After 6 weeks, I am beginning to feel Ashamed (San Marcos: fit in, buy)

[Beware_of_Dog]

I moved from Texas to San Marcos 6 weeks ago now, and find that I am embarrassed that I don't speak the local language. Nearly every single store, restaurant, etc seems to have nothing but Hispanics working there. (I really wonder where the "white" kids work?) Unless they are speaking to me, it seems everyone around here speaks Spanish. I actually feel like I am being rude by not speaking their language. I know some of you are thinking that we are in America and they should be speaking English, not me Spanish. But politically right or wrong is not my point. I just feel ashamed that I never wanted to take the time to learn Spanish. I would truly like to speak to them and understand what they are saying when I seem to interrupt them from their Spanish conversations.

Seriously, has anyone here every bought or tried one of those CDs you buy to learn a language? I am sure it wouldn't cost much to begin learning. Are they worth it? Anyone have any suggestions as to any of them being the best, least costly, or whatever? Or is there an easier cheaper way to do it?

I am the minority here where I live now and simply want to fit in better, feel more accepted, and enjoy my daily experiences with the locals more.

Any suggestions would be appreciated without any criticism or debate as to what is right, wrong, or politically correct.

[Davachka]

Just commenting on the lessons aspect:
my daughter takes language lessons via skype from tutors, its helped her quite a bit, its costlier than CDs, but its private one on one lessons for about $15-20 hour, you could always supplement that with cds. Good luck, regardless of the reasons why, it is always beneficial to learn more languages.

[Hwy phantom]

Originally Posted by Beware_of_Dog

I moved from Texas to San Marcos 6 weeks ago now, and find that I am embarrassed that I don't speak the local language. Nearly every single store, restaurant, etc seems to have nothing but Hispanics working there. (I really wonder where the "white" kids work?) Unless they are speaking to me, it seems everyone around here speaks Spanish. I actually feel like I am being rude by not speaking their language. I know some of you are thinking that we are in America and they should be speaking English, not me Spanish. But politically right or wrong is not my point. I just feel ashamed that I never wanted to take the time to learn Spanish. I would truly like to speak to them and understand what they are saying when I seem to interrupt them from their Spanish conversations.

Seriously, has anyone here every bought or tried one of those CDs you buy to learn a language? I am sure it wouldn't cost much to begin learning. Are they worth it? Anyone have any suggestions as to any of them being the best, least costly, or whatever? Or is there an easier cheaper way to do it?

I am the minority here where I live now and simply want to fit in better, feel more accepted, and enjoy my daily experiences with the locals more.

Any suggestions would be appreciated without any criticism or debate as to what is right, wrong, or politically correct.

Ashamed? You don't want to inconvenience them with your English? Good god!

[Clevelandgal]

in addition to the above, I have had people recommend watching the Spanish speaking soap operas. I too would love to learn more Spanish, but realistically I do not think I could learn it to the level I need to in order to be considered a bilingual professional-the jobs I see want someone who speaks fluently with a college level Spanish vocabulary. I took 3 years in HS and 2 semesters in college, and I still have a hard time! I try and practice with Spanish speaking folks at stores, but it must be bad because they speak back to me in English.

[Snort]

If you want to learn Spanish, I think this is a good program on PBS that you can watch via streaming video for free: Resource: Destinos: An Introduction to Spanish
Find a good bilingual dictionary with phrase entries, leave your radio on Spanish stations, and use English to French, Italian, German & Spanish Dictionary - WordReference.com if you have any questions.
Do all that and you'll be way ahead of the game.

[Luke9686]

Has nothing to do with politics. They are actually doing themselves a disservice by not learning to speak English fluently. It's the language of the world, and those who don't know it will be left in the dust.

I recently read that by the year 2020 China will be the largest English speaking nation on earth. There has to be a reason a billion and a half people feel it's an important language to learn.

[shmoov_groovzsd]

Rosetta Stone.

Just keep going to the same places that you feel they are speaking Spanish exclusively. You are still fairly new in the area and AFAIK, some of the places you may be going might have regulars. Even learning little by little with common courtesy "nuggets" in said language will go a long way.

After all you are a local now, let it be known

[BVitamin]

Language Learning with Livemocha | Learn a Language Online - Free!

You'll have to sign up, it's free. Basically a sight for people around the world learning new languages to connect to each other. Lessons are offered and are peer reviewed. I'll just reiterate, IT'S FREE!

[1AngryTaxPayer]

Originally Posted by Beware_of_Dog

I moved from Texas to San Marcos 6 weeks ago now, and find that I am embarrassed that I don't speak the local language. Nearly every single store, restaurant, etc seems to have nothing but Hispanics working there. (I really wonder where the "white" kids work?) Unless they are speaking to me, it seems everyone around here speaks Spanish. I actually feel like I am being rude by not speaking their language. I know some of you are thinking that we are in America and they should be speaking English, not me Spanish. But politically right or wrong is not my point. I just feel ashamed that I never wanted to take the time to learn Spanish. I would truly like to speak to them and understand what they are saying when I seem to interrupt them from their Spanish conversations.

Seriously, has anyone here every bought or tried one of those CDs you buy to learn a language? I am sure it wouldn't cost much to begin learning. Are they worth it? Anyone have any suggestions as to any of them being the best, least costly, or whatever? Or is there an easier cheaper way to do it?

I am the minority here where I live now and simply want to fit in better, feel more accepted, and enjoy my daily experiences with the locals more.

Any suggestions would be appreciated without any criticism or debate as to what is right, wrong, or politically correct.

Ashamed? Really? I want to learn it to but I sure as #@$ am not ashamed that they don't know English. BTW to be here legally in almost all circumstances knowing English is a prereq. I hope you aren't hiring them as then you to are part of the problem.

[seain dublin]

If anyone should be "ashamed" it is people who don't learn the native of language of the country they're in.

OP you didn't move from Texas to France did you?