|
Post by spindrift on Nov 4, 2009 15:28:26 GMT
I started learning Spanish this year on 7th October. As part of my university course I must hand in my first essay next Monday. We were asked to write 120 words about ourselves and our family. This is what I wrote: Hola. Me llamo Spindrift, soy inglesa de Bristol pero vivo en Winchester. ?Cual es mi profesion? Soy estudiante y aprendo espanol en la universidad de Southampton. Tengo cincuenta y cinco anos. Vivo en el centro de la cuidad en una casa grande con mi marido. Mi marido se llama Antonio. Es ingles de Londres. Es ingeniero. Tiene sesenta y dos anos. Es hombre magnifico pero no es amable. Tenemos dos hijos. Mis hijos se llaman Manuel y Penelope. Manuel tiene treinta anos y Penelope tiene veintiseis anos. Manuel es un banquero y Penelope trabaja con su padre en Londres. Ella es muy guapa y tiene el pelo largo y negro. En mi casa tengo uno perro y uno gato. Estan muy contenta. El perro es bianco y grande y el gato es nigro y pequeno. Mis padres estan muertos. Tengo uno jardin y me gusta las flores. Soy solo una mujer quien trabaga siempre en su casa por su marido pero tambien un estudiante. En mi curso aprendo espanol. Quiero viajar en Mexico el ano proximo. Tengo unas amigas quien vivan en la cuidad de Oxaca. *************************************** That's the best I could do. The marks of this first Assignment (along with many other questions on the paper) will count for 10% of my exam paper which I will sit mid-January. The university is tough on students. Everyone has to sit the exam, attend most of the classes and hand in their homeworks on time. Unless a good pass mark is achieved one cannot go on to the second term or year. People get thrown out. I agree with this policy. The pace is fast and furious and slackers would only hold the rest of us back! I know my 'essay' has mistakes and the sentence construction isn't brilliant but I've just started to learn the language and not much more could be expected from me at the moment. You may point out mistakes if you like but I won't correct them on my hardcopy. I'll hand it in as it is above. Already we've been told to learn what seems like hundreds of verbs, including irregulars, for our exam....all in the present tense however.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Nov 4, 2009 15:37:30 GMT
This is fantastic, Spindrift! I can't believe you are this advanced in Spanish after less than one month of study. By the time you get here next year, you will be chattering away. First Japanese, and now this -- I do admire you!
|
|
|
Post by spindrift on Nov 4, 2009 15:43:34 GMT
Thanks again Bixa....I find Spanish very easy. I used to be fluent in French and I studied Latin for my A levels. Maybe that's why it's not too difficult for me.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Nov 4, 2009 16:01:38 GMT
I think it's because you're smart and you study hard.
|
|
|
Post by lagatta on Nov 4, 2009 18:14:36 GMT
Yes, I think so too, but obviously prior knowledge of other Latin languages is a help.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2009 18:21:49 GMT
Just don't start speaking Japanese when you arrive in Oaxaca.
|
|
|
Post by spindrift on Nov 22, 2009 12:05:47 GMT
Now it is time for my 2nd Assignment and we have been told to write 150 words in Spanish on the following subject:
'Que haces durante la Navidad?, que cocinas o comes, cual es tu plato favorito, donde y con quien celebras esta fiesta, explica que te gusta y que no te gusta de la Navidad'
LA NAVIDAD EN MI CASA CON MI FAMILIA Y MIS AMIGOS
La Navidad es el 25 diciembre. Normalmente es muy frio y a veces hay nieve. Mi casa es grande y hay un comedor y una cocina. Siempre mis amigos agudan a preparar la cena de Navidad que es a las tres de la tarde. La comida es siempre el mismo.
?Que tomamos? El dia de Navidad tomamos el pavo, el jamon, muchas de las verduras y de las potatas. El postre es 'Christmas Pudding' cual es un pudding de frutas confitadas que se come el dia de Navidad. Bebemos vino blanco o vino tinto y hay la cerveza y el agua mineral con gas. Mi plato favorito es el caviar de Iran.
