English

Edgar · **Posted:** Fri Apr 10, 2009 2:29 am

My Spanish is fair. What percentage of Ticas speak somewhat fluent or conversational English?

El Ornitorrinco · **Posted:** Fri Apr 10, 2009 7:17 am

Most chicas in the DR speak enough to conclude your transaction, but some don't speak very much at all. I'd suggest you do a search for "helpful Spanish phrases".

Pacifica55 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 10, 2009 10:49 am

And don't be fooled because she nods here head enthusiastically and smiles at your suggestions. In this culture, they would rather not upset you by admitting that their English is not up to the task. Instead, she will nod and smile and have no idea what you said. You think you are the king of negocio until you start trying to put some of those demented ideas into practice. "NO POSSIBLE!!!" :shock:

BrownCow · **Posted:** Fri Apr 10, 2009 10:59 am

Pacifica55 wrote:

And don't be fooled because she nods here head enthusiastically and smiles at your suggestions. In this culture, they would rather not upset you by admitting that their English is not up to the task. Instead, she will nod and smile and have no idea what you said. You think you are the king of negocio until you start trying to put some of those demented ideas into practice. "NO POSSIBLE!!!" :shock:

And you'd be the king of demented ideas...

Pacifica55 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:06 am

Who told... :shock:

Sandino · **Posted:** Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:41 am

On the flip side, don't be so sure that some of the chicas within ear shot of you can't understand every word that you're saying in English either. I've seen guys nonchilantly saying things about girls in English thinking that no one would understand them, only to get slapped in the face and cussed out in English by the very same girls!

Leduc · **Joined:** Mon Oct 13, 2008 4:08 am **Posts:** 14

Sandino provides good advice--language skills vary a lot but you can usually count on someone picking up harsh comments at the worst times, and then you can explain all you like but the damage is done. Private conversations in monger settings are generally not that private. Loose lips, sunk ships, and avoidable fights.... :oops:

Professor · **Joined:** Sat Nov 04, 2006 8:33 pm **Posts:** 390

Edgar wrote:

My Spanish is fair. What percentage of Ticas speak somewhat fluent or conversational English?

Take this with a grain of salt, but I "dated" a MP girl for a few days, had dinner and the like, and I speak basic Spanish. However, I have been speaking it for over 30 years. The Tica spoke very, very rudimentary English. While some silent spots occurred, she often made me repeat what she said in Spanish to make sure that I understood her.

El Ornitorrinco · **Posted:** Fri Apr 10, 2009 2:59 pm

Leduc wrote:

Sandino provides good advice--language skills vary a lot but you can usually count on someone picking up harsh comments at the worst times, and then you can explain all you like but the damage is done. Private conversations in monger settings are generally not that private. Loose lips, sunk ships, and avoidable fights.... :oops:

A lot of this has to do with the tone in which the comment is made, too. It can tell the chica a lot even if she doesn't understand the entire comment.

Gypsy · **Posted:** Fri Apr 10, 2009 4:10 pm

Sandino wrote:

On the flip side, don't be so sure that some of the chicas within ear shot of you can't understand every word that you're saying in English either. I've seen guys nonchilantly saying things about girls in English thinking that no one would understand them, only to get slapped in the face and cussed out in English by the very same girls!

Well, if a guy says something stupid and gets slapped and cussed, he deserves it, the problem is when the chica misunderstand what was said, and that happens a lot too.

Pacifica55 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 10, 2009 4:53 pm

Even when you think you are communicating you may not be. I told my girl the other day that we had to go because I needed to buy tires. She thought I was coping a "too tired" plea and got an attitude. Took me 15 minutes to get it straightened out with both of us laughing about it. :lol:

Enzo5 · **Joined:** Fri Nov 24, 2006 4:26 am **Posts:** 243

The answer is - - some do , some don't. You find out as you go. Like was already said, the women speak enough of the basic phrases in English to complete a transaction. I think it would be hard to get to know them very well without knowing any Spanish. In the MPs that would be ok, mostly. Kind of hard to say about the others because I would start out talking to them in Spanish. If you know enough to get through the pleasantries of meeting a woman, introducing yourself, asking her about herself all that jazz, then you can do o.k. It's when you get comfortable enough to start teasing her that's when you're in.

If you don't look hispanic, expect to get questioned about how you know Spanish from some of them. That was weird, and at times annoying., now looking back it's kind of funny. :roll:

oh well.

www.CostaRicaTicas.com

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