbro,fathre, mothre,caba, milche, cleaniar, cookinero, and others.
I am sorry if it confused people, as Ihave used it before, I thought everyone knew it was tounge in cheek
Why did we do it?, because we could.
It is a word that we used in the UK, along with loads more, nonesence,made up and play on words type words, hermanbro,fathre, mothre,caba, milche, cleaniar, cookinero, and others.
I am sorry if it confused people, as Ihave used it before, I thought everyone knew it was tounge in cheek
Why did we do it?, because we could.
#103
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2010
Location: Disneylandia
Posts: 1,824
Re: Embarrassed by the Brits?
How many of you, if you've paid a visit to Wales, have tried a few words of Welsh?
ciao for now,
'o nonno
ciao for now,
'o nonno
#105
Banned
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,008
Re: Embarrassed by the Brits?
I went to Wales once and started to choke on a peanut, I was coughing and spluttering, trying to dislodge it, and the Welsh people were very impressed that I was able to make myself understood in Welsh.