Sheesh. Took you long enough. What'd you do? Go out for a sandwich?
I actually just shot myself in the foot by posting that first, didn't I? Nothing I can say will be funny now.
Now I must figure out how to tie that video clip into a blog topic. OK, here goes:
My teens are taking Spanish (it was actually their Spanish teacher who showed them that video. Yes, they watch Youtube in schools these days. I could be a teacher if all I had to do was cue up a video.) and I'm actually amazed with my brain (for once, instead of being disgusted with it for being dead. Or near dead.) when I can understand what they are saying. I took Spanish in high school, but I never excelled at it. A lot of odd phrases stuck, such as "tengo dolor de cabeza" and "tengo dolor de estomago." ("I have a headache" and "I have a stomachache," respectively. I guess I was a hypochondriac as a teenager.) Other odd phrases I have never forgotten are: "Que una ganga!" ("What a bargin!" You're supposed to say this when you are at Walmart.) and "Mi aerodeslizador está lleno de anguilas." ("My hovercraft is full of eels.") Just kidding on that last one. I just found it on a website and thought it was funny, and heaven knows I need help being funny. However, I do not know enough Spanish to actually hold a conversation, nor can I understand someone speaking Spanish fluently. But here's the good news: I've never NEEDED to speak Spanish. It's more likely that I have to translate Canadian than Spanish, as I'm just a few hours from the northern border. (If you don't believe me that you have to translate Canadian, then you've never been to Canada before. Now who's the one who is not well-traveled?
(I must take a Rhine River cruise someday. MUST!)
I would like to learn Italian, French and German, just enough to be able to ask, "where is the bathroom?" and "does this come in my size?" and "I want to go home," so that I can travel Europe. I would also need help understanding certain English dialects. Am I the only one who has a hard time understanding really strong English accents? I have a hard time understanding hillbillies from the deep south too, but I don't think that's my problem. What accents are hard for you to understand?
I couldn't ever learn any of the Asian languages--I don't even think my mouth moves that fast. Is there any language you have tried to learn, but have failed miserably? Are there any catch phrases you say in a different language when you don't even know that language? I do say several random French phrases, thanks to all my high school friends taking French and not Spanish.
And do you know what this reminds me of? That scene in Generations where Ben speaks Italian and Kat doesn't know what he is saying. Aw. I miss those guys. Do you think it's about time that I got back to finishing their story?
Digame. En ingles, por favor.
18 comments:
You know what? I just decided I'm going to re-read Generations and Catalyst both again before that third book comes out. I don't normally do that sort of thing, but I loved those books, and I would love to hear Ben say all of those drippy romantic Italian words again. And it's not the same if I just turn to those pages, it's the context that I love. Love those characters.
(Is there anything on my nose?)
I do fairly well with the romantic languages (Spanish, Italian, French), but it's the non-romantic languages that don't stick very well in my brain.
My hubby and I set out one year to learn German together, and I think we might have reached chapter 2 in the textbook, but I don't remember anything except "koogleschreiber"--which means "pen". Love that word. Here are some other cool phrases I know (all spelled wrong...I'll just spell them how they sound so you can say them and impress your friends):
Chay fach? --How's it going? in Romanian
Ayo iNISH neh. --"I love you" in Navaho. (I had a boyfriend who served his mission with the Navaho people).
Ya looBLOO tibYA. --"I love you" in Russian. (I think "I love you" are just my favorite words in any language!)
I used to be able to count to ten in Korean, when I had a Korean roommate. Now I think I just remember "Hana, toor, set", (1-2-3).
My Activity Days girls thought I was so knowledgeable when I taught them to count to ten in 7 different languages...even though I got it off the internet : ). Still, that was a fun lesson!
I took 6 years of french but I can't speak it for the life of me. My problem is that I thought I sounded awful trying to speak it so I never tried. But I'm pretty proud that I can still pick out a lot of words and get the gist of what is being said. Turns out flirting with that really cute boy in French didn't impair my ability to learn it too much. Although, I don't think I got anything out of that class other than a husband. I'd still say it was time well spent.
