How’s our Spanish?

A frequent question we get is “how’s your Spanish?” And, after more than four years living in San Sebastian, I think we’re finally willing to respond with “it’s not bad, it might even be considered ‘decent’ or ‘pretty good’.” Perhaps you think we’re being humble, but learning Spanish has been humbling, and we know how easy it is to overestimate one’s own capabilities. So, how do we evaluate our skills?

Let’s start with how often we use Spanish. Obviously, we speak English to each other, and with the coronavirus situation, our interactions outside the home have been more limited. Still, when we do leave the house, generally we speak Spanish to others. (The exception is when we are with other native English speakers. It is just too easy to default to your native language.) Of course, when you’re running errands, your exchanges aren’t extensive.

One consistent outing for me is yoga. Yes, the vocabulary in class is consistent, but repetition is important. Plus, the yoga studio provides me a great opportunity to socialize because there is a real community among the participants. Many of my acquaintances and friends come from there.

We still read the local newspaper at least three times per week. And many evenings we watch two game shows – without subtitles. Granted there are a lot of visuals that are helpful, still, we can understand the back and forth between the host, contestants, or celebrity guests with ease. Reading and hearing Spanish consistently is important. Speaking is the biggest challenge.

I’ve had some recent experiences that have instilled confidence. These include appointments with the dermatologist, the optician, and to donate blood. But another stands out. We had a plumbing issue and I had to call and arrange for a plumber to come. I am still intimidated when talking on the phone, but the fear factor has diminished significantly. I was able to explain the problem adequately, speak to the scheduler, and then deal with the plumbing technicians who came to the house. Although I am consistently asked where I’m from – my accent and pronunciation need work! – I feel like my ability to communicate has improved significantly.

One new fun way to test our skills is doing Wordle in Spanish. We find it easier than English! That’s because the way vowels behave in Spanish is predictable and only the C, L, R, and N can be doubled. Also, there aren’t any letter odd combinations like GH or PH. So far, our vocabulary has been sufficient to figure out each day’s word.

There’s not a lot going on here. We’re keeping a low profile as we try to avoid getting infected with the coronavirus. If we ever get to stop wearing masks, our Spanish could improve even more! The mask adds a degree of difficulty to understanding and being understood.

Stay healthy and safe,

Shana & Jeff