www.CostaRicaTicas.com

And I would respond your statement doesn't seem to apply to the situation in Miami today.

mh

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mh

Miami/South Florida is still part of the United States at least the last I heard. Logic is based on empirical observation and precedent based on the decline of the United States. By the way, I have nothing against speaking other languages, it is an indication of intelligence. Additionally, Spanish, Thai etc. is a good tool for us mongerers of course, but perhaps from a political/socio-economic point of view, Mandarin Chinese may be best for us all to learn soon.

Here in Canada we have a situation where the entire country is forced into bilingualism because of one province, namely Quebec. Despite the stereotypes the majority of Canadians do not speak or even understand French. Quebec has attempted to separate from Canada many times. We even have political parties who main agenda is to establish Quebec as an independent country.

Back in the seventies we had a radical socialist leader (much like Obama) named Trudeau who forced the entire country to accept bilingualism.

Outside of Quebec no one speaks French yet all packaging, government services, etc must be in both languages. Obviously this adds billions of dollars in unnecessary costs to the economy. I was forced to learn French in high school.

Imagine if the entire country of the USA was forced to convert to bilingualism because a pocket of people in Minnesota spoke Swedish. At least in the USA you have a large population that does speak another language namely Spanish.

In countries like England and France there are huge problems with people essentially ghettoizing, refusing to learn the local language and assimilating into the country. It seems that Miami has already experienced this problem.

I am a huge fan of learning other languages. I just don't want the government forcing it upon me.

Devo

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The most dangerous adversaries are the ones that come with a smile instead of a sword

going all the way back to the original OP post, you will learn by assimilation. The local culture will assimilate you. You will become one of many. You will refer to yourself as 'We'. And you will begin putting slash marks above your vowels, just because you can.

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

You are correct, MH, and living in Miami <35 years +>, I can certainly understand 'Zun's comment as well.

I also agree with the sentiments of your last paragraph, although many Americans don't take the time to learn.

To generalize, I like Latin culuture a lot - I would not have stayed in Miami if I did not.

I do object to Miami being a "way station" because some don't like the political and/or economic situation in their home country - I think immigrants must do as much as they can - including trying to learn the language - if they plan to stay and live in another country. Some immigrants display an appaling lack of sensititivity and seem determined to "have it their way" - live here reaping the freedoms and benefits of America while doing little to nothing to fit in.

If they do not - and their residency is just "temporary" - don't get upset if others are annoyed that you want to create another Colombia, or Venezula, Cuba or wherever here while reaping the benefits of US residency - I don't totally agree with Teddy Roosevelts comments regarding hyphenated "Americans" not being Americans at all and having no place in our society.

One important reason is Miami is unique - in a single generation - and mostly done by hardworking Cubans of the upper, educated classes - in a single generation Hispanics in Miami have achieved heights unknown in other parts of the country - they are the lawyers, doctors, business people, government officials - folks who have economic as well as political power - they are not the maids, landscapers of Texas, California, Arizona - making it easier to conduct your life in Spanish and not having to venture out of your own community - so success - and it is genuine success - is sometimes 2 edged sword.

I also realize it can take generations - Italian Americans are good examples - for the immercian to finally happen.

Its not exactly the same thing when guys from the USA retire to Costa Rica, unless they are renouncing their citizenship - but still, they should make more of an effort than many do to learn the language and the customs.

Sorry my friend but your comment is often far from being the case here in San Jose. I know many Gringos who have been living here for 10-20 years who still do not know more than maybe 10 (at most) words in Spanish. As I have mentioned before this is the same group that are standing outside their favorite bar every morning waiting for it to open and they leave every night when it closes ( a little extreme but not far from the truth). They spend the day drinking and comparing notes on how terrible life in Costa Rica is!! Yet they continue to live here!! Many of this group are guys that for one reason or another cannot return to the States!!!

I have had more than one expat tell me (shortly after moving here and sometimes long afterwards) they are too old to learn a new language and they are not going to try!!! This is also the group that often returns to the States after 6 months to a year!!!!

