I got some questions in learning Spanish...

Question

Hola, todos.

I just found out that I can watch Spanish-learning videos offered by BBC. It really helps me a lot. But....I tried to use some phrases I learned from the videos and to chat with my friend from Paraguay. Then he said that some sentences I put in the conversation are only heard in Spain. I was just...quiet and said nothing.....

That's all my little story. What my question is have you ever met the same kind of problem like mine? And would you just stop seeing those videos and try to search for other videos whose language spoken is corresponded with those in Latin America?

Thanks, anyway.

Answer 1

Funny! When I speak to people from Latin America surely they can tell that I am using words from Spain, but being Spanish, they are not going to tell me that, because it is obvious. Instead, they just listen to what I have to say, they understand me, and they reply with their own regional preference of words, which I also understand.

Next time, say "Ya (lo sé)" (I know), and continue talking. They will understand you and they'll get used to it.

Thanks so much. I think I can keep using that resource!!..haha..I just want to make great use of these free resources to learn a language!! - a122705, May 2, 2011

Answer 2

If you think that there is such a thing as "Latin American" Spanish, then you are sadly mistaken. There are more dialects than there are countries in Latin America (several countries are large enough to support multiple dialects). Your Paraguyan friends would also encounter the occasional misunderstanding if they were to go to any other Latin American country. They, like Lazarus, won't encounter too many problems, if they stick to standard/educated Spanish but if they insist on using Paraguyan slang they are likely to be misunderstood.