Started Spanish / English lessons today. Last week I was introduced to Claudia. Based upon my efforts to learn Spanish and help her with her English and the person who introduced us – her similar interaction – we all agreed to get together (starting one time per week) to help each other with English and Spanish.
Claudia arrived with lessons of words – the English word with Spanish phonetics in parentheses, the Spanish equivalent word and then a sentence using the word – both in English and Spanish.
We learned easily, slowly, carefully, simply, happily and naturally – fácilmente, lentamente , cuidadosamente, simplemente , felizmente , naturalmente. There were a few others and then we bopped around with other pages and the flashcards I brought with me.
I was able to share with my English speaking friend one of the things I learned this past weekend when interacting and learning Spanish from the locals. When you respond to the question Cómo estás? (how are you) one may choose to respond “muy bien” (translates to very well – even though I always thought it meant ‘good’). However, when you are responding to how the food is, the weather its, etc…then one may choose to answer “muy bueno” (very good).
When we were just about wrapped up and running through the flashcards, Claudia pronounced a Spanish word which started with 2 Ls, as the sound “sh”. Walter had recently reminded me this double l in a word is pronounced with the “yu” sound. I asked for a pause and with Claudia’s son’s help, we realized that in Argentina (where Claudia is from) their Spanish uses the “sh” sound. As it turns out some Spanish countries pronounce it with a “ju” sound. In looking this detail up this evening one explanation noted that in central and northern Spain, LL is pronounced as the LL in the English “million”.
For my English speaking friends out there..Did you know you were using a “yu” sound when pronouncing the double l in million?
What language do you want to learn in which country?
If not a language, what else do you see yourself taking part in because you can?
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Being able to learn Argentinian Spanish in Costa Rica is unique. At least you won’t have that Canadian
Accent.