Take Two Verbs and Call Me in the Morning!

The use of language is pure magic! As far as humans go, it’s one of our species’ most amazing evolutionary developments. No matter what country we live in or continent we call home, the use of language is one of the few things all of us share.

Around the world mankind uses literally thousands of languages and dialects. All of them express our deepest thoughts and most private feelings. Language also records our histories and tells our stories. It doesn’t matter whether we are using the written or spoken forms of our languages, we cherish them.

Language is powerful. It expresses our opinions, and some of us will argue to the bitter end just to have the last word of it. Everyone knows the last word is always the most important one. Nothing like a word can cut us to the quick or impassion us with emotions we didn’t know we could feel.

Language is personal, intimate, and much more. It defines us individually. Our use of spoken words is a huge part of our personal, national and cultural identity. Language is our soul, the very essence of our being. Our accent and use of words identifies us with certain geographic areas. It makes us part of a group.

Just as we have different fingerprints, our voice prints are different too. When one becomes accustomed to hearing the beautiful lilt of a sweet, southern drawl, there’s nothing else like it in the linguistic world. It’s simply the type of language and sound that makes us feel comfortable and “at home.”

The sounds of our own voices are ingrained in our every fiber of our unique beings. One of my adult students once said that when he began to speak Spanish it not only felt funny but it sounded funny too. He said it was like hearing a cartoon duck's voice coming out of his mouth instead of his own!

From the moment we wake up each morning until we fall asleep, most of us are talking. We simply don’t think about the amazing neurological process that is involved in making every sound we utter. We simply open our mouths, and words pour out.

For most of us, the ability to use the English language is one that we take for granted. But, have you ever thought about just how important language is to you?

What would you do if you woke up tomorrow in another country where your native language wasn’t the one you heard, understood or needed to speak?

Could you develop a communications strategy that would allow you to not only survive—but to thrive?

Today this complicated issue faces many of our citizens. Thousands are learning Spanish, while thousands more are struggling to learn English. Somewhere we will meet in the linguistic middle.

Learning another language in adulthood is outrageously difficult. All the linguistic cards are stacked against us. It takes dedication, desire, and practice; however, we are impatient and we want to acquire fluency with ease.

We want to learn to speak another language at the speed of a Porsche cruising down a superhighway. In actuality, the process of learning another language in adulthood is more like riding in a Model T bouncing down an unpaved road. Your journey probably won’t be smooth, and you can expect some starting and stopping along the way to achieving proficiency.

Many professionals I work with experience these painful bumps in the linguistic road. One of my great joys is hearing their success stories, and one of my greatest challenges is motivating them to continue their journey when they have a Spanish language fender-bender. So, I was surprised a few days ago when a doctor who had participated in one of my seminars called to invite me to lunch with his family.

“There’s something I want to share with you,” Dr. Taylor said.

Over lunch he explained his personal goals for learning Spanish to me. “Reaching out to my Spanish-speaking patients so they understand their illnesses and their treatments is constantly on my mind,” he said. Then he continued , “I want to find out as much as I can about their lives and their families. This helps me treat the whole person-- not just the parts.”

At the end of our lunch together Dr. Taylor told me that he had come to realize something about the art of practicing medicine and the art of communication.

“No matter how hard we try,” he said, “both are imperfect sciences.” “You told us it was more important to communicate and not to worry about our grammar mistakes. So, I don’t worry about it now. I just get out there and do my best. My patients seem to appreciate that.”

“Well, doc,” I said, “I couldn’t be happier to hear of your progress. “It looks like you are going to make a full linguistic recovery. Take two verbs and call me in the morning”!

Ten Tips for Learning to Speak Spanish

Many Americans are learning Spanish to meet both business and personal goals. Bravo!

In business, speaking Spanish will help you attract loyal customers and a diverse employee base. By speaking Spanish in your personal life, you will meet fascinating people from around the world-- and you'll build valuable, long-lasting friendships.

For adults learning foreign languages can be challenging. You are never too old to acquire a second language! In fact, it's good exercise for your brain.

Prepare to be dedicated in the pursuit of your linguistic goal. After all, you didn't learn English over night. We learn our native language through years of trial and error. Nevertheless, you can achieve good results quickly by using these ten practical tips.

1. Use the words you know. Everyone who speaks English knows more Spanish than they realize. When you are beginning to speak Spanish, it could be difficult for you to compose and say an entire sentence. That doesn't matter. Don't wait until you have an entire "perfect" sentence. Say the words in Spanish that you know.

When you observe native speakers, you will hear them converse in English, Spanish and even Spanglish. With language it's never all or nothing! Say what you know-- even if it's only one word.

