Learning a foreign language? Forget it!

Learning a language for travel or just learning a language. I’ve pretty much come to the conclusion: forget it! This is all in theory of course. I still practice languages – French, Spanish and German. Spanish I find the easiest. The reason I started learning them (via Duolingo) is because of travel. I spend a lot of time in Spain, I go to Montreal frequently and occasionally I head to Germany, where I have friends. I usually practice for an hour every day. I just finished my Spanish routine for the day, as I’m heading to Spanish-speaking Bogota Colombia next. But, I ask you, what good does it do me? Regardless of the country I’m in I hardly ever know enough of the local lingo to strike up a conversation, let alone keep one going, or even to string together a basic phrase -i.e., do you have ketchup? ("Tienes ketchup") Even that is wrong as it should be “tienes el ketchup” since some languages are more formal than English. That’s why you hear people from other countries use articles “the this” and “the that” because that’s how they speak in their native tongue. Often, when in Spain or Germany or Montreal, when confronted with a question from a native, or if I need to ask the most basic question or make a statement, I get flustered or “freeze.” Yet a minute later, if I think about it, I would have been able to string at least a few words together to maybe have gotten my point across. The problem is that I never spend enough time in any country. At most I’m two months somewhere. I think if I’d spend six months I’d start to be fluent…I think. It does please me that I can at least say a few things, like “mi maleta” (my suitcase), “un boleto para Barcelona” (a ticket for Barcelona), or my fave in grocery stores, “dos bolsas por favor” (two bags please) or “tengo una bolsa” (I have a bag). It’s not that I don’t like speaking another language, I prefer it. And I know it brings an inner smile to the native person when I do so. (I feel guilty that they always have to change.) Now I’ll be heading to Greece at the end of summer. After Hello (“ya”), Yes (“nay”) thank you (“esfratistow”) that’s about all I can handle. Okay, I’ll try to learn a few more words, please! ("parakalo") 

Meanwhile, I’m heading to Colombia this month, my first trip to South America. It appears very Spanish, as in hardly anyone speaks English. I’m not intimidated since I have some Spanish – some being relative – and it forces me to use that language. I chose Bogota for three reasons: it has a superb Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system and I’m a transit freak. It also has a great cycling network through I’m less a bike enthusiast. Its airport looks sprawling and hosts myriad international flights, indicating the scale of the city. And famed local coffee sellers in Windsor and Amherstburg, Monteneros, are from Colombia. Hey, you’ve got to have some reason to go, right? From a few pictures the city is surrounded by mountains so there might be some enticing walks and hikes. The city also seems to have a lively arts and gay scene, though I’m not gay. But after having signed on to several online Colombian travel groups, virtually everyone is not going to Bogota but to myriad other places including Medellin or Cartagena, or doing remote weeks-long cross-country expeditions, and all seem more sophisticated in their plans than me. I.e., “Are there buses that go from La Pintada to Peñalisa or Bolombolo that not go via Medellin?” or “From Filandia to Jardin with public transport on a Sunday. What is the best option?” I’ll keep you updated. 

- Ron Stang, Windsor Ontario Canada, a frequent traveller