Spanish on TV

[Fazor]

This is just a random comment, but last night I was watching a NOVA episode that chronicled the progress of a half-dozen doctors as they progressed through Harvard Medical School, with a follow up episode that showed each over the next 20 years. It was extremely interesting to watch these people progress through their lives.

Anyway, at one point they showed one of the doctors working with a Spanish-speaking lady. I was happy to say that I understood a decent amount of the conversation (admittedly, it was pretty basic Spanish). "Hola. Como estas?" "Un poquito mejor."

I missed some of it because the narrator was talking over it, and there were a few parts that were too fast to catch. But I understood the opening stuff, and when they left to do an eye check. Made me happy that I could at least pick some things out from speech.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by Fazor

This is just a random comment, but last night I was watching a NOVA episode that chronicled the progress of a half-dozen doctors as they progressed through Harvard Medical School, with a follow up episode that showed each over the next 20 years. It was extremely interesting to watch these people progress through their lives.

Anyway, at one point they showed one of the doctors working with a Spanish-speaking lady. I was happy to say that I understood a decent amount of the conversation (admittedly, it was pretty basic Spanish). "Hola. Como estas?" "Un poquito mejor."

I missed some of it because the narrator was talking over it, and there were a few parts that were too fast to catch. But I understood the opening stuff, and when they left to do an eye check. Made me happy that I could at least pick some things out from speech.

Means that you understand more than you are willing to admit! :-)

If you watch movies in Spanish, which you have previously watched in English, it will bring a benefit.

I always recommend a movie instead of regular TV, because it has a story to tell, a thread to it. Where as just regular TV or commercials jump from one thing to another without much, and it leaves you with a negative feeling as to how much of the idiom you can handle, and that is negative enforcement. It keeps you down and shy.

[TJtacos]

Yes Spanish TV is a good way to practice I like to watch the news because I am already familiar with the stories, and newscasters seem to speaks slower and annunciate their words more and a soap or other program.

[irmamar]

It's a happyness when you understand almost everything of what you're listening in a foreigner language!, Well, I think,

[chileno]

Originally Posted by irmamar

It's a happyness when you understand almost everything of what you're listening in a foreigner language!, Well, I think,

Of course. It always works the same with everybody to whom I have talked about this.

Fisrt you hear the language like a sound, uachu, uachu, uachu, you don't understand anything, and suddenly say you hear: "open the door" and you become thrilled!

[poli]

I have selective understanding of Spanish. It depends upon the person. Sometimes I understand 100%, but other times 70% maybe.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by poli

I have selective understanding of Spanish. It depends upon the person. Sometimes I understand 100%, but other times 70% maybe.

Probably is because of the accent/speech/pitch, education etc....

That is why I advise everybody to translate what you already know in your language to the other language, on the way to achieve this you'll learn some more in both languages.

One thing I realized early on, was the fact that I understood one person better than another, even though both were born in the same city, etc

I am sure the following has happened to you, and most likely to everybody:

You go with a friend to buy something to the the store, the clerk asks you, and you do not understand him. Obviously the clerk is American, but somehow you cannot make out what he is saying. On the contrary, your friend understand perfectly well, and answers to the clerk. You look at your friend amazed, and ask him:' Do you understand him", and your friend replies: "Yes, as clear as water!"

How do you feel?

Now when the same thing happens in your endeavor to try learning another language, the resulting feeling is sometimes so devastating that the person retreats and refuses to go on learning. In his/her head the excuses are generally that is too old to learn already, that maybe there is a lack of education etc...

BTW, are you Italian?

[poli]

You're right it's accent, education, rhythm etc. I've noticed that certain countries have accents easier to understand that others.

Italiano-no soy.

[irmamar]

Here in Europe (not in Spain) most young people of several countries speak English as if they were bilingual. I prefer speak English with a German or a Dutch than with an English (or worse, an American!), I understand better people who has not English as their first language.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by poli

You're right it's accent, education, rhythm etc. I've noticed that certain countries have accents easier to understand that others.

Of course. To me I can understand better people from California than New York or Texas or the SOUTH

Although a little intent on listening might do the trick.

Originally Posted by poli

Italiano-no soy.

Oh? I though you name was Polidor@

Originally Posted by irmamar

Here in Europe (not in Spain) most young people of several countries speak English as if they were bilingual. I prefer speak English with a German or a Dutch than with an English (or worse, an American!), I understand better people who has not English as their first language.

Because you accustomed you ear to those accents. Some Americans have real trouble understanding people from England or Australia.

It happens to us in Spanish too!

[sosia]

Muy bien Fazor ¡Sigue así!

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Here in Europe (not in Spain) most young people of several countries speak English as if they were bilingual. I prefer speak English with a German or a Dutch than with an English (or worse, an American!), I understand better people who has not English as their first language.

Originally Posted by chileno

Of course. To me I can understand better people from California than New York or Texas or the SOUTH

Because you accustomed you ear to those accents. Some Americans have real trouble understanding people from England or Australia.

It happens to us in Spanish too!

I would rather listen to someone who learned English as a second (or third, etc.) language than someone from Britain. I can't usually understand British accents!!

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by laepelba

I would rather listen to someone who learned English as a second (or third, etc.) language than someone from Britain. I can't usually understand British accents!!

But... you speak English!

[poli]

I cannot speak for Laepelba, but I know that Britain has many regional accents. Some of them are hard to understand. A lot of English people speak beautifully with clear precise pronouciation.

Lapaelba, do you have trouble understanding BBC broadcasters?

I know Latin Americans who say they do not understand Spaniards.
I find the Spanish spoken on CNN en español to be easier to understand than Spanish spoke on TVE internacional. I like the way Spanish from Spain sounds, but I have to concentrate more to understand it.

[irmamar]

Spanish from Spain doesn't sound as musical as Spanish from other countries. But I think it's easies to understand this Spanish, because usually /c/ in front of weak vowel sounds /z/ not /s/, except some parts of Spain. This is an example, there are a few more.

[irmamar]

easier, not easies!!

[Elaina]

I love to listen to Argentinians speak spanish........

There is a sort of musical quality to it.

I'd love to go to Argentina and live there for awhile, then move to Spain and once I "get it" (the language thing, I mean) then I'd move back to the U.S.

This girl can only dream.........

[irmamar]

Yes, that's the best way for learning languages. It's said "inmersión lingüística" here.

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by irmamar

But... you speak English!

Originally Posted by poli

I cannot speak for Laepelba, but I know that Britain has many regional accents. Some of them are hard to understand. A lot of English people speak beautifully with clear precise pronouciation.

Lapaelba, do you have trouble understanding BBC broadcasters?

I know Latin Americans who say they do not understand Spaniards.
I find the Spanish spoken on CNN en español to be easier to understand than Spanish spoke on TVE internacional. I like the way Spanish from Spain sounds, but I have to concentrate more to understand it.

Well, it's the average accent of average citizens that throws me. Yes, I can most certainly understand every single word spoken by BBC announcers - I regularly listen to BBC Africa, and LOVE the African/British accents.

But I liken it to listening to accents from the American "deep South". I have friends from Mississippi who I always have difficulty understanding.

I spent several weeks driving around Europe a few summers ago. I never had difficulty understanding French or Danish people speaking English. But when I went to London I had to ask everyone to repeat everything because I simply couldn't understand their annunciation. It was all in how they pronounce things.

(And I often have to ask my Mississippian friends to repeat things or re-phrase things because I don't understand them!)

[irmamar]

And then English students have to pass difficult listening exams!! I should tell this to the English teachers!