Quote:
Originally Posted by Polar Bear
I figured quite a few would recommend Spanish. (And thanks by-the-way.) But I have a question. And I have to be careful. I don't want to offend anybody and I will admit a certain degree of ignorance about something...
When you say to learn Spanish, I assume there are quite a few "variations" of the language. Spanish as spoken in Spain. Spanish as spoken in Mexico. Possibly Cuba. Other countries and regions. Am I mistaken? Is there a generally accepted "standard" Spanish language?
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Go with learning Castillian Spanish which is what is primarily taught in academia. It will get you by anywhere. I learned Spanish in New Mexico while growing up - both in and out of school. It has gotten me by in Spain, in both France and Italy (where occasionally I had to use it when the person with whom I was dealing did not speak English) and all over Mexico and Central America. BTW, Costa Rican Spanish is different. While there one woman got a look of disgust on her face and told me I sounded like a Mexican! I took that as a compliment since I am not a native Spanish speaker. lol.
Once one learns the basics of Spanish or any other language it is helpful to spend some immersion time using the language exclusively for a few weeks. That can be done on an extended stay in a country where the language is spoken. Certain travel companies may specialize in such excursions. When a person starts to think in another language they have got it down. To stay in practice I mosty use Spanish with my gardners, cleaning ladies and other workers I encounter whenever I can. They seem to appreciate it.