The Learning Spanish Forum - opportunity to comment . . .

The Learning Spanish Forum - opportunity to comment . . .

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Is it worthwhile? Interest shown nears zero.

Con todo respeto,

Quevedo
Moderator
Learning Spanish Forum

(This post was edited by DavidMcL on May 13, 2006, 8:17 AM)

MazDee

May 12, 2006, 7:39 PM

Post #2 of 34 (2664 views)

Re: [quevedo] Learning Spanish Forum

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I will go over there now and check it out. I used to look sometimes but everything was in Spanish and I couldn't even understand the questions! I am not ready for the fine points, I still need basic stuff. Dee

Rolly

May 12, 2006, 7:52 PM

Post #3 of 34 (2659 views)

Re: [MazDee] Learning Spanish Forum

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I feel the same as MazDee. I have wished that posts there could be made in Spanish and English, especially those by Quevedo. I think that would help me a lot.

Rolly Pirate

shoe

May 13, 2006, 4:46 AM

Post #4 of 34 (2633 views)

Re: [quevedo] Learning Spanish Forum

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I agree with Rolly, as the Learning Spanish forum is so far advanced, by the people that probably started it and are now very proficient in speaking Spanish, that it is no longer much help to the very basic beginner. How is the beginning Spanish learner going to understand all the Spanish written there? Maybe it should be split into a couple of forums, one for the beginner and one for the advanced. That way beginners using a beginner forum will feel a little better about asking basic questions. These could then be answered in both English and Spanish when applicable. Quevedo's answers might be great if I could ever understand one of them.

cya,
shoe

Nothing is intrinsically good or evil, but its manner of usage may make it so.
-St. Thomas Aquinas

May 13, 2006, 5:35 AM

Post #5 of 34 (2623 views)

Re: [quevedo] Learning Spanish Forum

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With all due respect to Quevado, a quick check shows that Learning Spanish has had a total of 17 postings in the past month (7 by Quevado) and a slightly higher average over three months - 81 total, 27 mo. average). Perhaps there is zero interest in a real Learning Spanish, forum, but there seems to be only marginally more interest in the current forum.

From the postings now, it would seem that I'm not the only one interested in more learning Spanish and less of whatever it is that is being posted. Like others, I try to read the postings, but have to give up in frustration. I don't know what the forum is, but it definitely is not Learning Spanish.

Perhaps it should be renamed - For Proficient Spanish Speakers. or Pecularities of Spanish as often people are curious about a single expression or colloquialism and ask about it in English.

(This post was edited by dlyman6500 on May 13, 2006, 5:45 AM)

esperanza

May 13, 2006, 8:57 AM

Post #6 of 34 (2580 views)

Re: [quevedo] The Learning Spanish Forum - opportunity to comment . . .

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I'm very interested in reading what has been said on this thread.

In offering the Learning Spanish forum, I believe that MexConnect offers a valuable opportunity for speakers of Spanish at every level.

Some of us who post on that forum are either native or very advanced Spanish-speakers. Others have little or no knowledge of Spanish and would like to learn the basics, and still others are at an intermediate level.

Those of us who are able to answer questions about vocabulary, grammar, syntax, and (as one poster mentioned) colloquialisms are always delighted to do so. However, none of us is able to guess what others would like to know about learning Spanish. Do you need to know a particularly obscure noun in order to get a job done? Is the subjunctive a total mystery to you? Does the placement and use of pronouns puzzle you? Are verb conjugations keeping you up at night? It seems to me that in order to get the Learning Spanish forum moving, it's up to those with a curiosity about the language to ask any and all questions they want addressed.

Go for it, everyone. You'll be surprised at how much activity you'll generate on the forum.

Saber es poder. (Knowledge is power.)

Esperanza

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

johanson

May 13, 2006, 10:10 AM

Post #7 of 34 (2559 views)

Re: [esperanza] The Learning Spanish Forum - opportunity to comment . . .

