Tom,
When I say "speak Spanish," that obviously includes comprehension.
Perhaps I should have said it as "understands Spanish," but I think the colloquial meaning should be clear.... how well do you communicate in Spanish.
Another thing that affects my Spanish, and I expect would be true with others, is the matter of context and contextual cues. For instance, face-to-face communication is far easier for most of us than talking on the telephone. Why? Because the telephone conversation lacks the visual cues found in face-to-face conversation. Also, if you're discussing about which you have knowledge (i.e. sex, food) it is often easier to comprehend what is being said than if you're discussing about which you have little knowledge.
Actually, when I took the State Department/Foreign Service Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) - <insert joke here> I tested at the lowest sub-level of the highest class i.e. Superior Lvl. 1. This would in fact classify me under #4 (fluent non-native), but I'm tentative about my Spanish sometimes.
Cdrtom wrote:
Guys,
It's been my experience that spanish proficiency is a two pronged issue. I have enough grammar and vocabulary to make myself understood in most instances; the real challenge is comprehension of native speakers' speech.
I studied German for 2 years, and can tell you that, contrary to popular belief, Spanish is more difficult than German (IMHO).
Latinos speak faster than Europeans, and have more of a tendency to slur the ends of their words. If I watch a German war movie, then a Spanish telenova, I can comprehend the German better, not because I know more German, but because the Germans articulate their words better.
I use Rosetta Stone, and am considering buying Rocket Spanish; and try to devote 4 or 5 hours a week to improvingmy Spanish, but I am convinced that the only way most people will truly become fluent is to speak the language regularly with a fluent Spanish speaker.
Just my 2 Cents worth.
CdrTom
My 18 yr. old daughter speaks, reads & writes: Spanish English, French,Japanese, reads & writes Kongi & is right now learning German on her own. She says Spanish is the hardest one of them all, due to multiple tenses & gender words.
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