Why are Spanish speakers not impressed when I speak Spanish to them?

[Liquinn3]

Why are Spanish speakers not impressed when I speak Spanish to them but English people are amazed when I tell them I can speak it?

[poli]

Maybe it's because you speak such good Spanish that they assume you are Hispanic. I was always praised by Latinos for how well I spoke Spanish until I started to speak fairly well. I don't like to speak in generalities about people, but people from Spain are less likely to flatter than Latin Americans.

For me many Americans think that it is "awesome" to learn another language fluently. Very few do, because the need is not that pressing, I am sure British people feel the same. I think the lack of motivation to learn foreign languages is subconsciously imperialist. Why pursue studies in foreign languages when you know English, and English rules? Those that learn are exceptional.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Or because Spanish speakers know how good or bad your Spanish is, but English speakers do not and as Poli says, people usually have good comments for persons who are learning a foreign language.

[poli]

I never praise foreign speakers on how well they speak English unless they ask. It seems patronizing.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Interesting point of view. Mexicans usually praise the effort. :)

However, I was rather thinking about fellow native English/Spanish speakers attitude when you tell them you're learning a foreign language. One usually finds comments like "Oh, that's fantastic, I wish I had time for doing that", "Really? Is that hard? I don't think I could", "As soon as I have time I'd like to learn a new language too"... ;)

[pjt33]

My thought is similar to poli's second paragraph, but with a slight twist. Maybe the Spanish speakers are comparing your level of Spanish to their level of English, whereas the English speakers are comparing your level of Spanish to their French, which was bad when they took GCSE and has only got worse since?

[Liquinn3]

Or because Spanish speakers know how good or bad your Spanish is, but English speakers do not and as Poli says, people usually have good comments for persons who are learning a foreign language.
Is it because the English person doesn't speak Spanish and a Spanish speaker does? Like a Spanish speaker speaking English would impress a Spanish native if he doesn't speak English.

I know TWO people in Barcelona who speak Catalan and Spanish (native) and not English. So wouldn't my Catalan and Spanish be better than their English?