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I don't think there could be one Spanish learning forum that could be right for each person, or even two or three forums. I don't know if there is a good solution. Because what ever you do, there will be someone who is much more or much less advanced than the level of the post. The only real solution is a ridiculous one, you know, have ten different forums, one for each level of Spanish. But like I said, that is impractical.

Maybe someone else will have a good idea. What do I do, when I see a post that I don't quite understand? I try to figure it out and then, if I fail, I feel guilty, and realizing how little Spanish I really know, I pick up my 501 Spanish verbs book and study a little more.

The great thing is, it sounds like some of you are trying to learn Spanish. What ever you do, don't give up. Your life will be even better when you come to Mexico, if you can speak a little Spanish.

If I could only speak Esp. half as well as Esperanza does, I would be really happy.

mariejosee

May 13, 2006, 10:54 AM

Post #8 of 34 (2541 views)

Re: [esperanza] The Learning Spanish Forum - opportunity to comment . . .

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I must say I'm disappointed at the lack of interest shown by MexConnect users for the very graciously offered "Learning Spanish" forum.
Languages won't land on your lap without effort. If you don't even ask questions, if you don't even show interest, whatelse do you expect to happen there??? I think it is remarkable that Quevedo has had the dedication to maintain the forum alive.
Active participation is the only way to learn, as Esperanza says, go on, try it, ask questions and you will be surprised at the results.
Taking responsibility for your learning is the only way it is going to happen. Passivity is a deadend. Learning Spanish will expand your enjoyment of living in Mexico tremendously.

************************************************************
As if you could kill time without injuring eternity.
"Henry David Thoreau"

May 13, 2006, 11:03 AM

Post #9 of 34 (2536 views)

Re: [mariejosee] The Learning Spanish Forum - opportunity to comment . . .

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OK. I will go for it. I will save up five or so sentences that I need for daily living and don't know. I will then ask about them. That seems a workable solution for my needs. For Esperanza and others who are proficient, perhaps it will be boring, but I need it. Also, it will encourage me to try to read some of the more advanced postings. Win/win I hope.

Judy in Ags

May 13, 2006, 11:07 AM

Post #10 of 34 (2535 views)

Re: [quevedo] The Learning Spanish Forum - opportunity to comment . . .

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I used to look at it, but when I see those long posts in pure Spanish, I lose interest. I feel that if I want to read something that involved in Spanish, I'll read a magazine or book.

I'm probably neither a beginner or advanced, but I would like a place where I could feel free to say, "How do you say..." without feeling that the question is way too boring for the rest of the posters.

I don't think the idea of a beginner's forum and an advanced forum is a bad idea. It would come a lot closer to meeting needs that it does now.

esperanza

May 13, 2006, 11:12 AM

Post #11 of 34 (2532 views)

Re: [dlyman6500] The Learning Spanish Forum - opportunity to comment . . .

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OK, you folks: read my lips. Helping any of you to learn to communicate better in Spanish is not boring. It's a great way to give back a small part of what MexConnect gives to each of us. So please take my word for it (and I'll speak for my dear friend Quevedo as well) and ASK ANYTHING!

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

doogie

May 13, 2006, 3:24 PM

Post #12 of 34 (2488 views)

Re: [quevedo] The Learning Spanish Forum - opportunity to comment . . .

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I had never noticed the Learning Spanish forum. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. I'm just back from a visit to it and I would certainly vote to keep it. Having had the good fortune to grow up in Guadalajara, I was blessed with the opportunity to learn the language as a child. My parents, who were trying to run a business, struggled with it for years and depended on me as their interpreter. So I will check in to the Learning Spanish forum at every opportunity and help with the language in any way I can.
Doogie,
Tapatío de corazón

quevedo

May 13, 2006, 4:17 PM

Post #13 of 34 (2473 views)

Re: [quevedo] Message acknowledged

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Many gracias to all those expressing their feelings and thoughts. A much useful, alive, accessible Spanish Forum shall come through, thanks to this exchange.

More English to invite more participation. Understood. Will do our best.

Welcome to the New Spanish Forum!

Saludos cordiales,

Quevedo

MazDee

May 13, 2006, 7:44 PM

Post #14 of 34 (2431 views)

Re: [quevedo] Message acknowledged

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Muchas Gracias, Quevado. I look forward to it. (No way could I say that in espanol)!