En el salon hay un arbol de Navidad. Unos regalos son aqui. Mi marido me hace un precioso por regalo, como las joyas. Todo el mundo esta muy contento. Me gusta la Navidad y me gustan mis amigos. No me gusta a hacer la compra.
I'm rather short on words...I know so little spanish at this stage that it's next to impossible to write more on the subject. Any ideas anyone? please?
Also I must hand it in tomorrow instead of two weeks hence because I'm going to Thailand. Help!
I've just counted and it's 168 words so that's ok unless someone can think of something that'll impress the teacher!
|
|
|
Post by tillystar on Nov 23, 2009 9:27:04 GMT
Wow, you really are steaming ahead aren't you? I think its great, I can read it but could never write something like that!
|
|
|
Post by spindrift on Nov 23, 2009 10:52:30 GMT
Tilly - if you were on my course with me you would be doing the same. I was hoping that Bixa would correct it for me!
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Nov 23, 2009 11:53:14 GMT
I might be too late if you have to hand it in today, and I'm just learning Spanish too, but I think you don't need those partitive articles: I think I would just put "muchas verduras y papas". La comida es siempre la misma. (comida being feminine) Mi marido me hace un precioso por regalo, como las joyas -- I don't know what you mean here. Un regalo precioso?
You are certainly doing very well if you have been learning only since October.
|
|
|
Post by spindrift on Nov 23, 2009 12:14:39 GMT
Thanks bjd...I agree with you and will make the changes you suggest.
I'll have to think of something else that my husband would give me....perhaps a book would do! I was only being outrageous to add a little lightheartedness to the dull task of marking papers....
I learn languages at the university because there are high standards and I know we'll be pushed to our limits. It's quite daunting but good for the brain cells. After all, we only have one 2 hour lesson per week.
|
|
|
Post by happytraveller on Nov 23, 2009 14:19:47 GMT
Wow ! I am amazed spindrift, you are so talented. And hey, I understand most of it !
|
|
|
Post by spindrift on Nov 23, 2009 14:22:30 GMT
Good, that's why I find it easy to learn...what with knowing French and Latin I'm well away....
*of course this is only the simple stuff*
So unlike Japanese which is a nightmare!
|
|
|
Post by Don Cuevas on Jan 13, 2010 21:19:26 GMT
"agudan" should, I think, be "acuden". "Agudo" is "sharp, piercing, acute", as a needle.
"Me gusta la Navidad y me gustan mis amigos.."
Also, it's best not to use "gustar" in reference to people, unless you have a very "intimate" relationship. It would be better to say "mis queridos amigos", or even, "quiero mis amigos."
Justo mis dos centavos.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Jan 14, 2010 2:21:09 GMT
Actually, I'm pretty sure "agudan" was supposed to have been "ayuden" -- my friends help prepare the supper.
That special meaning of gustar in reference to people may just be a quirk of Mexican Spanish, I'm not sure. And "quiero mis amigos" would be just as bad. It would need to be "quiero a mis amigos".
|
|
|
Post by hwinpp on Jan 14, 2010 5:58:10 GMT
Can you not just say mis muchachos queridos ;D
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Jan 14, 2010 7:18:28 GMT
¿Is this where I reveal to you that I think of you as mi querido chamaco?
|
|
|
Post by hwinpp on Jan 14, 2010 10:33:59 GMT
Chamaco? New word for me. Similar to muchacho?
I once drunkenly called a guy over for some drinks by shouting muchacho!. He did come over but said he was from Peru. Was a nice afternoon nevertheless. Ok, sorry.
|
|
|
Post by spindrift on Jan 14, 2010 15:32:30 GMT
I feel so bad. I've dropped the Spanish lessons. I hope the Uni will allow me to take year 1a again next October. The exams are on Jan 23rd, I'm not ready having had the Phuket distraction.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Jan 14, 2010 15:55:45 GMT
Don't feel badly, Spindrift! There are only so many things a person can do. I admire you so much because you keep your life so interesting. Perhaps you will come across tapes or an online course that suits you between now and October.
