What's Happening in Austin

[Gemme]

Originally Posted by lipstixgal

Do you need Spanish in Austin?? I think I need to take a Spanish course because we have a lot of hispanics here in NJ!! But congrats on the job!! SEems like economy is coming back around I'm glad..I hope you like it.

You should at least understand, if not speak, Spanish in Texas. It's that next door to Mexico thing and makes communication so much easier.

[Diva]

I speak/understand minimal Spanish and seem to do ok....thankfully, at the hospital, we have translators. And my yardguys teach me all the naughty words I need to lead a fulfilling life.

[Gemme]

It depends on where you are and what you're doing I suppose. Once I'm fully trained, I'll be working by myself and half our clientele speaks Spanish, so it behooves me to learn it, otherwise it could lead to misunderstandings or lost business.

[Diva]

Originally Posted by Gemme

It depends on where you are and what you're doing I suppose. Once I'm fully trained, I'll be working by myself and half our clientele speaks Spanish, so it behooves me to learn it, otherwise it could lead to misunderstandings or lost business.

I'm not saying it's a bad thing to know Spanish....for the very reasons you stated.

But knowing Spanish is not a prerequiste for living in Texas, that's all.

[Gemme]

Originally Posted by Diva

I'm not saying it's a bad thing to know Spanish....for the very reasons you stated.

But knowing Spanish is not a prerequiste for living in Texas, that's all.

Thank goodness, or I wouldn't be here!

[Diva]

Originally Posted by Gemme

Thank goodness, or I wouldn't be here!

Me, neither! lol

[little man]

Originally Posted by Gemme

It depends on where you are and what you're doing I suppose. Once I'm fully trained, I'll be working by myself and half our clientele speaks Spanish, so it behooves me to learn it, otherwise it could lead to misunderstandings or lost business.

a guy i used to work with recommended using rosetta stone language courses. he said it was very easy and didn't take long at all. i believe he used it for russian, chinese and aramaic languages.

[lipstixgal]

Originally Posted by little man

a guy i used to work with recommended using rosetta stone language courses. he said it was very easy and didn't take long at all. i believe he used it for russian, chinese and aramaic languages.

Really? You need spanish in Northern NJ too we have a large hispanic population..

[little man]

Originally Posted by lipstixgal

Really? You need spanish in Northern NJ too we have a large hispanic population..

i think spanish should be required as a second language here. it will give a good base for italian and french, as well.

i found a large hispanic population when i lived out east, in the mid-atlantic and even in the midwest (which also has a sizable bosnian population).

it seems to me that the folks who immigrate to the US are one up on the rest of us here....they speak two languages (at minimum) to our one. i can't understand why we (americans) are so arrogant to say "you're in america, you need to speak english". i have to wonder how many of those folks travel abroad and manage to master the native language of the places they visit.

good on you, gemme, for recognizing the need for more than standard american to sharpen your work skills...not to mention broadening your entire world.

[Gemme]

Originally Posted by little man

a guy i used to work with recommended using rosetta stone language courses. he said it was very easy and didn't take long at all. i believe he used it for russian, chinese and aramaic languages.

I plan to, if I can find it on CL or secondhand. It's mondo expensive brand new.