Etiquette-Please explain!
So one thing I've noticed as a white girl approaching people when attempting to practice my spanish outside of my work place is either the person I'm speaking to will be impressed that I've taken the time to learn spanish so I can speak to them in their own language or I get cut off really abruptly and told, "Mam, I'm not ignorant, I can speak English too." I always apologize in this situation. And say something like. "I didn't mean to offend you. I am learning spanish and I like to practice it." But since I'm already a really shy and non-confrontational people-pleaser type of person, I turn really red. It is really kind of a set-back for me because it's really discouraging me to interact with others. And I do understand that not every hispanic person speaks spanish so I always make sure that whoever I am approaching is speaking to someone in spanish first to avoid the afore-mentioned situation as much as possible. (I'm really sensitive) I really just kind of want to know why exactly this is offensive to some people if spanish is their first and preferred language? I don't mind if a hispanic person speaks to me in English??? Or is greeting someone in spanish improper etiquette if you don't know them?
25 Answers
Your asking important questions, and tapping into cultural stereotypes about what it means within the Hispanic community to be able to, or not be able to speak English. Also, you are rubbing up against, I suspect, fears and concerns about what Hispanics might think that you think about them if you just start in and talk Spanish with them. You may not be assuming that they can only speak Spanish, but they may be concerned you are, and are (understandably) responding defensively, no? It makes sense, that they may think that, if you haven't checked with them to see if they want to speak Spanish with you... and just start in with Spanish. Have you tried asking people before you start speaking to them in Spanish, if it is OK for you to do so? (And doing this in English first?) I remember being annoyed when I lived in Japan, when I was accosted by others who just wanted to speak to me to practice their English. It can be quite annoying and trying.. not to mention that I found it was incredibly inconsiderate of my time. (And yeah, I speak Japanese.) Good luck.
Well, I don't know but it is always appreciated in your own country if people at least try to speak your language.
That is in Spain you should at least try to speak Spanish and not, like many foreigners, expect everybody to speak English.
On the other hand, I don't think I would feel comfortable if an English person addressed me in Spanish in the States, as this would imply that they might think I do not speak English.
so my advice: Why don't you just say something in Spanish, but right away after that, say:
Si no le importa, hablo un poco de español y me gustaría practicarlo un poco, muchas gracias: 
With a big smile on your face
Nobody would the feel embarrassed or feel belittled.
One further thought Loren: some Hispanic people fear prejudice from the community in which they live and may either deny their roots and cultural heritage by refusing to speak the language of their country of birth and seek to integrate completely into the local community or alternatively may arrive in large numbers with others from the same culture and create their own communities separate from the rest of society and make little effeort to integrate This reminds me of the behaviour of British expats in other countries.
Such is human nature that people usually do not like standing out from the crowd and unless they have a large vibrant community of others from the same background from whom they can draw support they will probably hide their cultural identity to avoid persecution.
It is very sad that people feel the need to do so and a stinging rebuke to many so= called civilised countries like USA and England that people can be bullied and teased for simply being different; speaking dressing, differently and having different customs.
I would find someone who´s learning English and set up an exchange. That way you would both get something out of it, and other person won´t feel like you are using him
This is some good information. I am a long way from walking up to someone and talking to them in Spanish, but I will remember to ask first when I get to that point.
Another thing to consider is that some people are just bad people to start with and they don't like it when their abilities are questioned - in Spanish or English. I know someone who considers himself to be an expert on cars and if you question him about something he has said about cars then he will get all offended and fly off the handle.
Hola, lorenaventur,
I sympathize as I have come up against similar responses. My attempts at communicating in Spanish have been ignored while they respond to me in English, or looked at with contempt occasionally (maybe because I pronounced something wrong), but as you, I have found some were very nice about it, and encouraging.
Thinking a lot about it I have come to this conclusion:
There is a strong undercurrent of resentment in this country by americans who perceive many hispanics do not want to integrate into american culture and prefer to communicate only in Spanish.
So when they respond as if offended, well, it's complicated, but they have really achieved to become bilingual, to integrate and become upwardly mobile, and are proud of it, so you are "negating" their bilingual ability.
I don't believe it is anything personal.
I am very interested to know what the Spanish speaking natives think!
I'll risk an observation that may not be welcomed by all.
Many hispanics in the United States are quite aware their ethnicity is constantly being profiled. (But so is mine and so is yours). However, as caucasions, we may not believe or perceive that we are being disparaged on the basis of being profiled as caucasions. Hispanics - especially those in the United States - are aware and resent that there are many caucasions who have stereotyped them as people of lesser value if not cultural or political enemies. Therefore, some respond negatively to uninvited social contacts which they consciously or unconconsciously recognize as having begun with their being racially profiled. (Reactions such as this, although natural, tend to exacerbate the problem of civil relationships.) It probably is not the profiling itself which causes the negative reaction, but their own stereotyped judgment of what the other person "probably" thinks "about" them. That is the real reason for the negative reaction.
Just to switch perspectives, I'll admit that most frequently, when an obvious English Speaker approaches me struggling to say or ask something in Spanish, my reaction is to simply reply in English.
