NationStates Jolt Archive

My school has a large number of Spanish-speaking students, when you are sitting near someone and kind of contributing to their conversation, and all of the sudden they switch to Spanish so you can't understand them. They could be talking about you right under your nose and you would never realize it. It just drives me crazy! If you have a problem with me tell it to my face in plain, clear English or talk about me when I am not around. I just don't like the thought of someone saying how awful I am, or spreading a rumor about me right in front of me. I'm going to love taking Spanish when I get to high-school. It is just rude to switch languages like that!

Learn spanish.

luckily for me there aren't many spanish speaking students, unluckily for me they do insult me straight in my face and in the face of others, anyways, yeah I am taking German so I can't help ya or anything

Blaming other people for your own ineptitude.

How ignorant and rude.


If you really care, you could learn the language they speak, rather a crappy reason to do so though.

Learn spanish.

I had planned to this year, but with the new school curriculum they had to cut out Spanish class for 8th graders. I have to wait until high-school now, and it is too difficult to try and teach myself.

To paraphrase Marge Simpson:

"Anybody who switches to Spanish to push you out of their conversations is not your friend."

Problem is racism. Just ditch those bigots.

Well, it is a bit rude, but perhaps you should start asking your closer friends not to do it, and I'm sure they would respect your wishes. It's not your fault that you didn't grow up in a spanish-speaking environment, but it's not their fault that it's their first language.

Blaming other people for your own ineptitude.

How ignorant and rude.


If you really care, you could learn the language they speak, rather a crappy reason to do so though.

Have you ever been fully part of a conversation and one person switches to a different language in mid-sentence, blocks you out, and starts speaking to the other Spanish-speaking person you were talking to. Excuse me for not being fluent in Spanish, it only isn't an available class at my school, and it isn't as if anyone in my family could teach me.

I had planned to this year, but with the new school curriculum they had to cut out Spanish class for 8th graders. I have to wait until high-school now, and it is too difficult to try and teach myself.
High school is a great thing.

You're so vain, I bet you think this song is about you....

Have you considered that it is equally rude to listen in to other peoples conversations so intrusively that they have to switch languages just to get you to stop? Or that people speaking in thier native toungue might be more comfortable and have nothing to do with you at all?

Have you ever been fully part of a conversation and one person switches to a different language in mid-sentence, blocks you out, and starts speaking to the other Spanish-speaking person you were talking to. Excuse me for not being fluent in Spanish, it only isn't an available class at my school, and it isn't as if anyone in my family could teach me.
Yep, I have had someone do that, and I really don't care. I trust them enough (and five years of Latin is almost enough to give me an ear into Spanish)

Well, it is a bit rude, but perhaps you should start asking your closer friends not to do it, and I'm sure they would respect your wishes. It's not your fault that you didn't grow up in a spanish-speaking environment, but it's not their fault that it's their first language.

I don't mind at all if other people speak different languages, but I feel it is really rude when they purposely begin speaking a different language while you are engaged in a conversation with them, just for the sake of blocking you out.

You're so vain, I bet you think this song is about you....

Have you considered that it is equally rude to listen in to other peoples conversations so intrusively that they have to switch languages just to get you to stop? Or that people speaking in thier native toungue might be more comfortable and have nothing to do with you at all?

Come on people! When did I ever say I was evesdropping into someone else's conversation?! It bugs me when I AM PART OF THE CONVERSATION. Switching languages is as bad as whispering to something that another person can't hear during a conversation and then giggling.

Have you ever been fully part of a conversation and one person switches to a different language in mid-sentence, blocks you out, and starts speaking to the other Spanish-speaking person you were talking to. Excuse me for not being fluent in Spanish, it only isn't an available class at my school, and it isn't as if anyone in my family could teach me.


You need niether school or family to learn something, saying its not available is a rather weak excuse for self lazyness no?


