Episode Summary
In this episode of The Expat Files, Johnny Mueller reflects on his experience living in Latin America and the challenges of learning Spanish. He discusses his initial assumption that understanding Spanish lyrics would be one of the first things he'd achieve as he learned the language, but he admits that after over 30 years, he still struggles to understand most of what people are singing about. He humorously highlights the repetitive and simplistic nature of many Spanish lyrics, comparing them to something as trivial as popping a pimple. He also shares common phrases and interactions he's encountered while living in the region, including how to introduce himself, ask for directions, and engage in basic conversations.
The segment features a conversation between Johnny Mueller and a Spanish language learner, focusing on practicing Spanish vocabulary and pronunciation. Johnny guides the learner through a structured exercise, starting with identifying locations like the Bolíbar Hotel and the Columbus Restaurant, followed by reading and repeating Spanish words and phrases. The learner engages in a dialogue with a Spanish-speaking character, practicing questions and answers about locations and identities. Johnny then moves on to reviewing vocabulary and pronunciation, emphasizing the correct articulation of words like 'Año' and 'La tarde.' The segment concludes with Johnny summarizing the exercise and encouraging the learner to repeat the phrases for better retention.
This segment of the podcast features Johnny Mueller teaching Spanish phrases and engaging in a conversation with a Spanish speaker. The interaction begins with Johnny asking about the speaker's origin, and the speaker responds that they are from Chile. They exchange greetings and basic phrases, such as 'good evening' and 'glad to meet you.' Johnny then guides the listener through common Spanish phrases, including how to ask for directions and how to say 'please.' The segment includes repetition of phrases for language learning, such as 'sábé' (know) and 'por favor' (please).
Episode Notes
Johnny Mueller dives into his 30-year expat experience in Latin America, discussing the challenges of learning Spanish, the simplicity of Spanish lyrics, and common phrases used in daily interactions. He also guides a Spanish learner through vocabulary and pronunciation exercises, emphasizing the importance of repetition and practice.
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Topics
Learning Spanish in Latin America, Understanding Spanish lyrics, Common Spanish phrases and interactions, Expat experiences in Latin America, Language learning, Spanish vocabulary, Pronunciation practice, Dialogue exercises, Language instruction, Spanish phrases, Conversation practice, Cultural exchange
Chapters
00:00:00 Opening 00:01:15 The Illusion of Understanding Spanish Lyrics 00:01:38 The Reality of Still Not Understanding Spanish Lyrics 00:02:11 Identifying as North American in Spanish 00:09:35 Introduction to the conversation 00:09:52 Clarifying identity and location 00:10:09 Asking for directions 00:10:53 Asking about the restaurant 00:11:27 Introducing oneself 00:11:42 Greeting and introduction 00:11:56 Asking about the other person 00:12:21 Clarifying identity 00:18:51 Introduction to the Conversation and Origin Discussion 00:20:59 Asking for Directions and Language Practice 00:22:48 Teaching 'Please' and Language Repetition
Transcript
Automatically transcribed from the original recording; names and wording may contain errors.
[00:00] South of the border down Mexico way That's where I fell in love when the stars above came up to play and now as I wonder Hello there all you ex-pad wannabes. I'm Johnny Mueller and you're listening to the expat files living in Latin America The show that tells you just what it's like to live work play and or retire down here in Latin America It's a mix of the good the bad the ugly and the great and it's all right here. So let's get started You know when I first got down here and started learning Spanish I'd made the really logical assumption that sooner or later When my Spanish finally kicked in decently enough There'd be a point a kind of epiphany moment what I'd be able to understand
[00:49] What people were singing about in all the Spanish language songs. I mean music is everywhere here in Latin America in buses cars commercial centers offices in practically every house you walk into as well Not to mention lyrics and Spanish songs are so repetitive at the fourth grade level at best I mean look I've read Spanish lyrics on paper just to see what they're all about They're about as complicated and meaningful as popping a pimple So I thought me personally understanding song lyrics in Spanish would be about the first thing that would kick in as I was learning My Spanish well for years. I was under the impression that sooner or later I'd understand what all these guys and gals were singing about I was patient I waited and waited I wanted to know what the hell they were talking about in that Macarena song
[01:35] Well guess what after 30-something years? I'm still waiting for that magic moment because I still don't understand 80 even 90 Gracias señora Ask the man if he is North American Is this the North Americano, señor? Is this the North Americano, señor? Yes, I am North American Si, soy North Americano Soy North Americano
[02:27] Si, soy North Americano Where is the restaurant Columbus? Don de esta el restaurante cologne Don de esta el restaurante cologne It's over there Esta ayi Ask are you from Chicago? Es usted de Chicago? No, I'm from Los Angeles No, soy de Los Angeles
[03:21] Where's the hotel? Don de esta el hotel The Columbus Hotel El hotel cologne Is the hotel here? Esta el hotel aqui Esta el hotel aqui And the restaurant? Y el restaurante Y el restaurante Is it here? Esta aqui
[04:10] No, it's not here No, no esta aqui It's over there Esta ayi Where are you from? Don de esta el restaurante Don de esta el restaurante I'm from Mexico Soy de Mexico I'm Mexican Try to say it as she would
[04:59] Soy mexicana Mexicana Soy mexicana And you? Y usted How does a man say, I'm Mexican? Soy mexicana Soy mexicana How does he say, I'm not Mexican? No soy mexicana No soy mexicana I'm North American
[05:50] Soy North Americano Good afternoon Buenas tardes Glad to meet you, sir Encantada, señor I'm Mrs. Columbus Soy la señora colon Soy la señora colon I'm Mexican Soy mexicana How does he respond to her introduction?
