Visual Link Spanish(TM) Newsletter - Volume 7 Issue 9

Current # of Subscribers: 285,361

This issue: 1. Testimonial 2. Weekly Spanish Lesson - “Greetings” 3. Words of the Week 4. Ask Dave Section - “Verb Module question volver vs regresar personas gente” 5. Culture Lesson - “The painful part of el regateo”

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Visual Link Spanish(TM) Testimonial –

The manual was very simple and easy to understand. It was very user friendly. I really liked the layout and how each section built on the previous section. It was very methodical. The layout was very logical.

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Weekly Spanish Lesson—Greetings

For this week’s lesson, click below to learn some basics of the Greetings lesson. You’ll hear María and watch a fun, interactive lesson.

To check it out, click here: http://www.learnspanishtoday.com/learn/greetings.h tm

Words of the Week

Monday / I need / Yo necesito Tuesday / You need / Usted necesita Wednesday / to tell / decir Thursday / to talk (with) / hablar (con) Friday / her / (a) ella Saturday / him / (a) él Sunday / them (m.) / (a) ellos

Click Here to login and access your free membership and lessons.

http://www.learnspanishtoday.com /login.phtml

The Official “Ask Dave” Section

Question

Hola Dave,

I’ve learned so much since I began studying from your program. I’ve even purchase the add on verb module which is just awesome…

I … have a question in regards to “las personas vs. la gente”, are these two words interchangeable as well as “volver vs. regresar”?

I’m waiting to hear from you soon.

Thank you,

WJLS

Answer

Hola WJLS,

Thanks for the feedback. To answer your question about “las personas” vs. “la gente”. They are basically interchangeable although in many cases “gente” is preferred. There is a slang/idiomatic phrase that people use a lot with “gente” that they never use with “las personas”. It is used to say that a certain person (only one) is a good/great person. To say “He is a good/great person”, you would say “El es buena gente” and to say “She is a good/great person” you would say “Ella es buena gente”. Interesting eh?

Also - “volver” and “regresar” (which mean “to return”) are interchangeable

Hopefully that answers your question.

Gracias,

Dave

Culture The painful part of el regateo

Last week we talked about shopping in Latin America, and how “el regateo” (bargaining) can be fun and exciting. This week, I have an important shopping caveat (warning) for you.

Most stores in the United States have very good return policies. Often, you must keep the receipt to get your money back, but some stores will even return things without a receipt. For example, when my wife and I were first married, we received many gifts that we didn’t want or were duplicates. Even though we didn’t have receipts or know where the items were purchased, my wife took them all back to Wal-Mart® and they gave us money back for the items they carried. (That is a free bonus tip this week to you newly married couples out there!!) Even small shops here is the U.S. have reasonably good return policies.

This is not so in Latin America. Beware of small shops if you think you might want to return something. I had a friend who purchased a nice expensive pair of tennis shoes at a small shop. He was so proud of his new shoes and wore them so everyone could see. About a week after he purchased the shoes, the upper part of one of the shoes came right off the sole! He couldn’t believe it but took comfort in the fact that the next day he could return his shoes and get his money back or at least exchange them for a non-defective pair of shoes.

I saw him the next day after he had gone to the shop, and he was mad! He was making all kinds of legal threats and was trying to pull resources together to go after the store that wouldn’t give his money back or even exchange his pair of shoes. However, my friend had no luck. Apparently there are no laws in Latin America governing the return of merchandise, and it is not part of the culture, generally, to do so.

My friend was depressed about his shoes for a while but learned a good lesson that I wanted to pass on to you (our newsletter subscribers). Practical tip: When you shop at small shops in Latin America, make sure that what you buy is what you want. Also, give the product a quick test for workmanship. You can always asks if shops have a return policy, but pretty much don’t count on it!

Sneak Peak at Next Week: “Right in the Streets??!!

¡Hasta luego! (”Until later”)

David S. Clark — President / Director Visual Link Spanish(TM) Fun, Interactive Spanish Courses http://www.learnspanishtoday.com dave_c@learnspanishtoday.com (C)2008 U.S. Institute of Languages 1893 East Skyline Drive Ste. 105 Ogden, UT 84403 1-866-977-2647