If a person switches to a language you dont know, maybe they dont want to talk to you, walk away. Or you could state you dont know, if they keep talking in a language you did not know to deliberatly exclude and alienate you, why would you want to talk them? that seems rather defective.

My school has a large number of Spanish-speaking students, when you are sitting near someone and kind of contributing to their conversation, and all of the sudden they switch to Spanish so you can't understand them. They could be talking about you right under your nose and you would never realize it. It just drives me crazy! If you have a problem with me tell it to my face in plain, clear English or talk about me when I am not around. I just don't like the thought of someone saying how awful I am, or spreading a rumor about me right in front of me. I'm going to love taking Spanish when I get to high-school. It is just rude to switch languages like that!
If you feel good about yourself and love yourself, then it doesn't matter what anyone says to you or about you in ANY language. :eek:

I don't mind at all if other people speak different languages, but I feel it is really rude when they purposely begin speaking a different language while you are engaged in a conversation with them, just for the sake of blocking you out.

Aye chica calmate. No te pone mala porque tu piensa que estan ablando de ti.

Girl calm down, don't get mad because you think they're talking about you. Besides, why should you be getting into another person's conversation. They're probably doing it for privacy.

Besides, I can always teach you some spanish if you want to learn. Since I'm Cuban. TG me hm? Si tu esta interesada anyway...

I just think that it is rude. And I can't very well teach myself Spanish because even if I did have the proper books or tapes or whatever I need someone to really explain to me how to learn Spanish. And I can't very well get a tutor because my parents don't think that I need to learn it that badly.

If a person switches to a language you dont know, maybe they dont want to talk to you
And how is that NOT rude?

Aye chica calmate. No te pone mala porque tu piensa que estan ablando de ti.

Girl calm down, don't get mad because you think they're talking about you. Besides, why should you be getting into another person's conversation. They're probably doing it for privacy.

Besides, I can always teach you some spanish if you want to learn. Since I'm Cuban. TG me hm? Si tu esta interesada anyway...

Sure, I could try. I only know a tiny bit of Spanish, I was in Spanish club a few years ago, but the teacher sucked.

Sure, I could try. I only know a tiny bit of Spanish, I was in Spanish club a few years ago, but the teacher sucked.

Well hell, I speak more English then Spanish. But I know enough that I can carry on a basic conversation.

Here's some basic advise, add some extra vowels to English words to make em sound spanish ;)

Well hell, I speak more English then Spanish. But I know enough that I can carry on a basic conversation.

Here's some basic advise, add some extra vowels to English words to make em sound spanish ;)

Kids at school just add an "a" on to the end of every word.

And how is that NOT rude?


How is it rude?

Would it be politer if the person said please get the fuck away from me, i dont want to talk to you?

How is it rudeness for a person to talk in the language they want to?

It seems to be just as rude to demand that people that dont want to talk to you speak english for your benefit. People should not be to thin skinned about things.


I just think that it is rude. And I can't very well teach myself Spanish because even if I did have the proper books or tapes or whatever I need someone to really explain to me how to learn Spanish. And I can't very well get a tutor because my parents don't think that I need to learn it that badly.


Yeah, as I said before its really really easy to makes excuses for not doing something. If you want to do something you can do it, to say tiny little things like that are stopping bleh.

Just keep believing to yourself though, that you actually want to learn it and are infact not just lazy.

Would it be politer if the person said please get the fuck away from me, i dont want to talk to you?
Yeah, yeah it would. The latter, at least. If you don't want to talk to someone, they should at least give some signs. What if you were talking to your friend and then, without ANY warning they turned around and stated talking to someone else? That' rude.

Come on people! When did I ever say I was evesdropping into someone else's conversation?! It bugs me when I AM PART OF THE CONVERSATION. Switching languages is as bad as whispering to something that another person can't hear during a conversation and then giggling.
This was my first clue:
when you are sitting near someone and kind of contributing to their conversation,

I can't tell you the amount of times I wanted to be able to switch languages to get people sitting near me to stop 'kind of contributing'....

