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2torial
#0666:
Learn2
Get By In Spanish
I want to hablo espanol!
Spanish is spoken by more than 200 million
people in the world--in Europe, the Carribean, the
Americas, and Africa, to name a few places. Next to
English, Spanish is arguably the most prevalent
language in North America. While learning a
language is never easy, Spanish is not exactly
Hungarian: there are many phonetic and grammatical
similarities to English.
What does "get by" mean? It refers to a basic,
functional ability to arrange food, shelter and
transport, and to share basic info about your past.
Although mastering this 2torial may not get you any
linguistic achievement awards, it will be a step
closer to understanding the local cultures and
languages of Spanish speakers all over the world.
And you'll avoid being a part of the unsightly
crowd that floods the streets of Barcelona in
August, who assume that English is spoken worldwide
and make no attempt to communicate in the native
tongue.
Oh yes, one suggestion: Be ready to make
mistakes. This is possibly the most difficult
lesson to learn. Charlie Parker, one of the best
Western musicians of this century, said it very
well: "If you don't make mistakes, you're not
trying hard enough!"
Feeling nervous and awkward with your first
language attempts is natural--but "getting by"
simply takes patience and an interest in your
surroundings. A hotelier will already be prepared
for your room inquiries, a taxi driver will know
you want to go somewhere, and a waiter will
anticipate that you want a meal. And those
exchanges that fall in between, well, that's where
the confusion and the fun come in.
 Step
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