[06:43] Encantado, señora I'm Mr. Washington Soy el señor Washington Soy el señor Washington Goodbye, ma'am Adió, señora Do you remember how to say, excuse me, miss? Perdón, señorita Good afternoon, sir Buenas tardes, señor
[07:31] How are you? Como estás usted? Very well, thanks Muy bien gracias And you? Y usted Not very well No muy bien I don't understand Spanish No entiendo, Castellano You speak very well
[08:22] Abla muy bien Abla Usted habla muy bien I don't speak No hablo I don't understand No entiendo I don't speak and I don't understand No hablo y no entiendo No hablo y no entiendo
[09:12] Yes, yes, miss Si, si, señorita Where are you from? De donde es usted De donde Usted es de donde I'm from Ecuador Soy de Ecuador Ecuador I'm not North American No soy Norte Americano
[10:04] No soy Norte Americano Miss, where is the Bolíbar Hotel? Señorita, donde esta el otel Bolíbar El otel Bolíbar Señorita, donde esta el otel Bolíbar It's down there, sir Esta ayi señor Ayi esta
[10:53] And the restaurant Columbus? Y el restaurante colon Y el restaurante colon It's here Esta aquí Thank you, miss Gracias, señorita Say, I'm Mr. Jones Soy el señor Jones Soy el señor Jones
[11:42] Glad to meet you, sir En cantada, señor En cantada And you? Y usted Are you Miss Gomez? Es usted la señorita Gomez Es usted la señorita Gomez No, sir No, señor I'm not Miss Gomez
[12:36] No soy la señorita Gomez I'm Mrs. Gomez Soy la señora Gomez Goodbye, sir Adios, señor Goodbye, Mrs. Gomez Adios, señorita Gomez Now take your reading booklet. Open it to the page for Unit 4. Look at the first word and read it aloud. Año
[13:26] Año Read Number 2. Lasotas Notice how those two words are pronounced together without stopping between them. Repeat. Lasotas Try to do the same with Number 3. Elaño Elaño Repeat Number 4. La tarde Repeat again, watching the pronunciation of R and of the soft D. La tarde La tarde
[14:14] Read Number 5. Ellos Six Bueno Seven Buenas noches Buenas noches Eight Grande Nine Rancho Ten El Rancho Grande El Rancho Grande This is the end of Unit 4.
[15:04] This is Unit 5 of Pimsler's Speak and Read Essentials Spanish 1. Escuche esta conversación Listen to this conversation. Escuche esta conversación Perdón señora Sí, señor Donde esta el otel colon El otel colon esta quí, señor Y el restaurante bolívar, donde esta Aí Esta aí Donde Aí, señor Aí Aí, entiendo, gracias señora Adios, señor Listen again. Escuche otra vez Listen again. Perdón señora Sí, señor Donde esta el otel colon
[15:50] El otel colon esta quí, señor Y el restaurante bolívar, donde esta Aí Esta aí Donde Aí, señor Aí Aí, entiendo, gracias señora Adios, señor Do you remember how to say the Hotel Columbus? El otel colon Ask, where is it? Donde esta, esta Itís here. Esta aí Say those two words separately.
[16:43] Esta aí Esta aí Again say, itís here. Esta aí Esta aí Very good. Muy bien And the restaurant? Y el restaurante Itís over there. Esta aí Itís not here.
[17:34] No está aquí She asks, where are you from? Donde esta esta Donde esta esta He answers, Iím North American. Soy North Americano Soy North Americano Ah, ustedes North Americano Yes, Iím from the States. Si, soy de Norte America De Norte America
[18:27] Soy de Norte America And you? Usted Are you from here? Es usted de aquí No sir, Iím from Chile. No señor, soy de Chile Chile De Chile Soy de Chile
[19:16] Ah, youíre from Chile. Ah, ustedes de Chile Ah, ustedes de Chile He says, good evening. Buenas noches She answers, glad to meet you. Encantada And how does he reply? Encantado Ask, how are you? Como esta usted
[20:05] Very well, thanks. Muy bien, gracias You want to ask, do you know where the hotel is? Listen and repeat, do you know? Sábé, sábé usted, sábé, sábé usted, sábé Ask, do you know? Sábé, sábé, sábé usted
[20:54] Where is the hotel? Donde esta el hotel Do you know where the hotel is? Sábé donde esta el hotel Sábé usted donde esta el hotel I donít know. Listen and repeat. Nó sé Sé Nó sé Sé, I donít know Nó sé
[21:44] Ask, do you know? Sábé, sábé usted, sábé Do you know where the hotel is? Sábé donde esta el hotel Sábé usted donde esta el hotel Answer, yes, I know. Sí, sé Sé I know where it is. Sé donde esta
[22:35] Sé donde esta Itís over there. Esta yi Hereís how to say please in Spanish. Listen and repeat. Por favor favor favor por por favor Say, please. Por favor Please, do you know?
[23:24] Por favor, sábé