How is it rude?

Would it be politer if the person said please get the fuck away from me, i dont want to talk to you?

How is it rudeness for a person to talk in the language they want to?

It seems to be just as rude to demand that people that dont want to talk to you speak english for your benefit. People should not be to thin skinned about things.





Yeah, as I said before its really really easy to makes excuses for not doing something. If you want to do something you can do it, to say tiny little things like that are stopping bleh.

Just keep believing to yourself though, that you actually want to learn it and are infact not just lazy.

Shut up, I plan to learn it, I just probably won't beginning learning it until next year, when I will most likely have the opportunity to take a Spanish class. And as I said in my first post, I would rather that they say what problem they have with me to my face in a language I can understand, whether it be body language or English. I just think that if you want to slip something private to your friend you should wait until later when you are alone with that person. That's like whispering a secret into someone's ear in the middle of a conversation and not telling the other people what you said. Wait until later.

Yeah, yeah it would. The latter, at least. If you don't want to talk to someone, they should at least give some signs. What if you were talking to your friend and then, without ANY warning they turned around and stated talking to someone else? That' rude.


Not really doing it that way it derogatory and insulting, where as switching languages is actually quite polite and smooth in style, if you are in a situation where someone does that and not completely moronic, you would probally pick up that you were not wanted.

If being rejected by people, equals other people being rude, then it is then, otherwise its not.

This was my first clue:


I can't tell you the amount of times I wanted to be able to switch languages to get people sitting near me to stop 'kind of contributing'....

I am by no means one of those annoying people who won't leave people alone and can't take a hint. I don't know most of the Spanish-speaking girls at school and don't feel the desire to talk to most of them. That's because I don't like most of them. I'm not trying to be racist, but I don't like those girls because they love to gossip, and they use the word "like" more than the preps. I try to block the majority of them out, but I am fairly good friends with a few of them, so naturally it ticks me off when they talk behind my back because I just want to say, "Hello! I thought I was part of this conversation, you could have at least given me the indication that you didn't want to talk to me anymore!"

Waaaaaaaaah people exluding me and I am not getting what I want Waaaaaah


You seem to be under the misunderstanding that people have to cater for your whims though, they dont, and by not doing that they are suddenly not rude or anything else you would like to throw at them. Simple because you do not get what you want does not make others rude, infact it points more to the person wanting being selfish and demanding. Try slightly to climb down from your pedestal maybe?


And learn it next year, sure you will. Keep the faith, Keep believing.

I am by no means one of those annoying people who won't leave people alone and can't take a hint. I don't know most of the Spanish-speaking girls at school and don't feel the desire to talk to most of them. That's because I don't like most of them. I'm not trying to be racist, but I don't like those girls because they love to gossip, and they use the word "like" more than the preps. I try to block the majority of them out, but I am fairly good friends with a few of them, so naturally it ticks me off when they talk behind my back because I just want to say, "Hello! I thought I was part of this conversation, you could have at least given me the indication that you didn't want to talk to me anymore!"
In life, you find out who your friends are and who matter most. If you think it is all about you, perhaps you need to check your ego?

Another thing that harms people are feelings of inferiority (usually self imposed), and harbouring resentments. If the conversation turns into an exclusionary one, just wave goodbye with a smile and you will enjoy the freedom that will give you.

I am by no means one of those annoying people who won't leave people alone and can't take a hint. I don't know most of the Spanish-speaking girls at school and don't feel the desire to talk to most of them. That's because I don't like most of them. I'm not trying to be racist, but I don't like those girls because they love to gossip, and they use the word "like" more than the preps. I try to block the majority of them out, but I am fairly good friends with a few of them, so naturally it ticks me off when they talk behind my back because I just want to say, "Hello! I thought I was part of this conversation, you could have at least given me the indication that you didn't want to talk to me anymore!"
No one ever thinks they're that person.....

and still, not everything is about you.

