Originally Posted by agoreira (Post 9858176)

And I've heard some of those that claim to be able to speak decent Spanish! ;) We've got an excuse, we're not living there, but all those that have been there for years, immersed in the lingo every day, they should be brilliant. But they aren't!

Originally Posted by porcelainwhite (Post 9858112)

I agree, you can tell because their English skills and grammar are so poor. Clearly they've been speaking Spanish too much. :lol:

Originally Posted by agoreira (Post 9858176)

And I've heard some of those that claim to be able to speak decent Spanish! ;) We've got an excuse, we're not living there, but all those that have been there for years, immersed in the lingo every day, they should be brilliant. But they aren't!

Originally Posted by fionamw (Post 9858238)

Hmm. Shall I re-quote you your own use of English?

Plenty do watch Spanish tv. I'd be watching it daily if only we had signal:frown:


(nb good point Angiescarr)
I'm not convinced it's fair to tar everyone with the same brush. I readily admit to certain quantities of hypocrisy in all aspects of life. Age makes a difference to one's ability to retain new (or any) information. Not everyone is, nor chooses to be, immersed in the language of their country of choice. Take a look at the UK if you want convincing. Doesn't make it right, just saying.
Even those immersed don't necessarily make it to 'brilliant' language skills. Not every Brit has brilliant English skills. What does any of that prove?
Not a lot. Nor does the fact that the OP hasn't had any mega response. I would. Really. Nine year old to manage, poor internet access, 000s of kms to drive per month, OH to ferry to and fro............. yes we all have excuses. Some of us regret ours.

Originally Posted by jackytoo (Post 9858255)

I don't think there is anything wrong with not speaking spanish, there are many reasons why some do not. just that most people on here claim to be integrated and have loads of spanish friends. I don't see how they manage this without fluent spanish:confused: TBH I talk to relatives on skype but not comfortable with it. I would find it an ordeal to exchange conversation with a stranger.

Originally Posted by jackytoo (Post 9858255)

I don't think there is anything wrong with not speaking spanish, there are many reasons why some do not. just that most people on here claim to be integrated and have loads of spanish friends. I don't see how they manage this without fluent spanish:confused: TBH I talk to relatives on skype but not comfortable with it. I would find it an ordeal to exchange conversation with a stranger.

Originally Posted by jdr (Post 9858193)

Three trolls in the same thread, must be a record. :rofl:

Originally Posted by rachelk (Post 9858157)

Speak for yourself



That's right, you can't be.

Originally Posted by fionamw (Post 9858276)

Given that it's all down to degree, I couldn't argue IF you mean not speaking FLUENT spanish. I don't and could never agree it's acceptable or 'nothing wrong with' speaking no spanish, nor making any attempt to, speak everyday supermarket/gasolinera/neighbour/schoolgate spanish. I think that's the sort of thing without which life is less lived. If I were in Finland, Thailand, Brazil or Swaziland I would think it an obligation to learn enough to communicate even if to a somewhat paltry extent. I think the same obligation applies to Brits living in Spain.

Originally Posted by JLFS (Post 9858304)

From my point of view, I have seen very few who can hold a varied conversation in Spanish, as soon as things veer off the well practiced and routine that is built up over time, ie asking for coffees and a tapa of tortilla, and such, then they are stumped.

Originally Posted by porcelainwhite (Post 9858286)

When one can't defuse the truth,

Originally Posted by porcelainwhite (Post 9858286)

bring up old irrelevant threads.

Originally Posted by porcelainwhite (Post 9858286)

LOL some people are so dense.

Originally Posted by angiescarr (Post 9858232)

How do you know?

Originally Posted by fionamw (Post 9858238)

I'm not convinced it's fair to tar everyone with the same brush. .

Originally Posted by porcelainwhite (Post 9857853)

Good luck, but most Brits here are too lazy and ignorant to learn Spanish.

Originally Posted by porcelainwhite (Post 9857860)

Oh my bad, is there a new set of statistics where 90 percent of Brits can speak Spanish now? And have all the posts by Brits who say they are too old to learn or haven't got time disappeared? LOL.

Originally Posted by porcelainwhite (Post 9858088)

See, pure laziness and ignorance you can't even bother to look it up for yourself. Da Nile is a river in Egypt.

Originally Posted by jackytoo (Post 9858107)

Reading this forum I was under the impression that 99% of posters are fluent in Spanish;):rofl:

Originally Posted by agoreira (Post 9858176)

And I've heard some of those that claim to be able to speak decent Spanish! ;) We've got an excuse, we're not living there, but all those that have been there for years, immersed in the lingo every day, they should be brilliant. But they aren't!

Originally Posted by porcelainwhite (Post 9858286)

When one can't defuse the truth, bring up old irrelevant threads. LOL some people are so dense.

Originally Posted by agoreira (Post 9858424)

I haven't, that's why I said "some". I know some excellent speakers of Spanish, but they are the minority. Our friend's son has been in Spain about 7 years and is now at university there, his Spanish his perfect. Meanwhile his mother speaks good Spanish, and Dad is attending classes four hours a week to catch up. I've said before, this family has totally embraced the Spanish way of life, but there are in a minority.

Originally Posted by Lushdaddy (Post 9858541)

Trolls united. 'but there are in a minority' doesn't make sense?