May 13, 2006, 8:26 PM

Post #15 of 34 (2419 views)

Re: [dlyman6500] Learning Spanish Forum

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This is awesome. In the past month there were 17 posting for Learning Spanish. In the past 24 hours there were 37. I really hope it continues. I learned some interesting things today that I need to know. That is the bottom line. We are able to access a wonderful resource with wondeful guidance from Quevado, Esmeralda (I won't cheat and change to Esperanza, making the following posting nonsensical - so siento Esperanza), Georgia, and Doogie. Que Bueno (Is that correct?).

(This post was edited by dlyman6500 on May 13, 2006, 8:41 PM)

esperanza

May 13, 2006, 8:31 PM

Post #16 of 34 (2414 views)

Re: [dlyman6500] Learning Spanish Forum

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Así es, qué bueno.

Lo único es que soy Esperanza, no Esmeralda.

Gracias.

That's right, it's qué bueno.

The only thing is, I'm Esperanza, not Esmeralda.

Thank you.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

May 13, 2006, 8:37 PM

Post #17 of 34 (2410 views)

Re: [esperanza] Learning Spanish Forum

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Comprendo que uso su nombre incorrecto. So Siento.

Nevertheless, I was thrilled to read the discussion of tu and usted. I was thinking about that today as a matter of fact. We have a lot of workers remodeling our house. I speak to them regularly. I have been using tu. Some are people I have known for up to a year. Others not. I feel comfortable with the relationship with those I have known a long time and think tu is OK. Those who are new, I'm not sure. Also, the hardware people and the vivero people that I have dealt with for a year regularly, should I wait for them to say tu is OK??

Muchas Gracias.

zoeq1000

May 13, 2006, 9:17 PM

Post #18 of 34 (2394 views)

Re: [dlyman6500] Learning Spanish Forum

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Thanks for bringing the Spanish Forum to my attention. I just skipped over it when I went to the regular forums. Maybe it could be in a different color. Anyway, I missed it.

doogie

May 13, 2006, 9:23 PM

Post #19 of 34 (2390 views)

Re: [dlyman6500] Learning Spanish Forum

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Business relationships? "Usted" always.
Doogie,
Tapatío de corazón

misslyn

May 18, 2006, 9:31 PM

Post #20 of 34 (2264 views)

Re: [quevedo] The Learning Spanish Forum - opportunity to comment . . .

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Yes, absolutely, I would like to see Learning Spanish continue. Although I haven't been a frequent correspondent, I've learned a lot from this forum. I'm currently reading 2 recently published books, Speaking Spanish Like A Native (Brad Kim & Erika Dominguez) andy Tune Up Your Spanish (Mary McVey Gill & Brenda Wegmann), along with a much-needed (for me) workbook, Spanish Verb Tenses (Dorothy Devney Richmond). Amazon.com is all too eager to offer me new selections and I can't resist :>)

Lyn (still, darn it) in San Diego

May 19, 2006, 9:08 AM

Post #21 of 34 (2214 views)

Re: [quevedo] The Learning Spanish Forum - opportunity to comment . . .

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There is a local colloquialism or perhaps it's called an idiom in which when spoken in Spanish it carries a romantic symbolic air to it, which isn't easy to capture as well in English.

For example when a man looks at a woman with a twinkle and a smile in his eye followed by a humorous, friendly kind of phrase such as: Quero cantarte de las flores! It carries something in the air which in someway causes a woman's eyes to sort of open up and sometimes from it comes a pleasant smile. It is apparently something Latin woman recognize as something friendly, warm and giving.

Now if I were to say this in English which means: I'd like to sing to you of the flowers! The delivery just doesn't carry the same package.

Are there other Mexican examples of such deliveries? Laugh

arbon

May 19, 2006, 9:51 AM

Post #22 of 34 (2201 views)

Re: [Oscar2] The Learning Spanish Forum - opportunity to comment . . .

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"Quero cantarte de las flores! "

feels like you picked the flowers your self.