You seem to be under the misunderstanding that people have to cater for your whims though, they dont, and by not doing that they are suddenly not rude or anything else you would like to throw at them. Simple because you do not get what you want does not make others rude, infact it points more to the person wanting being selfish and demanding. Try slightly to climb down from your pedestal maybe?


And learn it next year, sure you will. Keep the faith, Keep believing.

Oh, real mature, reply to a fake quote by me. I could really care less if other people spoke other languages around me. I just think it is rude to switch in the middle of a conversation, period. I would prefer that they use a common method of getting away from someone like, "We had better get back to work."

"We're going to be later for class."

"We had better get going."

"It was nice talking to you again."

I think that doing something like that is much less rude then just turning to the other person and babbling on in another language. That isn't a classy way to end a conversation at all, that is called dissing someone. I think it is rude, that is my opinion. Now just leave me the hell alone.

Speaking for the other side for a moment:

In Israel I had similar experiences often. However not everyone there speaks English and many of those that do don't feel comfortable with their level of expertese in it.

Sometimes it was obviously just an incidental matter not related to the conversation, or sometimes it was somebody obviously so uncomfortable with their use of english that they were just inconsistant in what language they used, or just spoke Hebrew about unrelated matters. Sometimes one would speak Hebrew because his English was so very poor to relate his current thoughts, and our mutual friend would translate.

Sometimes it was a tool, such as in haggling situations. Often my Israeli-American boss would speak in Hebrew to other Hebrew-speaking workers while haggling with tourists over room prices. And sometimes, being my seniors (in every way) they would talk that way in conversations with me. But then again, they were unapoligetic assholes and it was part of their charm.

And sometimes there were people who were obviously racists &/or nationalists. That didn't bother me because I do not really care if such people are my friends or not.

And it should be noted that while I lived there for three years I didn't make any real effort to learn Hebrew. I told myself that if I had the time and money to take classes I would do so and learn the language, but I never did even when I did have the money; I never bothered to look into when classes were offered even when I was flush.

Yes it would be hard to learn Spanish without help, but you are obviously a very intelligent person (obv. to me anyway), even if you are a conservative. :p You could even carry a disk or tape recorder and go look up what they're saying that night. Eventually you could get to the point where you can answer any bendeco who is talking shit to you back in Spanish.

Speaking for the other side for a moment:

In Israel I had similar experiences often. However not everyone there speaks English and many of those that do don't feel comfortable with their level of expertese in it.

Sometimes it was obviously just an incidental matter not related to the conversation, or sometimes it was somebody obviously so uncomfortable with their use of english that they were just inconsistant in what language they used, or just spoke Hebrew about unrelated matters. Sometimes one would speak Hebrew because his English was so very poor to relate his current thoughts, and our mutual friend would translate.

Sometimes it was a tool, such as in haggling situations. Often my Israeli-American boss would speak in Hebrew to other Hebrew-speaking workers while haggling with tourists over room prices. And sometimes, being my seniors (in every way) they would talk that way in conversations with me. But then again, they were unapoligetic assholes and it was part of their charm.

And sometimes there were people who were obviously racists &/or nationalists. That didn't bother me because I do not really care if such people are my friends or not.

And it should be noted that while I lived there for three years I didn't make any real effort to learn Hebrew. I told myself that if I had the time and money to take classes I would do so and learn the language, but I never did even when I did have the money; I never bothered to look into when classes were offered even when I was flush.

Yes it would be hard to learn Spanish without help, but you are obviously a very intelligent person (obv. to me anyway), even if you are a conservative. :p You could even carry a disk or tape recorder and go look up what they're saying that night. Eventually you could get to the point where you can answer any bendeco who is talking shit to you back in Spanish.

I can completely understand someone switching languages if it was one of those, "How do you say....?" moments and I really would like to learn Spanish. In my town it is close to 50% Spanish-speaking 50% English-speaking, so it would be very useful to learn.

