Meeting my Mexican Girlfriends Parents for the First Time
Hola comunidad de Spanishdict,
In 2 days I am flying to Mexico to meet my girlfriend's parents for the first time. I am very excited but also nervous because they don't speak english and my spanish is very limited in a conversation. They know I don't speak spanish very well but i would still like to show them my best effort. When I began learning spanish about 6 months ago, I concentrated on understanding the grammar and planned to begin expanding my vocabulary after I had some sort of clue how to piece sentences together. I have not practiced conversation yet. What would be some nice ways to greet them and introduce myself that aren't too too tacky? thanks everyone
7 Answers
Also, in general, I would reccommend you switch up your learning approach. Focus on being conversational first, nobody cares how much grammar you know when you can't even hold a basic conversation.
Think back to how you learned English, first you learned how to talk, then much later in school you started learning grammar. But by that time, you' were already communicating with people.
This is some of best advice I have ever seen because it simulates learning a language the way a native would.
(I used the informal here because the only time you use formal in Mexico is if you are in a business deal or if you are mad at the other person, although I image in other parts of Mexico this is different)
This is some of the worst advice I have ever seen. Your girlfriend´s parents are strangers to you, they are a generation older than you, and you seem to want to keep your girlfriend. You must be respectful and use Usted - even if they use Tú with you. After your relationship becomes close, you will probably be able to use Tú with them but it´s best to wait for them to tell you to do so. This is the culture.
Check out SpanishPod101 I think you'll find some good stuff there to help you with conversation. Also look at this page:
Free resources to learn spanish
Look at the links for the University of Texas and Language Media in particular.
Also, in general, I would reccommend you switch up your learning approach. Focus on being conversational first, nobody cares how much grammar you know when you can't even hold a basic conversation.
Think back to how you learned English, first you learned how to talk, then much later in school you started learning grammar. But by that time, you' were already communicating with people.
I'm not saying don't study grammar, just make it your 3rd priority, with conversation and pronunciation beign the first two priorities.
Just my 2 cents worth.
I´d say reading about conversations, and actually having them, even rudimentary ones, are two different things. All to easy to end up like a deer in the headlights, unless you´ve practiced it, a LoT. If you can, get your G.F. to intro you to some of her Spanish speaking friends where you live, if they exist, or even some old lady in a coffee shop, and just try to go through the introduction process. Going through a few convos now will be infinitely more beneficial than more vocab.
For most of us that have been studying a language for a while, but haven´t spoken much, the trick is getting about ability to speak and understand caught up with whatever moderate amount we can read or write. After that, you can expand your vocab and grammar all you want.
Except for needed explanations, I´d give up on English with your girl until after the trip. Even basic convos with her where you have to respond and react in realtime, will help a lot.
And emphasizing, if you can find a couple people to meet here first, to practice some intro, then by all means do it.
Buena suerte con tu amiga y la familia suya y tu viaje Amigo!
Some really basic stuff:
Me llamo (your name here)= My name is _____
¿Cómo te llamas?= What is your name? (I used the informal here because the only time you use formal in Mexico is if you are in a business deal or if you are mad at the other person, although I image in other parts of Mexico this is different)
¿Qué hace?= what do you do?
Tu casa es bonita= your house is beautiful
Gracias por tenerme en tu casa= Thanks for having me in your home
Soy (job of some sort, ex. estudiante, gerente, amo de casa)= I am a (student, manager, stay at home dad, etc.). Note that you DO NOT use "un" here in Spanish. Soy estudiante, soy esposo, soy trabajador. The "a" or "un" is implied here.
And of course,
Mucho gustó= it was a pleasure. or in response El gustó fue mío= the pleasure was mine. First time I heard this response it threw me off a bit.
Anyway, I'm sure you'll do fine if you've already started learning. I hope this helps, but to continue your learning experience I recommend asking your girlfriend to correct your Spanish to the point that you can start speaking Spanish without any mistakes. Having a hispanohablante as a girlfriend should be very beneficial for learning the language.
This post makes me giggle, I know the feeling you have as I've been through this too hehe. I was definitely nervous.
What would be some nice ways to greet them and introduce myself that aren't too too tacky?
You are a foreigner to them, don't worry about being tacky. Worry about learning as much vocab as you can, so you can communicate even if its just minimally. Be super polite, super polite. Smile a lot and overuse please and thank you. Remember, these are parents, and the dad will probably have a machete close by for quick use if he does not approve of you. Just kidding about the machete. 
Learn as much vocab as you can, learn as many introduction phrases as you can, and it wouldn't hurt to ask your girlfriend for some tips about her parents, she may be able to provide you with some insight as to their personality that may be helpful about things that you maybe should or shouldn't talk about with them.
What part of Mexico are they from?
That's what's up