" I'd like to sing to you of the flowers!"

feels like you bought the flowers, and left the price tag on.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

May 19, 2006, 10:31 AM

Post #23 of 34 (2196 views)

Re: [arbon] The Learning Spanish Forum - opportunity to comment . . .

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Arbon, as usual your great comedian. Ha Ha Laugh

JohnnyBoy

May 19, 2006, 11:20 AM

Post #24 of 34 (2177 views)

Re: [quevedo] The Learning Spanish Forum - opportunity to comment . . .

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Like several other MexConnect participants, I did not even know this forum existed and you can bet "tu ultimo peso" that I am going to be a frequent visitor there. As a matter of fact, I just did visit it. I did not have time to look at each and every topic and response, but I can see that it is definitely something for me.

Please do not even think about discontinuing that forum.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

I wonder if there are any others out there like me: I am a former foreign language teacher. I have taught German, French, Italian, and Latin, in my day. I consider myself semi-fluent/conversant in German and Italian. To me, Spanish seems like some long lost cousin of Italian (please, I am fully aware of the Indo-European language family and the historical/linguistic development and relationships of Latin and all the Romance Languages, so don't bother going into that on my behalf) and I find that I can read a lot more Spanish than I can speak or understand (spoken Spanish). I have convinced myself that once I am in Mexico (next year) I will pick Spanish up quickly. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

Thanks to all.

geri

May 19, 2006, 1:34 PM

Post #25 of 34 (2152 views)

Re: [quevedo] The Learning Spanish Forum - opportunity to comment . . .

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Gosh, I'm one of those who forget to use this forum but I did recently and found it very helpful. Sometimes words don't translate the same from English to Spanish, so I wanted to make sure I said the right thing in a "sticky" situation and I got several responses, all good. It worked for me. If it means keeping it, I'll use it more often.

Geri

MazDee

May 19, 2006, 10:56 PM

Post #26 of 34 (599 views)

Re: [quevedo] The Learning Spanish Forum - opportunity to comment . . .

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Thanks, Quevado, I started going there again and I think YOU are going to have a big job now! Since your post, people are coming out of the woodwork to learn more. How would you say that in español? Dee

May 20, 2006, 11:01 AM

Post #27 of 34 (575 views)

Re: [quevedo] The Learning Spanish Forum - opportunity to comment . . .

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I Ditto MazDee post! In addition, the real treasures of the Latin language are also romantically linked (piropos) expressions of emotion (when said well) that can slay a dragon!

Although I speak somewhat well, I need improvement. I suffer most when it comes to writing and reading correctly. Since I've logged on to your forum, it's as if I opened a closed window in my home where I can now look out and see the unfolding brilliance of a new light filled with useful knowledge needed in my new life in Mexico!

Don Moore

May 20, 2006, 11:23 AM

Post #28 of 34 (568 views)

Re: [quevedo] The Learning Spanish Forum - opportunity to comment . . .

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How about a dicho of the day or of the week. I know a lot of vocabulary and a lot of grammar, syntax and structure; but often I miss out on such things as sayings, idiomatic expression, etc. which can not be translated in a literal sense. (and this after about 40 years of practice and quite a bit of instruction). I am perfectly willing to let my grammar go a little less than perfect, but I want to know more and more and MORE about how to express things in the idom of the ordinary Mexican. I have a dictionary big enough to include a lot of these expressions, but I'd like to see the Learning Spanish forum teach more of them.

I have not been a frequent user of the forum, but I will tune in more often if you make some of the changes users have suggested.

Thanks for asking for feedback.
Don Moore

"El Gringo Jalapeño"

May 20, 2006, 11:26 AM

Post #29 of 34 (566 views)

Re: [quevedo] Message acknowledged

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Estimado amigo Quevedo:
¡No te claudiques! ¡Arriba y adelante! Te felicito de corazon porque tienes mucho más movimiento en tu foro de lo que hay en el del Gulfo de México. Ya que vas a terner tanto movimiento en tu foro...¡mandame algunos!
Y acuerdate..."Portate mal y cuidate bien"
Roy B. Dudley "El Gringo Jalapeño" See more about Xalapa at www.xalaparoy.com

arbon

May 20, 2006, 12:32 PM

Post #30 of 34 (554 views)

Re: [Oscar2] The Learning Spanish Forum - opportunity to comment . . .