Oh, real mature, reply to a fake quote by me. I could really care less if other people spoke other languages around me. I just think it is rude to switch in the middle of a conversation, period. I would prefer that they use a common method of getting away from someone like, "We had better get back to work."

"We're going to be later for class."

"We had better get going."

"It was nice talking to you again."

I think that doing something like that is much less rude then just turning to the other person and babbling on in another language. That isn't a classy way to end a conversation at all, that is called dissing someone. I think it is rude, that is my opinion. Now just leave me the hell alone.


See that is where it is all personal and subjective, I find fake niceities to be much more vulgar and rude, rather than the person being straight forward in there words or actions. But if you need people to smooth your feelings with the pointless ways you showed of ending a convo, maybe you should work on your own self images issues, rather than blaming others for how you see yourself.

Oh no your were dissed, best bet is probally to shank the bastard that will show the others who to respect no? Really relying so much on others views of you and how they treat you is not healty.

Oh and if you want left alone, why post the message on a public forum, the mind does boggle with that one.

No one ever thinks they're that person.....



I'm not that person, I'm sure of it. People call me the "quiet one". And a few years ago a classmate actually asked me if I knew how to talk. I know who the annoying one is. I'll give you her address if you are up to a kidnapping. Everyone at school deserves a break.

See that is where it is all personal and subjective, I find fake niceities to be much more vulgar and rude, rather than the person being straight forward in there words or actions. But if you need people to smooth your feelings with the pointless ways you showed of ending a convo, maybe you should work on your own self images issues, rather than blaming others for how you see yourself.

Oh no your were dissed, best bet is probally to shank the bastard that will show the others who to respect no? Really relying so much on others views of you and how they treat you is not healty.

Oh and if you want left alone, why post the message on a public forum, the mind does boggle with that one.

That is pretty much the only thing that can piss me off. I hate false niceities, I can handle being told that I am annoying, I can handle the rest, and if I am, tell me, but don't ever let me operate under the assumption that I am all fine and all buddy buddy with you.

See that is where it is all personal and subjective, I find fake niceities to be much more vulgar and rude, rather than the person being straight forward in there words or actions. But if you need people to smooth your feelings with the pointless ways you showed of ending a convo, maybe you should work on your own self images issues, rather than blaming others for how you see yourself.

Oh no your were dissed, best bet is probally to shank the bastard that will show the others who to respect no? Really relying so much on others views of you and how they treat you is not healty.

Oh and if you want left alone, why post the message on a public forum, the mind does boggle with that one.

I only end conversations like that when I am really aggravated. And by "leave me the hell alone" I meant I wanted you to stop hounding me.

I'm not that person, I'm sure of it. People call me the "quiet one". And a few years ago a classmate actually asked me if I knew how to talk. I know who the annoying one is. I'll give you her address if you are up to a kidnapping. Everyone at school deserves a break.

No incitement to criminal activities, my little Cybersheep Farmer. ;) We would miss you if you got banned.

That is pretty much the only thing that can piss me off. I hate false niceities, I can handle being told that I am annoying, I can handle the rest, and if I am, tell me, but don't ever let me operate under the assumption that I am all fine and all buddy buddy with you.

I can usually tell when those niceties are fake, so I don't really talk to that person anymore.

No incitement to criminal activities, my little Cybersheep Farmer. ;) We would miss you if you got banned.

I was kidding, she's not that bad, if you can manage to keep a distance...

if you are IN the conversation and they suddenly switch to spanish, that is indeed rude. it is as rude as if they started whispering to each other. you should call them on it. perhaps by saying "excuse me? i couldnt understand what you said"

Weird Al Yanchovic
All your friends are plotting behind your back..
Kill Them.