I'm getting better at understanding spanish because of all of my IEPs I have to do with a translator. I would love to learn spanish and be able to communicate with my student's parents. So that's my dream someday as an educator, but I think it is quite a ways off.
My sister is way more educated in languages than I am. She actually can speak French and with all of her traveling, she's picked up quite a few phrases in different languages. I'm jealous.
I took two years of Spanish but it really didn't do me much good. I really don't remember much of it. I can sort of understand when someone is speaking it but for sure couldn't respond back.
I'd love to speak Itailan someday (for my trip to Italy) and I think that French would be cool to. I just haven't had a need tp learn anything else and let's face it sometimes English is enough of a struggle for me!
Can I come on your Rhine River cruise?? That looks amazing!!
I have a hard time pronouncing Russian. Although I think that I probably won't ever need to know it, this is is the the reason I say this. It's because my dad listens to the same C.D. every Sunday on the way home from church, that was written by a Russian composer. And during every chorus, he makes us swing our arms as he drives and sings YiiiieeeIIIIIeeaaaaaeeeeaaaaEEEEaaaa... okay forget it. I don't think I can write it. He says it means something, but I don't believe him. All I can say is that I think it is confusing, and weird when he does that. I don't even think that I will ever learn Russian if my life depended on it! (okay, I admit that if my life ever depended on it, I would learn it. I just thought it would be funny to say that.) :)
JazznJenna: if I could add a gold-star to your profile name, I would. Thanks for your gushing praise! How'd you get to be so smart? Romanian, Russian and Navajo? I'm impressed. Although I do know one Navajo phrase: Navajo Tacos. Mmm. That sounds tasty.
Nicole: I didn't know Steve took French. Did he ever wear a beret? Now there's a picture--it would go well with the one of him wearing the scarf he won. And question: does your school have a full-time translator? An IEP would be so difficult with that language barrier. Kudos to you!
Anne: Um, I though YOU were taking ME on the Rhine cruise. Didn't you say you'd pay? I know what you mean about English being a struggle. Some days I probably sound like a hillbilly from the south.
Didi: I simply must hear that CD. Or not. It might make me afraid to learn Russian and I want to be Agent Romanoff for Halloween. I should learn how to speak with a Russian accent to make my character more authentic, shouldn't I? I hope for your sake that your ride home from church isn't too long. :)
We don't. The district has an interpreter (maybe two) for meetings like that. We do have an office secretary in the office who speaks spanish and she schedules all of those meetings or calls when I need her to, but she's only here part time. She is wonderful! I don't know how I would survive without her.
I have hard time with telemarketers from India. I can't understand one word they say. They hang up on me because they get tired of me saying "what?"
Also, I have a hard time with British accents. I have to watch movies with the subtitles on just to understand what is being said. (Maybe I'm just losing my hearing, because I've been finding that I enjoy all movies better when there is an english subtitle at the bottom!)(See, Lori,I can use parenthesis,too!)
On my mission, I would get headaches listening to the native New Hampshire-ites speak. I could understand, but it just gave me a headache.
And last of all, I speak fluent goose latin, thanks to my dad!
Nicole: What will your school district do if a bunch of people start moving in from Canada? :)
Janice: Guess what? I got a call for a public survey poll for elections tonight and the caller was from India! I totally thought it was you calling to prank me! I almost started talking back to him with a goofy accent and then I realized it was for reals! They are outsourcing election survey polls (for AMERICA) to INDIA? WTHeck?
Oh, Dad's Gooselatin is the best. Has anyone ever recorded it? We better do that before he goes senile and forgets how to speak it. Or perhaps when he goes senile, he'll forget how to speak English and he'll only be able to speak Gooselatin. I can hardly wait to see which way it will be. (Kidding, dad.)(Nice job on the parenthesis Janice!)
I missed the gift of tongues. I took a minimum of 3 years of Spanish and counting to 10 is still all I can do. I am very good at interperting 2-3 year old boys that can't speak anything but their own so-called language.
