Acceptance by Non-native Speakers
Acceptance by Non-native Speakers
Does anyone have the same experience I do? Any native Spanish speakers seems to welcome you with open arms if you even try to speak a little Spanish regardless of how horrible it is.
When it comes to people who acquired the language through their own learning, especially if it takes them years and a lot of effort, will critize you to death if you even make a little mistake. As if their pride and joy is suddenly threatened by a weekend warrior like you.
Please share your experience.
9 Answers
We really like and enjoy to listen you -non-native Spanish speakers- speaking. Don't ever feel ashamed even if you make mistakes and if anyone critizice you, don't pay attention. I am sure that 90% of people will love to hear you even if you're are not fluently or your accent isn't exactly clear.
I've been glad to meet many Spanish learners and I never stop of enjoying when I listen them.
After being here for three years and more , I have never found this to be the case ,
not from my point of view . But it is possible that some people have misunderstood
my Australian humour , I know that we are a little ,"querky " downunder ,
and I always try to temper my comments with humour so that new members
do not feel that they are being criticised . I appreciate every effort that is made by
newbies in learning this frustrating , albeit beautiful language.
Everybody acquires a language from their own learning , be it at a language school ,
private tuition or just reading and studying on the net via spanishdict , therefore
there should be no difference in the attitude , merely in the perception .
Good luck "paramedichk" may you prosper and learn.
Native Spanish speakers ,in my experieince, have always been more than gracious with my feeble attempts to learn Spanish. It has also increased my repect for the many Spanish speaking who speak English so well.
I have seen that before, but not that commonly. I think it is generally a person with an inferiority (or much less likely, but possibly, a superiority) complex. My guess is if you really examined those people, you'd recognize it a trait that runs through most or all of their interactions and behavior, and not just their knowledge of Spanish. It may just be the manifestation which you happen to see most. Interesting question, but I think ultimately one more of human psychology more than Spanish per se. And that can be a lot harder to deal with 
Buena suerte.
I can see where you are coming from, but though I like to correct people, I do it because I'd like to help them, and if they can get it faster than I did, so much the better.
Cae said:
I am sure that 90% of people will love to hear you even if you're are not fluently or your accent is exactly clear.
I would even say 99% are pleased that you are attempting to learn their beautiful language!!
My experience has been that people (strangers and friends) have supported me since I was a beginner and now they are so pleased that I am so advanced.
Rogspax said:
I think it is generally a person with an inferiority (or much less likely, but possibly, a superiority) complex.
Yes, when a person doesn't support your efforts to improve it is that person who has the problem, not you. Remember that in all your dealing with him/her and avoid them as much as you can!
Sinmeta said:
I'm always delighted to help.
Now, this is the type of people you want to surround yourself with.
I have been learning Spanish for five years now. I live in Mexico and speak Spanish every day all day long. I still make tons of errors yet I receive many compliments on my Spanish from the people that I encounter daily. I am often intimidated to write more than the most simple sentences here for exactly the reason you state. I know this is a learning site and corrections are needed to help everyone and that everyone has different goals. For me, writing is not very important and my verbal communication skills are sufficient to interact with friends and acquiantances on almost any topic. I often mess up the verb tenses, the gender of nouns, etc. But yet my friends understand me and I understand them. Language should not be too rigid, especially the spoken language as it is very fast and fluid.
Most people welcome your attempts to learn their language, especially if you are a norteamericano! OK, stereotypically, maybe that doesn´t include the Parisian French, I have no experience there. Hispanics will help you if they know you want help. Russians, almost never, your Russian is always perfect! But I have not run into non-native Spanish speakers who "criticise you to death." I meet regularly with a group of non-native speakers, we all know we want to improve, so we help when we can, but always considerately. Maybe you are running into an atypical subgroup?
I think you can't really generalize. It's a very personal thing. Personalities differ in every culture. I have not noticed such a pattern.