2. Set yourself up for success. Start with simple greetings like "hola" or "buenas tardes." If you say please or thank you to a Spanish-speaking customer or employee and you know the words "gracias" and "por favor," use them after you say the words in English.

Setting a positive bilingual tone for communication is always a good idea. It lets the person you are speaking with know that it's fine with you to use both English and Spanish.

3. Expect to make mistakes. If you had a foreign language class in high school or college, perhaps you were corrected so many times that you feel defeated before you start. We all make mistakes when we speak English, so making mistakes in speaking Spanish is normal and natural. Everyone makes mistakes-- even native speakers.

4. Expect to feel awkward. Speaking Spanish will feel physically different to you. You might even feel like a cartoon character has taken over your speech! Speaking Spanish requires more use of your facial muscles- and then there are those "trilled" r's. Just do your best. Your accent will develop over time. Not having the best accent will only stand in the way of your ability to communicate if you let it.

5. Being shy is normal. It takes a strong, positive personality to take the risk of speaking another language. We are all inhibited to one degree or another. We're terrified that people will laugh at us-- or even yell at us out of impatience. Smile and dive in! It's normal to feel inhibited when you begin to speak another language.

6. Ask "yes-no" questions. As you begin to increase your skills, when asking questions pose them so that the answer will be yes or no. This will give you a head-start on understanding the rest of the answer.

7. Practice each day. Practicing just five minutes each day will make a "grande" difference in your ability. A few minutes here and a few minutes there really add up over time. When you do practice, put yourself in situations where you can use the language. Attempts at memorization are usually very ineffective.

Write the days of the week on your calendar at the office and look at them each day.

Put a sticky note on your phone and write the numbers in Spanish from zero to ten on it. Each time you dial a number, say it in Spanish.

Make index cards of the Spanish words you want to learn first, and carry them in your purse or car. Exercises like these make your practice habits practical and help you build them into your normal routine.

8. Learn practical phrases. Think critically about what you do each day and what you need to learn to function more efficiently at your workplace. Learn those words and phrases first. By learning words that are practical, you will use them more often. The more you use the words, the faster you will remember them--and add to them.

9. Don't worry about grammar. Remember that no one speaks perfectly. Always remember that communication is always more important than conjugation! If the individual you are speaking with understands you, that's all that really matters. It doesn't have to be pretty and perfect to be effective.

10. Go slowly. Learning Spanish is like eating your favorite meal. Savor the experience. Learn Spanish one word or phrase at a time. Chew it thoroughally before going on to more material. If you learn slowly, you will remember what you have learned longer. And, that's the whole point!

¡Viva Comunicación!

For the past two days I have been working on the road. When I travel, I meet the most interesting people.

The diversity and talent our country holds never fails to amaze me! This trip brought me in touch with three interesting gentlemen from Mexico, another from Algeria, and yet another from Nigeria. Talk about spanning the globe! All of them were in the same room. What an opportunity!

Each in his own way brought a ray of sunshine into a long trip. Why? Because we were able to communicate on a basic human level.

Of course the three señores from Mexico spoke Spanish, and I will take any opportunity to practice. I enjoy finding out where the people I meet are from. ¿De dónde es usted? is one of my favorite questions.

These three came from three distinctly different parts of Mexico, and their English language skills were just as varied as the geography from which they hailed. Julio, the banquet manager, was completely bilingual and had entered the US at thirteen. The other two men spoke some English but were still more comfortable speaking Spanish with me.

Seeing the joy on their faces when I spoke to them in Spanish is something that I won't forget.

Let's not forget the other two fascinating gentlemen I encountered. French is their native language. I could tell that it had been a long, long time since anyone had chatted with them in it. Both men lit up with smiles that would rival a clear morning sunrise.

Taking the time to smile and using a few basic phrases in their native languages made a positive difference to these men. It was obvious, touching and unforgetable. One even said that it was good to hear his native language again.

There's no replacement for the human touch! There's no replacement for language!

¡Viva Comunicación! Vive la Communication!

Who have you touched today with a spoken word and a smile?

Hola Day

What is Hola Day?

Hola Day is our way of celebrating Hispanic Heritage month which is celebrated annually in the US from September 15th to October 15th . Hola Day is will be held annually on October 1st.

The purpose of Hola Day is to celebrate the use of and promote acceptance for the Spanish language in America.

So, on October 1st say ANY Spanish phrase you know to any one.

The person you speak to does not have to speak Spanish for you to make Hola Day a "grande" success.

Hola (OH-la) is a great "greeting" word. It communicates friendliness and approachability. Isn't that something we could use more of in America?

Why wait until October 1st? Start using "hola" today!