Visual Link Spanish(TM) Newsletter - Volume 7 Issue 10

Current # of Subscribers: 289,139

This issue: 1. Testimonial 2. Weekly Spanish Lesson - “Survival Expressions” 3. Words of the Week 4. Ask Dave Section - “How do I converse with native speakers” 5. Culture Lesson - “Right in the streets”

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Visual Link Spanish(TM) Testimonial –

Taking this program was part of a personal goal for 2003 (Performance Management Review process) and I am pleased to say I have been able to improve my communication with my Spanish speaking customers and agents. I still have a long way to go, of course, and will continue to use the course…

Gale

Weekly Spanish Lesson—Survival Expressions

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

To check it out, click here: http://www.spanishprograms.com/learn/survival_expr essions.htm

Words of the Week

Monday / He needs / El necesita Tuesday / She needs / Ella necesita Wednesday / to call / llamar(le/les) Thursday / them (f.) / (a) ellas Friday / you / (a) usted Saturday / my brother / (a) mi hermano Sunday / my sister / (a) mi hermana

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

http://www.spanishprograms.com/l ogin.phtml

The Official “Ask Dave” Section

Question

Dave,

What is the best way to converse with native Spanish speakers in public? Learning Spanish in school is different from speaking to a native Spanish speaker in public. The dialect differs or some use slang. I’m somewhat intimidate by the professional speakers.

novice Spanish student,

Fredell

Answer

Hola Fredell,

What I recommend is going to your complete Visual Link Spanish(TM) course and practice a few greetings until you have them down pat. Then you can tell anyone “Soy estudiante de español, ¿Puede ayudarme con mi español?” [soy es-too-dyahn-teh deh es-pahn-yohl ¿Pweh-theh ah-you-thar-meh con me es-pahn-yohl?] (I’m a Spanish student, can you help me with my Spanish? Next, I would choose 3-4 questions from the course (For example - ¿Qué le gusta hacer? - What do you like to do?), then I would use the “Comprehending Native Speakers” section to help work through the answers they give you.

Gracias,

Dave

Culture Right in the streets

This week, I’m going to talk about a distinct cultural difference in Latin America. I am letting you know about this difference to help you avoid getting offended and so you’ll know how to avoid it.

Anyway, it is very common to see men “take care of business” right in the streets. Fortunately, they usually aren’t blatant about it; they generally turn so most of the public can’t see them, but they urinate (pee) right in the streets. I understand this is done in a few parts of the U.S., parts of Europe, and a few other parts of the world — those of you from other regions, please let me know if I’m wrong (or right).

This was a little shocking for me the first time I realized what was happening. Where I’m from, people just don’t do that. I can truly say that this is one cultural trait that I have never wanted to adopt or try.

When I was living in Latin America, something happened that I will never forget. I was in a small to mid-sized city that had a large main street with an island that ran down the middle of the street. The island was beautifully landscaped with plants and trees. Towards the center of the city, in the middle of the island was a large sign that read “SHOW YOUR CULTURE, DON’T PEE IN THE STREETS!!” . . . Can you imagine a sign like that in your hometown?!

When I saw the sign, I began to laugh. I could imagine a city council meeting together to discover ways to improve the reputation of their city. What they came up with was a sign that advertises to the world that people in their city pee in their streets and that they are trying to cut back!

I wanted to let you know about this so you wouldn’t be as culturally shocked as I was the first time I saw this distinct cultural difference. The next time you are in the streets of Latin America, if you see a man turned away, standing in the same spot, you now know what he is probably doing and can now turn away if it offends you.

Sneak Peak at Next Week: “I Need a Pair of Pants!

¡Hasta luego! (”Until later”)

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