www.CostaRicaTicas.com

do I really need to know? I've seen several guys post that "passable spanish" is needed, but I only know a few sentences...I'm not fluent or even close. Will this be a problem for me? I'm hoping that at least some of the ticas speak some english.
I'm planning my first CR trip in January.
Niko

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Asian women are still women.

You have it just about right. Unfortunately, I have noticed the chicas who speak better English also tend to drive a much harder bargain price wise and, though I may be drawing an unfair stereotype, tend to be much more distant en la cama (in the sack) as well.

The best advice you will read here, in my opinion, would be to get hold of the Pimsleur Spanish course. There have been links posted where you can download it, you can usually find it at your local library, or you could even pay the exorbitant price asked at your local Barnes and Noble. IMHO, you'll have better luck all around, from bargaining with the hard driving business women at The Del Rey to dealing with the loco taxistas. And the impression you will make with most front desk personnel, storekeepers, waitresses, and other locals simply by making the effort will go a long way.

You will be fine in all the regular mongering places

You don't NEED any Spanish. NEED implies necesity. It is not necesary to know any and still have a great time. I've met guys who can't speak a word of Spanish (some weren't good in English either ) and they were having a blast.

You will have a better time if you do know a little though. It will also be easier for you to find a girl you like, if you can communicate with her. The more Spanish I have learned, the more fun I've had. At least learn greetings, numbers, days of the week, how to tell time, etc.... the basics.

Pick up one of those tourist books that teach you basic Spanish phrases in Latin America, or specifically Costa Rica.

I speak Spanish fluently. It helps. You can hear what they are saying Especially if they are talking about you with their girl friends.

It's not required but can be very helpful to know at least SOME Spanish. You can buy Pimsleur (30 30-minute lessons) for Pimsleur 1 or download them online for free. I posted links somewhere about Bit Torrent here:


http://www.costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=127633&highlight=#127633

with detailed instructions if you don't know what you're doing

You dont have to be fluent but you can learn enough to say Hi, Good night, How much does it cost? +

That way they know you know SOME Spanish and are least likely to try to take advantage of you but you don't NEED to know Spanish. It helps knowing some Spanish... but it's not necessary.




- B

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gone fishing

ok thanks all. I probably know enough to get by but will brush up on it anyway. I'm still shooting for January, though I'm still shopping for airfare. Gotta make a move in the next few days, I guess.
Niko

_________________
Asian women are still women.

Nail down your hotel - soon.
You'll have plenty of Spanish, but just like sex, more is better.

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Play Safe

This is straying from the original thread but, as long as your dates are flexible you might want to consider Super Bowl weekend. Though I have not been there for it, it is reputed to be a wild and crazy weekend around The Gulch, particularly at The Sportsman's Lodge . There are sure to be plenty of CRT guys around to guide you down the putas' Path of Ill Repute. Hotel space is liable to be at a premium however so, as just mentioned, book you room ASAP.

I have sat next to guys from China, Japan, Netherlands and many other places. Just like Orange said many could not even speak english or spanish but all were having fun. I did not speak any spanish on my first trip for a week and rode buses all over the place. Tourism is the 2nd biggest bussiness in CR. Lots of people in the tourist buss. speak some english.

But if you want to sing at the opera. You should speak some of that latin based stuff.

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Take a walk on the wild side.

My history:

* Visit to Mexico city when I was a K*D (5 yrs)
* Spanish speaking house keepers (not, I wasn't rich, they knew my mom and so it went she hired them for a little bit)
* Lived in texas 13 years (Houston)
* 2 years high school spanish
* Lived in Chicago (radio, TV)
* Practiced, practiced and practied some more

With that being said, you'd probably expect my Spanish to be near fluent, right? Wrong. Dead wrong. As a good friend (*cough* el Ciego *cough*) remarked, it's probably 20-30%.

Reason being? I know just enough verbs, adverbs and nouns to speak very rough and bad spanish. However, it works in a jam and then some.

After 3 visits to CR and probably 300 hours 'in country' practicing and practicing, I figure it's more like 30-40% now.

What really gets me are the verb conjugations. Suffice it to say, I just need to bear down and learn them. It's amazing how complicated Spanish can really be.

The long and the short of it is this: if you want to be a pure tourist in every sense, then just learn some quick conversational Spanish. However, if you want to enjoy your CR (and Latin countries besides CR) eexperience, please learn GOOD Spanish. I'm taking courses now to bring myself to complete fluency.

And the best part? I can understand 80-90%, while only being speaking-fluent about 40-50%. That REALLY helps and lets you feel better about your conversations. Saying "Si", "Claro", and other affirmative things in a conversation can also psychologically prime the speakers to relax. I've found that if you seem to acknowledge what people are saying, then it eases up and bit and they don't feel so pressured. Remember, manners play a big part in this and some people feel nervous and embarassed that YOU cannot understand THEM. Funny, I know, but true.

Also, learn some quick phrases that can prime people to know that you understand (better than you speak). That works too.

Suggestions:

* Pimsleur (ask me where to find)
* Rosetta Stone (ditto)
* Spanish TV / Cable / Satellite Channels
* Spanish Radio
* Practice with Friends
* Internet study (conjugations, learning nouns)
* Culture and history and manners (IMPORTANT!)
and lastly
* Take it easy -- it'll come easier when you're relaxed (I'm gonna get flamed for that last one)


Ciao

As has been said, you can have fun here with almost no Spanish. Having said that, you can do a little crash course and be way ahead of the game. I have done a few whirwind trips in Europe and found myself having to survive in Czech, Hungarian, Polish, German, and Slovak. I learned that there were a few phrases that I could memorize in an hour that really helped.

Where is...?
How much?
Thank you
Please
Could you write that down, please?
Do you speak English?
Does ANYBODY speak English?
I'm lost
I am staying at...

I would learn that much, or at least try, in each language. You can even write the translations down on flash cards, which helps if your accent is horrible. It also helps to carry a pad and pen to get directions or names of hotels, to show to cab drivers, and to get them to write down prices if you don't know how to say 'seventy-five' in Solvak, for example.

Good luck.

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"The only normal people are those you don't know very well." Joe Ancis

I can't be there super bowl weekend but I appreciate the tip...maybe next year.
I've been studying a little spanish and will be cramming for the next few weeks. My trip dates are jan 24-28.
Thanks again to all. This site rocks.
Niko

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Asian women are still women.

[quote="Niko"]do I really need to know? I've seen several guys post that "passable spanish" is needed, but I only know a few sentences...I'm not fluent or even close. Will this be a problem for me? I'm hoping that at least some of the ticas speak some english.
I'm planning my first CR trip in January.
Niko[/quote]

I visited in November, and speak basic Spanish. While I agree that you do not NEED to know the language, my knowledge of Spanish was invaluable. I met a girl at 2000 that I really liked, and she spoke NO, I mean NO, English. We hung out for a few days, and it was a good GFE. It would not have worked if I did not know Spanish. Also, my worst (minor) experience was with a Columbiana who spoke better English than most U.S. citizens.

Dennis