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" In addition, the real treasures of the Latin language are also romantically linked (piropos) expressions of emotion (when said well) that can slay a dragon! "

Oscar, I agree, ¿and what would you do with a slain dragon?

But I have heard that they are hot.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(This post was edited by arbon on May 20, 2006, 12:35 PM)

May 21, 2006, 11:46 AM

Post #31 of 34 (501 views)

Re: [Don Moore] The Learning Spanish Forum - opportunity to comment . . .

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Don,

I was shopping at Costco in the US (a terminal habit) and if you’ve been to one you’ll know they set up small booths inviting public to sample. Food sampling is very popular and yesterday while tasting Mexican pork called “Al Pastor” for tacos which I enjoy tremendously with arroz y frijoles (also being served), standing next to me was this very large white haired, blue eyed gringo man sampler making request from the serving Mexican girl in one of the most fluent, absolutely impressive pronunciation and dialect I’ve ever heard from a gringo. While we were sampling and my head was filled with all that has been occurring here on MC regarding Mexican expression, I couldn’t resist asking this guy, how he learned to speak so fluently and it’s as if I dialed in on something he knew was coming because of his extraordinary talent defying his appearance.

With a broad toothed, sort of knowing smile, he exclaimed, I speak 4 languages, which included French, German, Spanish and his native tongue, English. In fact, he resembled your picture without the beard. I mention this because I understand your desire to integrate the idiom of expression akin to the local persuasion. In my experience, probably less than yours, listening and trying to intrinsically feel through lengthy conversation with locals even over a beer or two or more, more often than not has helped me more than less. Being in Mexico, makes available vast opportunities to engage but now with your renewed interest perhaps the impetus and focus will be more fun.

Buena Suerte

(This post was edited by Oscar2 on May 21, 2006, 11:49 AM)

Don Moore

May 21, 2006, 1:53 PM

Post #32 of 34 (480 views)

Re: [Oscar2] The Learning Spanish Forum - opportunity to comment . . .

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You are totally correct. There are now about 100,000 Latinos, mostly Mexican in the greater Memphis area where I live. That's about the same number as around the lakeside villages or in the San Miguel de Allende area, so I have plenty of opportunity to practice.

For a moment, I thought maybe you had seen me, since I am 6-6 and weigh in at a little less than 300. The beard comes and goes with the seasons. My Spanish is pretty good, too. But I'll never have blue eyes.
Don Moore

blue

Sep 13, 2006, 7:15 PM

Post #33 of 34 (407 views)

Re: [quevedo] The Learning Spanish Forum - opportunity to comment . . .

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Hello to you all. I just clicked onto the forum today, and spent the rest of the day "learning". It was great, and I was amazed at what I could understand...almost, ALMOST all!!..I really hope they keep it up, as it will be tremendously helpful for everyone who wants to (or can) spend the time to learn. What I found particularly helpful, is that a person can write a paragraph or whatever, in Spanish, and post it...the corrections will be made, along with the explainations for the corrections...almost always in Spanish...but, it made me bring out my dictionary, and I got on a "roll"...I certainly will spend as much time on the Learning Spanish forum as I can. I've just completed a Spanish computer course, and have started on another...a few years ago, I got up to lesson 15 of 30, on the same program...then had to learn French for my work, so Spanish had to take a back seat. Now, I find that it's coming back...not as quickly as I'd like, but some of it is still there - somewhere, and the forum helped to open the recesses of my mind a little more. A fantastic learning opportunity!!...I was planning on purchasing the "advanced" version of the course I just completed, but I think I'll learn much more thru the forum. Thanks again!
Amber
What we see depends mainly on what we look for. (John Lubbock)

Judy in Ags

Sep 14, 2006, 8:09 AM

Post #34 of 34 (348 views)