I thought it would improve while I'm here but, sadly, that does not appear to be happening. Here is why:
1) In the archivo, I am transcribing handwritten 16th century Spanish into modern, typed Spanish. This is called paleography. Sixteenth century Spanish as written by a scribe is difficult: abbreviated, spelled creatively, and archaic. My paleography has vastly improved; I am transcribing 10 to 15 pages per day. My reading comprehension, however, has only moderately improved because I am spending most of my time and energy working on interpretation, not translation.
2) I am now beyond humiliation when attempting to speak Spanish to native Spanish speakers. It's really true that Sevillanos don't speak English. Seriously. Although Bill and I traveled in Turkey for three weeks without a single word of Turkish under our belts, encountering absolutely no one who didn't speak English, this is not true in Spain. In Spain, people speak ... Spanish.
(This actually reminds me of home, where many people are resentful of Spanish-speakers who don't try to learn English, and complain that our ATMs now ask if one wants to conduct business in English or Spanish. But I digress.)
I gamely try to speak Spanish whereever we go, but my vocabulary is severely restricted. For ejample, I admit that I was forced to say to a pharmicist "Por favor, necesito cotton balls." I am currently the queen of Spanglish, and while that might be kind of funny, it's not going to help me get into a Ph.D. program.
3) Spanish people have one of two reactions to my attempts to speak to them in their language:
- Incomprehension and a blank stare.
- Comprehension followed by a burst of warp-speed Spanish in response.
4) I haven't yet worked up the energy to drill Spanish vocabulary, which is clearly what I need to do. I'm hoping that this public confession will shame me into carving at least 30 minutes out of each day to do so. I brought my Spanish I and II flash cards with me ... now all I need to do is play with them!
4 comments:
Have you considered blogging in Spanish? It might take you longer to get everything out, but that would force you to "think" in Spanish.
Does your title (Mi espanol chupa) mean "my Spanish stinks"? No entiendo "chupa." My friend who has been to Seville told me that English is taught in the schools, so I think they're just being stubborn when they refuse to acknowledge that they understand. As for Colleen's comment ... please DO NOT start blogging en espanol, por favor!!! (And I'm wondering if learning Spanish is going to mess up your spelling in English?) love, mom
Fortunately, My Dear, we are a good team because when the guy in the pharmacy responded with a blank stare I said "bolos de algodón" and he said "forrrr meeekapp?" and I said "sí, makeup". You often fill in a word or more when I am stuck. I run errands during the day and interface with the locals while you are stuck in the archivo poring over 16th Century tomes. No wonder.
We can go together to the Cafecito at UNF. It meets in the Starbucks twice weekly and is run by Nuria Ibanez and Luis (I have sadly forgotten his last name) Spanish professors. This was we can work on both speaking and hearing. It will be fun!!! \o/
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