IF the person tells me that they want to practice their Spanish, I'll let them try, and I'll reply in Spanish to them. But to be truthful, I am not always terribly patient or graceful about it. If the English speaker has to struggle very hard to get a sentence together, asks me time after time to repeat what I just said slowly, and it looks like it's going to be half an hour just get a simple concept across, I usually simply say: Look, I can see that you're trying very hard, and I'm glad that you're practicing so much, but what say we just speak in English for a bit, and get this over with?"
On the other hand, if the other person's level is good enough for a reasonably fluid conversation, I may ask them if they prefer to speak in English or Spanish, and go along with their preference.
If you approach someone who is already speaking (to another person) in Spanish, you are probably interrupting. Nowadays, people are increasingly cautious about a total stranger who begins speaking to them for no reason. An opportunity to practice Spanish seems like a good reason to you but may not to a stranger. There are some topics that will seem more legitimate than others to strangers. If you are at a bus stop, there are natural, obvious questions about the bus schedule. You might ask directions. In the grocery store you could comment on the produce or the prices or where to find something. You might begin with a greeting to the checkout clerk.
@ Gekko and LuisCacheux: Well, I must say that I cannot agree with what you have just offered. I think that each of foreign language students has to go through the difficult phase of "slow communication" with native speakers. One of the reasons for that is to make them see that good command of a second language is necessary to communicate. Once they realize it, they will be possibly encouraged to put more effort in their studies. In addition, as a student of foreign languages, I have to admit that once you end up abroad and see that your native interlocutor gets you and enjoys the conversation, it is an absolutely thrilling experience to you! Third, for my money, I always try to follow the rule: once you land abroad and you know the local language, even if it were the absolute basics, you should try to show that you "respect" the local culture. At least, this has been my impression in each country I have visited so far. In my case this rule applies, even if you only know a "thanks" in Hebrew when visiting Israel.
I was in Mexico last year, with my Spanish on the upper-elementary or so level. I was talking to the natives whenever I had a chance to. We talked, even though it sometimes turned into a sharp conversation. I couldn't imagine how I would have felt if some of them had answered me in English straight away. In such case I would have preferred them to walk away from me or answer in Spanish "Callate la boca, ve a aprender mas espa?ol y despues platicaremos." (Well, maybe I am exaggerating in the last sentence but this is basically what I wanted to put across 
)
Hey Lorena, do you not have any friends or associates that are fluent in Spanish? If you ask me, they would be your best source for editing, correcting and improving your ability to speak this wonderful language... of course, you always have this medium, but it's not as personal or convenient as one-on-one discussions with natives... from my own perspective, I have a good friend that I can text on a moment's notice if I have a quick question regarding all things Spanish (plus his wife teaches ESL!)... my experiences have always been that most folks from México are actually tickled (in a good way) when they find out you are learning their language and will graciously hang on your every word, offering their help wherever needed... of course, I'm not your typical "white girl" (heck, I'm not even female!) so that might have something to do with it, but I would encourage you to keep 'breaking the ice' as is judiciously possible, seek out some fluent speakers if any are available and I understand you can also "chat" on here live with individuals (don't quote me as I have never looked into it)... just as an aside, a good friend from Guanajuato (born & raised) once told me that his own experiences have been, upon encountering persons just learning or practicing Spanish, to reach out and be as helpful as possible to them, using his limited English along with their burgeoning Spanish, to make the most of their visit to his area....
I regularly visit a downtown grocery store where there are Koreans, Chinese, and Mexican workers. I've heard so many stories of Spanish-speaking immigrants getting defensive about Americans "talking down" to them in Spanish, I have been cautious about trying to speak with them.
Next time, I'm going to try, beginning with a sentence that politely helps them to know exactly why I'm speaking Spanish. It worked just fine while visiting Panama and Ecuador in recent months... I hope it works here.
I will report back my success (or failure!) here when I've completed my attempt.
I have had the opposite experience. I am a white American and everyone here in Ecuador can tell that just by looking at me. When I meet people who speak English, they often practice their English. Parents especially want their children to speak English with a native speaker, but they usually don't want to talk to an old man. 
IF the person tells me that they want to practice their Spanish, I'll let them try, and I'll reply in Spanish to them. But to be truthful, I am not always terribly patient or graceful about it. If the English speaker has to struggle very hard to get a sentence together, asks me time after time to repeat what I just said slowly, and it looks like it's going to be half an hour just get a simple concept across, I usually simply say: Look, I can see that you're trying very hard, and I'm glad that you're practicing so much, but what say we just speak in English for a bit, and get this over with?"
I do occasionally ask people to repeat themselves (and people ask me to repeat myself occasionally also), but I don't ask people to talk more slowly. I make a lot of mistakes when I talk, but I try to keep the flow of conversation going. It reminds me of something I learned when learning to play music: playing the wrong note in time sounds a lot better than playing the correct note too late.
I don't have the etiquette answer for you but I can tell you that the same type of thing has happened to me.
Several weeks ago, I went to the supermarket first thing in the morning and was looking for bags. I stopped a young guy placing merchandise on the shelves and asked him, in Spanish, where the garbage bags were located.
He answered my question, paused and said, "Wait! why you talk to me like that?" (I am quoting, no typo.)
Go over to another thread of politeness towards non-Latino re: speaking Spanish. If you click on my name, go to My Answers and you will see my hair-raising response to some adventures in speaking Spanish.
