Advice or tips on Mexican Spanish?
I live in San Antonio, Texas and have no use for the Spanish (from Spain, largely) that is typically taught. Anyone have any advice or tips on any books or websites to help with specifically Mexican Spanish?
9 Answers
I would be careful about pigeonholing San Antonio Spanish as "Mexican" Spanish. While there is certainly a large Mexican ex-pat population there, you should be aware that Mexico is a large country with a number of different dialectic variations based on both geography and socioeconomic factors. What you are likely to find in San Antonio, then, is not necessarily "Mexican" Spanish per se (in terms of pronunciation, speech patterns, rhythm, and specialized vocabulary), but rather, an admixture of diverse dialectic variants that will likely include, as well, many anglicisms due to both the proximity to and necessity of the English language. With that caveat in mind, here are a few suggestions:
For listening practice, you might try some of the television programs offered by American owned stations such as Telemundo or Univision. Many of the popular telenovelas such as "Las vias del amor," "Qué pobres tan ricos, and others can often be found in their entirety on youtube (often by typing in the show's title followed by the word "Capítulo" and the episode number that you are looking for.
You might also find it helpful to listen to some of the recording artists (easily accessible on Youtube) who are popular in and around that area such as Adan Romero, Espinoza Paz, La Banda Arrolladora Limón, Trono de México, and Los Tigres del Norte among others.
You might also try the youtube channel for werevertumorro, a sophomoric variety channel (for lack of a better description) that enjoys a lot of popularity among younger generations.
As a reference, you might find this online resource helpful Diccionario Breve De Mexicanismos
I don't know your Spanish level, but here is a site with some listening exercises along with the transcripts. The speakers are from Mexico.
Good luck!
You could also try watching shows from Mexico. Doing this can help you learn new vocabulary and improve your intonation.
Piece of advice #1. Don't ignore Spanish from Spain. Spanish is Spanish, it's not like it's another language. While you're in process of learning just soak it all in. Textbook Spanish doesn't change.
What you do you need to pay attention to is slang and colloquial usage of the language. Just keep in mind that certain expressions may be specific to Spain or some other region. After all, you never know who you're going to be talking to or what kind of Spanish you're going to hear on TV or in the movies. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to be able understand a little colloquial Spanish/slang from Spain as well?
Now, as far as Mexican Spanish goes, here's a good site:
Language Media Spanish in Mexico
Also check out YosStop in YouTube. She's Mexican, very funny and uses a ton of colloquial Mexican Spanish. She's very intelligent and you'll hear a lot of proper Spanish as well.
And follow my blog. I talk about a of lot Mexican Spanish and in the next few days I'm going to be making a post specifically on Mexican Spanish.
Finally, while there are many books and courses that claim to teach you Mexican Spanish, here's a list of books in Amazon that actually do talk about Mexican Spanish:
I like the book "Breaking Out of Beginner's Spanish" by Joseph J. Keenan, published by the University of Texas. It puts an emphasis on Mexican Spanish. I started learning Spanish in Spain and then moved to Austin. I like learning both Spain Spanish and Latin American Spanish. The Austin library has great free Spanish conversational groups and also a Spanish literature group that's excellent, if you ever make your way north.
The type of spanish that is taught in the lessons on this site is very neutral and very useful. I would start with that until you're comfortable with all the general rules. Then you could start watching movies, pretty much all good spanish dubs for disney/pixar animation movies are Mexican. Quite frankly you're probably better off learning a general neutral latino spanish than specifically "Mexican" spanish...and when you say Mexican spanish, do you mean Mexican American Spanish? Educated D.F. Spanish? Chilango? Mazatleco? Norteño?
Observer makes a very good point about the many variations of Mexican Spanish, it varies regionally even within Mexico.
Also, in Texas and other parts of the US you have to look out for pocho Spanish. If you don't know what pocho Spanish is, read this.
Here's another good definition from Urban Dictionary
I think, Texas, that you will find that all the grammar and the basic pronunciation is the same all over the Spanish-speaking world. Obviously then there are local sayings and slang, but I think they can be assimilated very easily, once you have the basics.
But please tell me if they speak a nice , easy Spanish in Mexico, without conjugating the verbs, for example.
Watching telenovelas should be a good way of learning colloquial Spanish and I assume in your area of the USA they will be easy to pick up. I know wewatched part of one in our Spanish class but I cannot remember which one. You could always watch a small clip on youtube. This blog gives tips on how to learn with telenovelas: telenovelas This site, in two parts, by a Professor from the States has lots of oral histories from central America. It is well set out including different colours for verbs: oral history one from Mexico Here is another site which originally catered for English learners, but now helps Spanish learners, it includes some clips from Mexico: Listening The Spanish Institute in Puebla has sponsored a dictionary of pronunciation: dictionary do check out the 'cheat sheet' at the end of the bookshelf. and a grammar book [grammar][6]
[6]: http://www.spanishgrammarguide.com/#/Gramatica Espanola/2
Warren Hardy Spanish is a school in San Miguel de Allende and the books are excellent.