You really should get that book finished. I hear you've got a bunch of spare time in your life. HA
I tried for a long time to learn French but I can’t even remember how to say “goodnight.” I remember “Parles vous franse” because when I was trying to learn it in St. Jude’s a VERY southern lady was trying to teach me and she said it sooooo funny! There are several men who speak fluent French in my ward here and I’ve never heard prayers offered in so many different languages as I have here. I took Spanish for many years and can’t follow a conversation for the life of me. My dad taught himself Spanish so he’ll play Spanish games with me. One morning he woke me up with a Spanish phrase and I said, “dad my brain’s not awake yet. Just tell me in English.” I think it would be fun when I have kids to play the “Where’s your eye/nose/mouth” game in Spanish; “Donde esta tu nariz? Donde esta tu ojo?” then they could learn other languages quicker! When something bad happens I say “Mala swartay!” which is “bad luck” in Spanish or I whine “No me gusto” “I don’t like it.” I think you should definitely continue the Wilder Times saga because I want to know what happens between Kat and Ben. Jackson too. I kinda feel like he loses out in the scheme of things. Anyway, I do want to know what happens but it sort of makes my heart hurt because it makes me eager to share that kind of passion and feelings with someone. There’s so many songs and movies and books to describe the feeling but I want to feel it for myself. Patience is a virtue though!
bigskyboys: maybe you can interpret this one for me, I've never been able to figure it out: when I taught sunbeams before I had my own kids, one little boy kept saying, "Satan, tits, and tomatoes." What do you think he was really saying? And I thought of something really profound: you know how we are supposed to count to 10 when we are mad so we don't overreact? Maybe we should count in different languages. It would take me longer to count to 10, and I would have to concentrate more, which would eliminate all the angry feelings. I'm going to try it. I'll let you know how it works at 3:11. (The kids get out of school at 3:10.)
Devree: I would love to hear that lady speak French with a southern accent. How ... charming! Today I'm adding another Spanish saying to my list: hace frio! Has your system been shocked by the Idaho weather yet? As for the passion: I think that guy you gave your number to feels that kind of passion for you. Maybe, just maybe, he's the one for you. (ha ha!)
It was hilarious! Yes, it got really cold really fast. I'l gonna have to start wearing leggings under my jeans! Please don't say that! I hope creepy K has moved on!
I am better at accents than languages. I like to speak like I am from another country visiting America...does that count?
I took four years of spanish, but quit when I failed the AP test on it. I've had a grudge against it since then. I've tried to carry on the family tradition of gooselatin, but it's just not going to happen (at least not until I go senile, Lori!).
You know how much I want more Ben Wilder! I can't wait to see how it all ends up.
Devree: wear your leggings OVER your jeans and start a new fashion trend. I doubt creepy K has moved on: once smitten by Devree, always smitten by Devree.
Livingstonslifeinmt: did you know you have the world's longest profile name, even with me shortening it? :) It's like typing a foreign language. Your accents ARE the best, and I can actually understand your British. I'll have to take you with me when I go there so you can translate.
Caitlin: no! Say it ain't so! You failed an AP test? What happened--did you lose your superpowers for a day? I think the trick to Gooselatin is that you have to loosen your lips up. The best way to practice is to kiss someone. Lots. Seriously. You'll have to try it.
I took four years of Spanish in High school- Anne and Nicole, perhaps because neither of us remember he the language that was required we should make a stink for further generations of that school- get a better curriculum! I would love to know Spanish- I have a couple clients that are Hispanic and when I ask them to roll over and scoot down they say- sorry- so I repeat-sorry, then they look at me like IM stupid. So you can see Spanish woul be helpful. I'd love to learn Dutch and Itialin.
(I had some hacking issues and have to post anonymousnas
Heather Baker- that last one from anonymous was mine- user error. was me- my phone frooze.
Heather (aka Mystery Commenter): Yes, you should throw a stink to get better curriculum at your old h.s. Unfortunately, our h.s. has started offering a lot of their foreign language classes online, which is even worse. You can't learn if there isn't a teacher there always yelling, "En Espanol, por favor!" And maybe instead of learning Spanish to speak with your clients, you could draw flash cards!
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