Other languages are goood..the world does not revolve around you.

if you are IN the conversation and they suddenly switch to spanish, that is indeed rude. it is as rude as if they started whispering to each other. you should call them on it. perhaps by saying "excuse me? i couldnt understand what you said"

Yes, EXACTLY. If I'm not really part of the conversation it is fine, I couldn't care less. A few times my two best friends have whispered something and then would just say "nothing" when I asked what they said, and I would just say something like, "No, I mean, what did you say BEFORE that."

Weird Al Yanchovic

Other languages are goood..the world does not revolve around you.

I know the world doesn't revolve around me, and of course other languages are good.

I know the world doesn't revolve around me, and of course other languages are good.

I do agree that's really rude if they're doing it just to switch to the language, though. Maybe you need new friends, you know, ones that aren't rude?

I do agree that's really rude if they're doing it just to switch to the language, though. Maybe you need new friends, you know, ones that aren't rude?

Eh, the ones that do that aren't really part of my "inner-circle", I really don't get that offended, I can actually make out some of what they say because many of them speak "Spanglish".

Eh, the ones that do that aren't really part of my "inner-circle", I really don't get that offended, I can actually make out some of what they say because many of them speak "Spanglish".

Ohhh. Well at least it isn't too serious then..yeah.

Ohhh. Well at least it isn't too serious then..yeah.

Yeah, it still bothers me, but I exaggerated it to see what kind of reaction I got. But that kind of thing does happen at my school a lot. And I know that I'm not the only one that is bothered by it, it bugs a lot of people.

if you are IN the conversation and they suddenly switch to spanish, that is indeed rude. it is as rude as if they started whispering to each other. you should call them on it. perhaps by saying "excuse me? i couldnt understand what you said"
Like I said, just walk away with a smile. You have to ask yourself, how important is it?

Yeah, it still bothers me, but I exaggerated it to see what kind of reaction I got. But that kind of thing does happen at my school a lot. And I know that I'm not the only one that is bothered by it, it bugs a lot of people.
If you are comfortable with who you are, no one can steal that unless you allow them to?

If you are comfortable with who you are, no one can steal that unless you allow them to?

I am pretty comfortable with who I am, I don't know what those girls would say about me anyway, I keep to myself for the most part.

Maybe the next time they do it you can be polite and just get up and leave. Say something apologetic like, "oh I'm sorry, I'll leave you guys alone so that you can get on with your drug deal."

I am pretty comfortable with who I am, I don't know what those girls would say about me anyway, I keep to myself for the most part.
Well if you are comfortable about yourself, then why worry or get yourself upset about it?

Maybe the next time they do it you can be polite and just get up and leave. Say something apologetic like, "oh I'm sorry, I'll leave you guys alone so that you can get on with your drug deal."

Yeah, if she wants to be a major league ass-hole like you are.

Yeah, if she wants to be a major league ass-hole like you are.


They were clearly being an asshole to her, so I'm just suggesting that she return the favor. My apologies if I've offended you.

They were clearly being an asshole to her, so I'm just suggesting that she return the favor. My apologies if I've offended you.

I am only offended on behalf of those naturally offended by the implication that people speaking Spanish in America are likely to be talking about a drug deal. I accept you apology in the spirit in which I was offended, which is as an observer and not a principle. I would recommend that you apologize directly to Hispanic Americans as well.

Meh. Nobody should be really too teed off. It happens in tagalog, pig latin, chinese, sign language, actual latin, invented ciphers, blah, blah, blah.

Seriously speaking, it is rude, but so is punching someone in the face. We can't just take a stand against all impoliteness. Or... we could take a stand against all impudence, but that's probably a little different.

One: learning spanish in high school should be for enrichment and not for the specific purpose of shoving it in someone's face that they can't swap languages in front of you. Two: I don't know what ever happened to self-teaching methods, but its an insult to intelligence that our libraries no longer have sufficient materials for dedicated persons to take their own personal time away from a game like NationStates to go out and learn Spanish "by the book." ;)

Okay, so where was I? O yea. Just because someone's being impolite, it shouldn't disturb you. It should piss you off enough to politely request that they stop doing it. If they don't stop doing it, let's toss a coin and say that if you're not at least old enough to learn Spanish from a book, no conversation in your age group is possibly worth getting mad over.