You got it, HW. Chamaco/a is a pure Mexican word meaning a minor. Country people here, especially those whose first language is a non-Spanish native one, sometimes use it to mean son or daughter, too.
Hee hee ~~ I guess the Peruvian waiter was somewhat offended by being beckoned that way. Did he forgive you?
|
|
|
Post by traveler63 on Jan 14, 2010 20:52:10 GMT
Hola mi amigos y amegas:
Se ha pasado muchas anos que me han hablado o escrito espanol. La mayoría de mis conocimientos de español vino de su estudio en la Universidad Estatal de Portland de nuevo en la década de 1970. Mi necessito Estoy pensando en inscribirse en el Pima Community College para refrescar mi estudio del español.
Probably shouldn't take Spanish and French together. !!!!!
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Jan 15, 2010 2:17:21 GMT
Wow, T63 -- you retained a bunch. I won't lie and say there are no errors, but it's completely understandable and extremely ambitious writing for someone who hasn't studied it for all those years.
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Jan 15, 2010 8:20:25 GMT
In my opinion, one of the great problems in many Latin American countries is the lack of education and books. Both in Ecuador and Colombia I looked for books in Spanish. At Bogota airport there were some books for sale, but at extremely high prices. In Ecuador the few books I saw for sale in bus stations tended to be self-help type things. So one day I found a book market on a main square in Quito's old city. I found Marquez's 100 Years of Solitude for $4US. It's a lot in Ecuador for a cheap-looking copy, but I thought I could practice my Spanish.
Well, I started reading it a couple of days ago. It is full of typos -- particularly mixing up a and o! It looks as though the text was scanned but not checked and just printed on cheap paper. Mixing up vowels is particularly problematic in Romance languages since o/a can change from a masculine to a feminine noun or adjective. And seeing "can" as a preposition was rather confusing too.
Spindrift, there are several good websites with free Spanish lessons. You won't get any conversation practice but they are good for grammar. There are also lessons on the BBC news website. I can send you links if you are interested.
|
|
|
Post by spindrift on Jan 15, 2010 11:48:21 GMT
bjd - thanks....I do have the BBC Spanish link.....being taught by partaking in a detective drama? it's fun.
T 63 - well done...I could understand the gist of that!
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Jan 15, 2010 13:04:27 GMT
|
|
|
Post by spindrift on Jan 15, 2010 21:16:01 GMT
thanks bjd....
|
|
|
Post by fumobici on Jan 17, 2010 23:35:07 GMT
Probably shouldn't take Spanish and French together. !!!!! Maybe, maybe not. Some people think taking more than one related language at once makes good sense. There seems like enough bleedover between Romance languages to make the notion seem probable to me at least.
|
|
|
Post by cristina on Jan 18, 2010 1:36:48 GMT
I'm taking both Thpanish and French at the same time. Although, to be fair, Thpanish was my first language (although I never studied it in school), and French is what I learned through most of my schooling (which was a long time ago!)
I started up the French lessons early last year in anticipation of my trip to France in the fall and have continued them (through my local chapter of Alliance Française). The Spanish lessons I have just started through my employer, a company headquartered in Spain. I am a bit concerned about confusing myself, but my French teacher has encouraged me to pursue the Spanish lessons. Although she did point out that I tend to add "a" as a word in French, when it might be more appropriate in Spanish.
At any rate...even with with my occasional confusion, it is still much easier than learning Japanese!
And Spindrift, I'm crossing my fingers that you can restart your Spanish class in the Fall.
|
|
|
Post by spindrift on Jan 18, 2010 14:39:32 GMT
Thanks..... I have had to pull myself together and must face my Spanish teacher at Uni tonight. It would be rude of me not to appear at the last class of the term. The exam will be on Saturday (without me). I will ask him what my next options will be. (he's very goodlooking )
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Jan 18, 2010 14:52:20 GMT
(he's very goodlooking ) Well, Spindrift, you do know the best way to learn a foreign language, don't you?
|
|