Thanks to the internet, learning a second language is easier than ever before
Peterborough Examiner – July 12, 2024 – by Drew Monkman
When we were in Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula in early March, my wife and I visited a Mayan animal rescue and environmental/cultural education centre called Nojoch Keej. The owner, Manuel Trinidad, rehabilitates injured wildlife and has started a captive breeding program. He also raises stingless, Melipona bees which have been part of Mayan culture for centuries. Their honey is revered for its medicinal properties. Melipona beekeeping, however, is not very profitable and is quickly disappearing in his community. Manuel is therefore on a mission to assure that younger generations of Mayans appreciate and preserve this important part of their heritage.
Manuel, however, speaks no English. Had I not been able to understand Spanish or been with a guide, learning about this man’s wonderful work would have been impossible. It was extremely satisfying to be able to understand everything Manuel was saying, ask questions and feel a real connection with him as a person.
As I tried to illustrate last week, being able to speak a second language such as Spanish can be one of the most rewarding aspects of travelling. It allows you to dive deeper into the culture and can open the door to rich experiences that might never have come your way if you only spoke English.
Speaking and understanding some Spanish means that you can ask someone to help you with directions, bus schedules, where to find items in stores, and where the bathroom is! Even with just some knowledge of written Spanish, you’ll be better able to read menus, signs, labels and brochures. By talking to locals, you’ll also get the inside scoop on restaurants, hidden gems to visit and, most importantly for me, nearby nature hotspots.
Other payoffs come your way without evening leaving home. You’ll be able to enjoy Spanish books, movies, television shows, YouTube videos and podcasts. If you need further encouragement, there are also studies suggesting that learning a new language is great for your brain and can improve cognitive skills in general. And now, thanks to the internet, there has never been an easier time to learn a second language.
It’s never too late
Adults CAN learn a new language and learn it well. Although you won’t reach the same level of fluency as a child who grew up bilingual, adults actually have some advantages over young learners. You know how to learn and you can figure out strategies that work for you.
It’s important, however, not to be a perfectionist and to be comfortable with making mistakes. Remember that the key is to be able to communicate, no matter how error-filled the communication might be. Think of learning Spanish as a hobby and try to enjoy every step of the process.
Having a positive mindset is key. Remember, too, that mix-ups and embarrassing mistakes are all part of the language journey. You just have to learn to laugh at yourself. Believe me; I’ve had lots of experience in this regard. While taking a taxi in Oaxaca, Mexico this winter, I wanted to tell the driver how surprised I was by the number of speed bumps (topes) on the roads. However, instead of saying “topes”, I said “topos” which means moles. Suffice it to say there was a lot of laughter at my expense.
If you’re motivated, learning the basics of Spanish is easily done on your own. The key is to immerse yourself in the language for at least 30 minutes every day. Because some knowledge of grammar is essential, begin by purchasing a workbook like “Complete Spanish Step-by-Step, Premium 2nd Edition”.
As you advance through the exercises, go to YouTube for videos that will help reinforce whatever grammar point or vocabulary you’re learning. There are videos covering every imaginable aspect of the language. A few of the best are Spring Spanish, Butterfly Spanish, The Spanish Dude and Señor Jordan.
Although I haven’t used it myself, a lot of people enjoy an app called Duolingo. It’s designed to make language-learning a game. The consensus seems to be that it provides a foundation to build on but needs to be supplemented with other activities.
Listen, listen, listen
Oral comprehension is by far the most important skill to practice and the most important for travel purposes. It’s also the most challenging. You therefore need to listen to as much Spanish as possible. Unless Spain is your destination of choice, prioritize listening to Latin American speakers.
Improving my understanding of spoken Spanish is why I’m a big fan of language podcasts. I’ve listened to them pretty much every day for years. Although the podcasts themselves are free, you may need to pay for a transcript. Following along with a transcript and looking up new words is something I highly recommend. I use online dictionaries such as WordReference and Glosbe as well as language translators like DeepL and Google Translate.
Some excellent podcasts for beginners are SpanishPod101, CoffeeBreak Spanish and Spring Spanish Podcast. As you advance in your understanding of the language, you’ll also enjoy the Duolingo Spanish Podcast, Notes in Spanish and Spanish Obsessed. My three favourites for intermediate to advanced learners are Learn Spanish and Go!, Españolistos and Radio Ambulante.
At some point early on in your language journey, I would also recommend hiring a tutor. It’s vitally important to have someone to speak with from the get-go, even if it’s simply to practice greetings and ordering food. You can find tutors at iTalki.com and at websites like Spanishlandschool.com. The New Canadians Centre might also be able to put you in touch with a local native speaker.
Guides: A language opportunity
Not surprisingly, some of my most memorable travel experiences have been at the intersection of Spanish and nature. First, I quickly learned that you’ll always see a lot more wildlife if you hire a guide. Not only are their birding and general nature skills nearly always top notch, but they usually speak excellent English – almost always without ever having left the country. Guides also know all of the hundreds of bird names in English which is quite a feat in itself. Imagine trying to memorize something like “scale-crested pygmy-tyrant”, a type of flycatcher, in your second language.
The impressive level of bilingualism of most guides also motivates me to improve my own Spanish, because even after all these years it’s far from perfect. I therefore insist on speaking as much Spanish as possible when birding with a guide. Not only are they happy to oblige, but you never know what else it might lead to. After one memorable outing in Panama where I saw my first resplendent quetzal, my guide, Jason Lara, invited me to have lunch with his family. It was an unforgettable cultural experience.
As with Canadian and British English, there are often differences in vocabulary from one Spanish-speaking country to the next. In Costa Rica, for example, most people use “pajaro” for any small bird and “ave” for large birds. When I asked Jason why he didn’t use pajaro, he told me that in Panama the word is an offensive term for someone who is homosexual. Live and learn.
Acquiring a new language is a never-ending journey. There’s always more to learn and relearn. With perseverance, anyone can acquire enough Spanish to add a rewarding new dimension to travel experiences.
Climate Chaos Update
This past June was the 13th consecutive month for which the global average temperature set a new record. June also marked the 12th straight month that the world was 1.5 C (2.7 F) warmer than pre-industrial times.
The cause, of course, is the ever-increasing level of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The reading for the week ending July 7 was 425.39 parts per million (ppm), compared to 422.52 ppm just one year ago. We can therefore expect more extreme weather like the current record-shattering heat wave across much of North America. Despite everything, Pierre Poilievre, who is likely to become prime minister, has nothing to propose in terms of solutions. His silence makes the situation even more frightening.
