Do not be afraid of speaking bad Spanish

Speaking bad Spanish is better than not speaking any Spanish at all. And, you can rest easy, at GoDutch Realty, we all speak English, in case you want to buy a house in Costa Rica.

First and foremost, communication is about connection, not perfection. Even if your grammar is off, your verbs are in the wrong tense, or your accent is heavy, most Ticos (Costa Ricans) will still try to understand you. In fact, locals often appreciate the effort. By attempting to speak, you are showing respect for the language and culture, and that effort is usually met with patience and kindness. Far more important than flawless grammar is the willingness to bridge the gap and engage in conversation.

Secondly, mistakes accelerate learning. Every slip of the tongue, every wrong word, every awkward pause teaches you something. I’ve been speaking Spanish for 45 years, and I still speak it poorly sometimes, my wife says. A misused phrase might bring laughter, but it will also make the correct usage stick in your memory far better than any textbook exercise. Try to learn some of the local slang words; Ticos will love you for it.

If you want to live in Costa Rica and communicate with the locals, don’t be afraid to speak basic Spanish. Most people, when they are learning a new language, are afraid to make mistakes. It IS a fact that Ticos enjoy it when you are trying hard to learn their language.

My own experience

When we came here, we didn’t speak a word of Spanish, except for my mom. Big mistake. If I had taken the time to learn at least a little bit of Spanish, it would have made my life so much easier. I didn’t really learn the language until I got married. In my own family, we have several with a pretty decent understanding of linguistics. My mom, my two sisters, and I pick up languages relatively easily. My dad, when he was still alive, and my brother didn’t really care much to learn well. They’ll never bother looking up a word in the dictionary or trying to pronounce a word right. I know many people who don’t really bother with learning how to pronounce the name of a city or town, for example. And I’ve seen them written in the most incredible ways, mostly as they pronounce them. That’s, in my opinion, just a lack of interest, of caring, of even trying to do it right. BUT you are different!!!

Phonetic Spelling

Bad Spanish pronunciation and bad orthography work both ways; Ticos also make mistakes in English. Some people make these mistakes due to a lack of education, while others do so because of a lack of interest. Check the images on this blog, “selling RAD FORD”, and the name of the restaurant. If you’re planning to go swimming, I hope you understand that there’s no lifeguard on duty, so you’ll have to save yourself.

You will find small restaurants in the rural areas trying to give a better service to visiting tourists by printing their menu in “English”. Just like the locals might write a word the way it sounds (see photos from Solo en Costa Rica) you will figure out Spanish if you just try.

Learn the Smart Way

I have learned a lot of Spanish by reading:

• the signs on the side of the road,
• signs on the businesses,
• by reading the local newspaper (without understanding anything at all)
• and watching the 6 o’clock news.

Try this:

• Find the Spanish word for everything you have at home and stick a Post-it on it.
• Try the Five-Finger System with Wagner
• Learn one word every day, and start now. THAT will help you a lot. You will be surprised how fast you can learn a language if you try.

At first, it starts with being all garbled, and people will not understand a word of what you say, and you will not understand a word of what they say. It becomes really fun when you’re in a room with people socializing all in Spanish.

Speaking bad Spanish should never be seen as a failure, but as a badge of courage and a necessary step in the learning journey. Every clumsy sentence is a stepping stone toward fluency. So, do not be afraid. Speak boldly, make mistakes proudly, and remember: bad Spanish spoken today is far better than perfect Spanish never spoken at all.

If you’d like to learn more about Costa Rican culture and how to prevent culture shock, consider doing business with us. Contact us for any real estate requirements you have.