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

Yeah, I remember it well...Rene Lesvesque (the Premier of Quebec), and the Parti Quebecois. They held a referendum in 1980 to split from Canada. It failed by a 60-40 vote. I wasn't living in Quebec then, but did live only a few miles away.

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"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile, and the rest of us are phucked until we can put our acts together; not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely"...Hunter S. Thompson (RIP)

No matter what I love Canada. I spent some time in Montreal in late June and had a blast. The people were great!

then, they are not so much as 'living' in CR, as 'existing' in it. When you 'live' with people, you pick up the habits.

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

Actually you are very correct! The ones I am talking about will go out of their way to avoid ANY contact with the Ticos.. They virtually live their life in a bar with other Gringos of the same mind set and habits. They are scared to death of the unknown, and have no desire to assimilate into the life style nor culture here in any way. I have honestly seen them cross the street to avoid walking past a couple of Ticos standing on the sidewalk talking. And I am not talking about a couple of Tico street bums, but nicely dressed intelligent looking Ticos! In their minds every Tico is out to "get" them. Every Tico is extremely poor and uneducated, lazy, a thief, and if it is a female, she is a whore!! They are living in a world where the "glass is always half empty"; never "half full"!!! They are full of hate, bitterness, and distrust; and are actually living a life of "NON-existence"!!! Really a sad situation when you learn just how unhappy and bitter they are!!!

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

It started long before they moved to CR, Bang - pathetic assholes are made, not born - they were jerks while in their 20's!

Ignorance of the culture, the language, and overall ignorance <let me call it what it is - stupidity> just adds to the mix, as does the fact many are outright drunks.

Does anybody have experience with DUOLINGO.COM for learning Latin American spanish

It's supposed to be free, and more effective than Rosetta Stone (which is pretty expensive). That sounds too good to be true .

Also ...... are there any other free, online spanish courses that are worth the time it will take to learn what they try to teach

I use duolingo and memrise online and on my phone. both are free. i also have a (paid) subscription to fluencia and years ago bought (overpriced) rosetta stone. IMHO, everything helps a little bit, but ultimately you (I) have to get out there and actually talk with people to really gauge progress.

i will say that it has helped me learn numerous new words and phrases and i'm beginning to get the hang of the roughly 40+ ways to conjugate each verb

buena suerte Rac

kr

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When I was born, I was given a choice - a big pecker or a good memory.... I don't remember what I chose.

I'm guessing that a lot of these guys that move down there and don't "assimilate" or even give it a chance are the guys that used to come down to monger on vacation. They probably thought how great would it be to live like that 24-7.

Arrogant Americans not even trying to learn the language as if everyone should speak English...I would also bet they are wearing hawaiian shirts to go out to there usual bars.

My last trip I was having coffee at mercado central when two gringos walked up. They never spoke a word of Spanish to say hello or order from the girl and proceeded to bad mouth the USA and how they would never go back. They sounded like some angry old guys who weren't happy with anything. All I could think was "Enjoy your retirement, fellas!"

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I aim to misbehave. -Capt. Malcolm Reynolds

After several mongering trips, I decided to give living in San Jose a try. I’ve passed the one year mark now, and learning Spanish has definitely helped. The more I learn, the easier and better life becomes. Maybe it is my age, but I have had a lot of trouble learning. I’ve used Rosetta Stone and spent a few months in local Spanish schools, and tried various on-line programs.

spanishdict.com has a free spanish course that is good for beginners, they also have lots of practice exercises and a decent reference library. They also offer fluencia, a paid course that I think is very good. I think it is 9.95 per month if you sign up for a year, and pay in advance. To me it is much better than rosetta stone, because it teaches “why” and not just “how”. I made it through the first 3 (of 5) levels of rosetta, and was not impressed, of course everyone learns differently.

I’ve found the key to success is consistency, 20 or 30 minutes a day, 3 or 4 times a week, makes a big difference. It isn’t easy, at least not for me, but it is worth the effort.

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My English teacher said "I before E except after C". Then she told me to go to science class!