New Zealanders don’t have a good reputation for speaking languages other than English.
In our defence, if you don’t speak English as a first language it is a logical one to pick up as a second, but if you already speak English it’s difficult to know which of the many others to choose for a second.
That said, learning another language not only enables you to communicate with native speakers, it helps you understand their culture and it’s also good intellectual exercise.
I had a year of Latin and three of French at school – without distinction – but was prompted to learn Spanish after hosting an AFS student from Argentina.
A couple of years at university and three months at language school in Spain was enough to make me confident with the basics and, with the help of a Uruguayan friend, I taught night classes for a few years.
But I’ve had little opportunity to speak Spanish recently and language like any other skill requires practice. Without it, I’ve gone backwards and the phrase I employ most often is lo siento, mi español está muy oxidado – I’m sorry my Spanish is very rusty.
I have good intentions of listening to Spanish radio and music but International Languages Week has reminded me that I haven’t acted on the intent.
I could say a lo mejor manaña, maybe tomorrow, except someone who lived in Spain told me that manaña in that context doesn’t mean tomorrow, it just means not today.
