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How to Learn to Speak Spanish in the Workplace |
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Tuesday, 07 August 2007 |
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With the growth of the Spanish population in the United States there are many parts of the country where Spanish is spoken almost as often as English, particularly in Texas, California, Florida, and Washington D.C. This means that in many situations it is going to be necessary for many of those living in those areas to learn to speak the language as well for job related purposes, either because they cannot do their job otherwise or because it simply makes their lives easier.
The good news is that if you work in an environment where Spanish is spoken frequently you are already one step ahead of many who find themselves in the position of wanting to learn a new language; you have a limitless source of knowledge at your disposal, and chances are they will be happy to help you to learn their language in any way that they can. In addition, you have the benefit of hearing the language spoken day after day. This has many benefits. First and foremost, you will be able to learn the proper pronunciation much more quickly hearing it from your co-workers than you will studying it in a book. This is essential, as improper pronunciation and accent can be a giant obstacle in the road to understanding. Secondly, the reason you are learning to speak Spanish is probably so you can interact with your co-workers; however, not all countries (or even towns) speak the same dialect of Spanish. Imagine if you were to go to England. There would probably be a number of words and expressions which they would use that would be unfamiliar to you, just as you would use a number of words and expressions that would be unfamiliar to them. The same is true of the Spanish language. You could learn to speak Spanish through a class or from a book or language learning tutorial; however, it is impossible for them to teach every dialog. By learning the dialog spoken by your co-workers you will be spared much of the difficulty associated with learning the wrong dialog. Finally, you will have the opportunity to hear the words you will need to use in the workplace day after day. This will make you able to communicate with your co-workers about work related matters much more quickly, as the vocabulary will become a part of your day to day routine. Learning the language from a native speaker is the best way for you to learn to speak Spanish, and by working in a Spanish speaking environment you have been given the ultimate opportunity. |
