Hablo Español
One of my primary reasons for moving to Spain was to improve my Spanish. After six months in Costa Rica, I never really felt like I could claim to be bilingual. I knew from my previous experience that there would be a transition period, that my Spanish wouldn't just "take off" and I'd be speaking like a native, but I had no idea how long and slow this process would be. I've finally developed a pretty good fluidity from day to day, but it's still really dependent on my brain state, how much sleep I had, how much I've been reading, writing, speaking in English. Unfortunately, I can never fully immerse myself, as I always have to have part of my brain in English to teach my classes as well as to communicate with "my people" in the states.
I have finally accepted that I'll never speak Spanish like a native, that I'll always have a strong accent, that sometimes, I'll sound like I'm speaking pigeon Spanish. I don't have to like it, but I accept it. Then there are other times, like at a birthday dinner for a friend a few weeks ago, when it just really flows. I was cracking jokes (humor is one of the last to show through), participating in deep political discussions, actually being MYSELF in Spanish. It was a milestone. The next morning, I woke up speaking like a gorilla again, but at least I had fleeting moments.
I recently spoke to an Irish translator who has lived in Madrid for 17 years, and asked him how long it takes to achieve a level where you can work as a translator. He said that he's still learning things after 17 years! Not heartening news, but he mentioned that most of his new knowledge now is when he has a project for a client in a subject area with very specific language, like chemistry or law.
Anyway, after more than three years of university studies and two stints abroad, I hope that I'm inching closer to my goal of bilingualism. I just have to say that I have a great deal of compassion for immigrants to the United States now. It is really difficult, at times horrifying, to plant yourself in a different culture, especially if they speak a different language. The scary thing is that Spain is very similar to the U.S. I can't imagine going somewhere in Asia or Africa, where the customs are totally different. Maybe next blog will be coming at you from Zimbambwe... MORE nervous breakdowns, even STRONGER feelings of isolation and alienation, a quicker descent into MADNESS!!! Kidding, hehe.
One of my primary reasons for moving to Spain was to improve my Spanish. After six months in Costa Rica, I never really felt like I could claim to be bilingual. I knew from my previous experience that there would be a transition period, that my Spanish wouldn't just "take off" and I'd be speaking like a native, but I had no idea how long and slow this process would be. I've finally developed a pretty good fluidity from day to day, but it's still really dependent on my brain state, how much sleep I had, how much I've been reading, writing, speaking in English. Unfortunately, I can never fully immerse myself, as I always have to have part of my brain in English to teach my classes as well as to communicate with "my people" in the states.
I have finally accepted that I'll never speak Spanish like a native, that I'll always have a strong accent, that sometimes, I'll sound like I'm speaking pigeon Spanish. I don't have to like it, but I accept it. Then there are other times, like at a birthday dinner for a friend a few weeks ago, when it just really flows. I was cracking jokes (humor is one of the last to show through), participating in deep political discussions, actually being MYSELF in Spanish. It was a milestone. The next morning, I woke up speaking like a gorilla again, but at least I had fleeting moments.
I recently spoke to an Irish translator who has lived in Madrid for 17 years, and asked him how long it takes to achieve a level where you can work as a translator. He said that he's still learning things after 17 years! Not heartening news, but he mentioned that most of his new knowledge now is when he has a project for a client in a subject area with very specific language, like chemistry or law.
Anyway, after more than three years of university studies and two stints abroad, I hope that I'm inching closer to my goal of bilingualism. I just have to say that I have a great deal of compassion for immigrants to the United States now. It is really difficult, at times horrifying, to plant yourself in a different culture, especially if they speak a different language. The scary thing is that Spain is very similar to the U.S. I can't imagine going somewhere in Asia or Africa, where the customs are totally different. Maybe next blog will be coming at you from Zimbambwe... MORE nervous breakdowns, even STRONGER feelings of isolation and alienation, a quicker descent into MADNESS!!! Kidding, hehe.
posted by Chromest*r at 8:53 PM
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