Oh my goodness, yes! This is the best, Elizabeth. When I lived in Paris, my French was so awful. Schoolgirl vocabulary. Terrible pronunciation. But I didn’t give up despite the fairly exasperated Parisians. I went to buy a watch for my dad for Christmas and used a verb which meant I “longed” to buy a watch rather than just that I wanted or needed to buy one. The man was so kind to me the way he made a little kind of poetry in his response to my mistake. We laughed and I’ve never forgotten how he took me under his language wing for just those few minutes. Thank you for this wonderful feeling of your poem right in the middle of my afternoon. I and we are immensely blessed by your poems.
When I spent a semester in Italy as an undergraduate, I learned quickly to pronounce my name the Italian way, Melania, because Melanie sounds like "melone" to Italian ears. I remember the first time someone laughed when they thought I'd introduced myself as "melons". Never made that mistake again.
La tua poesia e meravigliosa, come sempre, Elizabeth!
Mi dispiace, ma non parlo lo Spagnolo, però non ho dimenticato l' Italiano.
Spero che tu puoi capire tutto ciò che ti ho scritto ... (but there is always google translate:)
I am still learning English. Every single day. And I always struggle when it comes to speaking it. Italian, though, is a lost cause after twenty-five years.
Mille grazie, Fotini! I do love the "Latin" languages -- between remembered French and newly-learned Spanish I can pretty well piece together your kind comments in Italian.
I am so glad that you continue to learn English, and that we get to read the poems you write in English. 💛🌿
I love this poem! native Spanish speakers appreciate any attempt to speak to their language.
I love she respond to you by figuring out that you just want cabbage. It’s just like you, Elizabeth to learn Spanish as a kindness as well as an expansion of your knowledge..
What's the point of saying something silly by mistake if you don't tell the story on purpose and do someone's heart good? 😊 So glad you had fun with it, Sandy.
Oh! How I admire you for studying and for having the courage to take what you've learned into the world. Listening is, perhaps, the skill we all need to hone. And who knows? Maybe shredded cabbage has more to teach than we know.
I love it 💛. Also, brava. It's hard to learn a new language at a later age. I was proficient in French at one point, but trying to learn Portuguese in my late forties has been humbling (but super fun all the same).
I keep wanting Spanish to be French because they've got so many genes in common, but it keeps insisting on its own pronouns...! Brava to you for working on Portuguese, I've heard it's very much its Own Thing. Well, and so are you, so it will all work out. 💛🌿
Ha! I want to pronounce everything in Portuguese (and Spanish, when I run across it) with a French accent. But how amazing that each language has its own special way of being. My husband is basically fluent in Portuguese, so it’s fun trailing behind him (linguistically). I’m hoping we reach “secret language” status some day, even if I never really catch on.
After learning the French r and the German one which is basically the same, the Spanish r is killing my tongue-muscles! I thought I was 'way better at trilling than it turns out I am. And then a trill up against another consonant, what??? Sigh. I learned how to gargle an r, I can learn to trill one. Someday.
Elizabeth, me gusta mucho leer esto. Learning other languages stimulates so many parts of the brain, expands our view of the world, and, hopefully, leads us to be a bit more compassionate to people who don't know our own language.
"Do you know what a foreign accent is? It’s a sign of bravery." - Amy Chua
I think most language learners have stories about making mistakes. I certainly do, in just about every language I have studied. The more embarrassing, the better, because those are the ones that tend to stick. "I'll never make THAT mistake again" we tell ourselves.
Here's a quick one... a friend went to the local market in our little town in Spain and said proudly, "Quiero vender velas". The kind shopkeeper took him to the section of the store where he could find candles. He had mistaken the verb to buy (comprar) and used the verb to sell (vender).
I wonder if there's a place here on Substack for learners of Spanish.... My Substack is for learners of English, but if people are interested, maybe a chat space?
In any case, buena suerte con los estudios. Keep listening to the cole slaw. It will tell you wonderful stories!
Oh, that Amy Chua quote is wonderful -- and so is the story about the candle seller/buyer! Thank you so much for stopping by to read and comment, Louise. Love to Mouse and Houdini and Ten-san.
Brilliant!
Thank you, Simon! Far too kind.
Hey Elizabeth,
I love how amour met you in that stranger’s smiling answer, and not you it. To me, it shows a self-surrender that’s key to living a whole life.
Best,
Mahdi
Thank you for such a thoughtful response, Mahdi. I hope you and your loved ones are safe and well. 💛🌿
Oh my goodness, yes! This is the best, Elizabeth. When I lived in Paris, my French was so awful. Schoolgirl vocabulary. Terrible pronunciation. But I didn’t give up despite the fairly exasperated Parisians. I went to buy a watch for my dad for Christmas and used a verb which meant I “longed” to buy a watch rather than just that I wanted or needed to buy one. The man was so kind to me the way he made a little kind of poetry in his response to my mistake. We laughed and I’ve never forgotten how he took me under his language wing for just those few minutes. Thank you for this wonderful feeling of your poem right in the middle of my afternoon. I and we are immensely blessed by your poems.
