Problem
I started learning Spanish because it was an easy language. The easiest language is the made up language, Esperanto. If you already speak French or learned Latin in school, Spanish vocabulary is easy which is a good start. but if you don't plan to visit Spain or a Spanish speaking country, why waste times?
Answers
Eventually you will probably visit a Spanish-speaking country. You need to start practising now. It only costs a little time because Duolingo and Duolingo' Tinycards online or on your phone apps make learning language easy and can be done when you are just sitting waiting for a bus or train or passenger or driver.
Pronunciation
I went to a Toastmasters International speakers club in London, England and the
Toastmaster of the Evening Jesús P, from Venezuela. I knew that Jesús was pronounced 'hay-zoo-ss' with emphasis on the second syllable.
Pronuuncing the man's name the Spanish way has several advantages. He feels more at home and at ease. You feel more in control. In an English speaking coutnry, where the Jesus in the bible is pronounced Jee-sus, with emphasis on the first syllable, you can make a distinction between when you are talking about the biblical Jesus and when you are talking about the perosn int he room or member of your club.
I have had one or two odd moments where I heard somebody say sentences such as, "I am going to call on Jesus." "Please be silent for Jesus." "I am going to ask Jesus for the money". For a moment or two, I was not sure whether the speaker was going to pray, or ask a member of the committee. For a visitor to the club, or a stranger, it can be equally confusing.
How do I know about the correct Spanish pronunciation? Because whilst I had been discussing Spanish with my husband Trevor earlier, Trevor had pointed out that in Spanish the accent is not about pronunciation but tells you on which syllable to lay the emphasis.
I was delighted that learning Spanish had helped me immediately, at Toastmasters International Clubs, long before a trip to Spain or any Spanish-speaking country, such as South America and Mediterranean islands.
Trevor had learned Spanish pronunciation so he could pronounce Spanish words and names correctly when buying Spanish wine such as Rioja and meeting sellers of wine or managers and owners of wine cellars and vineyards.
So there you have three reasons for learning Spanish:
Spanish is an easy language.
You will learn how to pronounce the names of people you meet in your home country
You will be able to pronounce the names of wines, and recognise the pronunciation of street names and landmarks on maps, and in news stories.
You will feel more in control and at ease when meeting Spanish speaking people in Spain, Latin America or island such as Majorca and Minorca.
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please see my other posts on learning Spanish, Esperanto, and Spanish-speaking destinations. Share links with your friends and family and colleagues.
I started learning Spanish because it was an easy language. The easiest language is the made up language, Esperanto. If you already speak French or learned Latin in school, Spanish vocabulary is easy which is a good start. but if you don't plan to visit Spain or a Spanish speaking country, why waste times?
Answers
Eventually you will probably visit a Spanish-speaking country. You need to start practising now. It only costs a little time because Duolingo and Duolingo' Tinycards online or on your phone apps make learning language easy and can be done when you are just sitting waiting for a bus or train or passenger or driver.
Pronunciation
I went to a Toastmasters International speakers club in London, England and the
Toastmaster of the Evening Jesús P, from Venezuela. I knew that Jesús was pronounced 'hay-zoo-ss' with emphasis on the second syllable.
Pronuuncing the man's name the Spanish way has several advantages. He feels more at home and at ease. You feel more in control. In an English speaking coutnry, where the Jesus in the bible is pronounced Jee-sus, with emphasis on the first syllable, you can make a distinction between when you are talking about the biblical Jesus and when you are talking about the perosn int he room or member of your club.
I have had one or two odd moments where I heard somebody say sentences such as, "I am going to call on Jesus." "Please be silent for Jesus." "I am going to ask Jesus for the money". For a moment or two, I was not sure whether the speaker was going to pray, or ask a member of the committee. For a visitor to the club, or a stranger, it can be equally confusing.
How do I know about the correct Spanish pronunciation? Because whilst I had been discussing Spanish with my husband Trevor earlier, Trevor had pointed out that in Spanish the accent is not about pronunciation but tells you on which syllable to lay the emphasis.
I was delighted that learning Spanish had helped me immediately, at Toastmasters International Clubs, long before a trip to Spain or any Spanish-speaking country, such as South America and Mediterranean islands.
Trevor had learned Spanish pronunciation so he could pronounce Spanish words and names correctly when buying Spanish wine such as Rioja and meeting sellers of wine or managers and owners of wine cellars and vineyards.
So there you have three reasons for learning Spanish:
Spanish is an easy language.
You will learn how to pronounce the names of people you meet in your home country
You will be able to pronounce the names of wines, and recognise the pronunciation of street names and landmarks on maps, and in news stories.
You will feel more in control and at ease when meeting Spanish speaking people in Spain, Latin America or island such as Majorca and Minorca.
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please see my other posts on learning Spanish, Esperanto, and Spanish-speaking destinations. Share links with your friends and family and colleagues.
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