Living in Mexico and Learning to Speak Spanish: Tales & How-to Tips

The purpose of this blog is to provide information about Mexico -- mostly through my husband's and my day-to-day experiences of living in Mexico, specifically in San Juan Cosala, Jalisco, by Lake Chapala near Ajijic. I write for people who might live or retire in Mexico, for expats or travelers currently in Mexico, and for Mexicans. I write about how to learn to speak Spanish, why it's important, and how to get started. For more, visit my website www.mexico-with-heart.com as well! -- Rosana Hart

 

Monday, June 30, 2008

Learning Spanish: Words I Don't Plan to Use

I recently came across a website that you shouldn't go to if it will gross you out. The alternative dictionaries site has two pages of coarse Spanish slang and usually indicates which country or countries the slang is used in.

The link takes you to the page where all the words are listed. I was dismayed to see quite a few words I thought were innocuous on the list, but happily when I read their definitions, few of the ones I checked were used in coarse ways in Mexico.

Here is a sample entry, which I might actually use:

mala semana (adj., fem) (noun, fem.) menstruation note Literally, means "bad week". It is pronounced "MA-la say-MAH-na".

Don't say I didn't warn you.

For actually learning usable Spanish, I continue to be a big fan of Rocket Spanish... the link takes you to their sales page.

Labels: , ,

posted by Rosana Hart @ Monday, June 30, 2008  

3 Comments:

  • At June 30, 2008 4:10 PM, Blogger LL said…

    I also enjoy travelling in Mexico. Have you been to Saltillo? I've also travelled in Nicaragua and Spain.

    I'm listening to free podcasts to brush up on my Spanish before I travel. Even the non-techie can easily download the podcasts by following these steps:

    1. Download and install the itunes software from http://www.itunes.com
    2. You can either type "Learn Spanish" into the search box in the right upper corner of iTunes or from the left hand menu, select Store, then Podcasts, then select the Category of "Education" and then in the box title "More Education" select Language Courses.
    3. Try out many different podcasts to find one that's the correct level for you.
    4. I often dream in Spanish when I listen to my Spanish podcasts before I go to sleep.

    I'm wondering if others are learning more Spanish via podcasts, and if so, which ones. I listen to intermediate podcasts such as Finally Learn Spanish and Notes in Spanish and Spanish Grammar.

    LL

     

  • At June 30, 2008 4:45 PM, Blogger Rosana Hart said…

    Thanks, LL! A very good tip, and clearly described.

    It was like a funny message from the past to have LL ask me if I had been to Saltillo. When I was a teenager, my initials were LL as I used my middle name Lesley and my maiden name was Linebarger. I never went to Saltillo but the rest of my family spent a summer there back then, at a language school. I had my first real job and stayed at home in the US.

     

  • At September 30, 2008 8:41 AM, Blogger language said…

    Learning Spanish in Mexico is great - I learnt in Puerto Vallerta and it was well worth it - I surprised myself with how much I learnt and my homestay was truly fantastic - a really great experience.

    http://www.viaspanish.com/Learn-Spanish-in-Puerto-Vallarta.html

     

Post a Comment

<< Home