Trust the French to have so many verbs to express desire...! Such a wonderful story, Jeni. I am blessed, always, by your reading and responding. 💛🌿
Wait until you mix up your vowels and ask for polla instead of pollo🤭
Oh dear....
When I spent a semester in Italy as an undergraduate, I learned quickly to pronounce my name the Italian way, Melania, because Melanie sounds like "melone" to Italian ears. I remember the first time someone laughed when they thought I'd introduced myself as "melons". Never made that mistake again.
😂💛🌿
La tua poesia e meravigliosa, come sempre, Elizabeth!
Mi dispiace, ma non parlo lo Spagnolo, però non ho dimenticato l' Italiano.
Spero che tu puoi capire tutto ciò che ti ho scritto ... (but there is always google translate:)
I am still learning English. Every single day. And I always struggle when it comes to speaking it. Italian, though, is a lost cause after twenty-five years.
What you are up to is great!
Mille grazie, Fotini! I do love the "Latin" languages -- between remembered French and newly-learned Spanish I can pretty well piece together your kind comments in Italian.
I am so glad that you continue to learn English, and that we get to read the poems you write in English. 💛🌿
Learning new languages opens us up to the world. It’s a kind of magic!
And it feels good to be here, Elizabeth, listening to shredded cabbage :)
I love this poem! native Spanish speakers appreciate any attempt to speak to their language.
I love she respond to you by figuring out that you just want cabbage. It’s just like you, Elizabeth to learn Spanish as a kindness as well as an expansion of your knowledge..
Love hearing from you Looocinda! Thanks so much for reading. 💛🌿
Maybe you'll come down to Mexico in January or February.
¡Qué divertido! Thanks for being here, Wes.
and thank you Elizabeth. Let me know if you want any info on the place we go. Wes
You are very brave! Listening to coleslaw, indeed! You do my heart good! :-)
What's the point of saying something silly by mistake if you don't tell the story on purpose and do someone's heart good? 😊 So glad you had fun with it, Sandy.
Oh! How I admire you for studying and for having the courage to take what you've learned into the world. Listening is, perhaps, the skill we all need to hone. And who knows? Maybe shredded cabbage has more to teach than we know.
Delightful, Elizabeth!
Studying like crazy, but still learning to be brave! And always learning to listen -- including to cole slaw. 🤔
Thanks so much for reading and commenting and sharing, Elizabeth!
De nada!
My Spanish is very rusty, but I did follow this. I applaud any one who is learning English as a second language.
Thank you so much, Kari! 💛🌿
Suerte, Elizabeth! Si se puede!
also happy to practice Spanish with you anytime!
¡Muchas gracias, Francesca! 💛🌿
I love it 💛. Also, brava. It's hard to learn a new language at a later age. I was proficient in French at one point, but trying to learn Portuguese in my late forties has been humbling (but super fun all the same).
I keep wanting Spanish to be French because they've got so many genes in common, but it keeps insisting on its own pronouns...! Brava to you for working on Portuguese, I've heard it's very much its Own Thing. Well, and so are you, so it will all work out. 💛🌿
Ha! I want to pronounce everything in Portuguese (and Spanish, when I run across it) with a French accent. But how amazing that each language has its own special way of being. My husband is basically fluent in Portuguese, so it’s fun trailing behind him (linguistically). I’m hoping we reach “secret language” status some day, even if I never really catch on.
After learning the French r and the German one which is basically the same, the Spanish r is killing my tongue-muscles! I thought I was 'way better at trilling than it turns out I am. And then a trill up against another consonant, what??? Sigh. I learned how to gargle an r, I can learn to trill one. Someday.
Adorable. We should all give ear to coleslaw…it probably talks more sense than most politicians.
More fiber, too! 😉
Thanks so much for reading, India.
Ha ha yes!!!!
wow... very brave. I am impressed. My French only seemed to come back to me when I was talking to my hamsters...
I'll bet your hamsters loved being addressed in French! 😂🌼
Elizabeth, me gusta mucho leer esto. Learning other languages stimulates so many parts of the brain, expands our view of the world, and, hopefully, leads us to be a bit more compassionate to people who don't know our own language.
"Do you know what a foreign accent is? It’s a sign of bravery." - Amy Chua
I think most language learners have stories about making mistakes. I certainly do, in just about every language I have studied. The more embarrassing, the better, because those are the ones that tend to stick. "I'll never make THAT mistake again" we tell ourselves.
Here's a quick one... a friend went to the local market in our little town in Spain and said proudly, "Quiero vender velas". The kind shopkeeper took him to the section of the store where he could find candles. He had mistaken the verb to buy (comprar) and used the verb to sell (vender).
I wonder if there's a place here on Substack for learners of Spanish.... My Substack is for learners of English, but if people are interested, maybe a chat space?
In any case, buena suerte con los estudios. Keep listening to the cole slaw. It will tell you wonderful stories!
Oh, that Amy Chua quote is wonderful -- and so is the story about the candle seller/buyer! Thank you so much for stopping by to read and comment, Louise. Love to Mouse and Houdini and Ten-san.