Okay, lost again. Wait, found it. Alright. I'm a lazy sunuffabitka, but a friend of mine is not. She learned Latin out of a book before she was fully 15 (alright, she DID go to a Catholic priest to double check some pronunciation, but she's Presbyterian so it was out of her way). Also, another friend can sing in Farsi, German, English, Tagalog and he's working on whatever works; he learns languages that way he can hit on women.

Fun fact: Elvish is hard to learn because it will cost a small fortune to learn it right AND find someone who can fix your pronunciation. Also, its a bitka to learn off the Internet.

Fun story: A girl I knew back in middle school went to Taiwan one summer with her family. Her brother (in high school at this time) and her were eating at a restaurant sans adults. They politely requested ice water (for those of you that don't eat with a stingy, thrifty, big, and/or basically "Asian" family, ice water is the most common drink order ever) and while they were waiting two of the waiters thought this was very funny. They began chuckling and, in Chinese, criticized the two ABCs (American Born Chinese) at the table for not knowing their mother language and going out to dinner without their parents. The conversation was something along the lines of: spoiled brats, they probably don't even know what to order, look at those ignorant *insert expletive*s just sitting there thinking they're all that because they aren't eating with their parents, they don't understand a word we're saying <girlish giggles>. Well, suffice to say, my friend and her brother knew very well what they were saying and requested that their teapot be refilled. Suffice to say, those two waiters were dumbfounded and couldn't find words for the remainder of the evening in fear of remonstrances since their boss was standing only a little ways away from the kitchen door and my friend's table. ;)

My school has a large number of Spanish-speaking students, when you are sitting near someone and kind of contributing to their conversation, and all of the sudden they switch to Spanish so you can't understand them. They could be talking about you right under your nose and you would never realize it. It just drives me crazy! If you have a problem with me tell it to my face in plain, clear English or talk about me when I am not around. I just don't like the thought of someone saying how awful I am, or spreading a rumor about me right in front of me. I'm going to love taking Spanish when I get to high-school. It is just rude to switch languages like that!

Yes, I can see how that might be a problem. Mi madre tiene el mismo problemo con sus clases. Mi madre es bonita y tu madre es muy fea y ruida y gorda tambien. So I can sympathize with you.

Have you ever been fully part of a conversation and one person switches to a different language in mid-sentence, blocks you out, and starts speaking to the other Spanish-speaking person you were talking to. Excuse me for not being fluent in Spanish, it only isn't an available class at my school, and it isn't as if anyone in my family could teach me.

Yes. I live in a household where one person is fluent in Spanish, and she does switch mid conversation sometimes when a Spanish-speaking friend or family member is present. And it does drive me nuts, sometimes.

No, it is not meant to be rude or bigoted, any more than your speaking and writing in fluent Standard English is. When one language is your first, you naturally slip into it when surrounded by others who speak the same language. It is difficult to get across the nuances and even the ideas in your second language. More likely than not, they aren't even consciously aware that they have done this.

You can: go to the library and take out a book on learning Spanish, or even borrow one of those language tapes. And the bargain bin of most office places (Staples, Office Depot, Office Max) often have beginning language computer CDs for $9.99 or less.

You can also: smile, and say politely, "I'm sorry, I didn't get that..." If they are not being rude, they will switch back to English, and probably explain. If they ARE being consciously rude, then I would say leave them alone.

They were clearly being an asshole to her, so I'm just suggesting that she return the favor. My apologies if I've offended you.

As a Hispanic, I find the implication that all people who speak Spanish are drug dealers or users to be extremely offensive. I've never known anyone who bought or used drugs, or was arrested, or was violent to anyone else. The folks I grew up with are educated, middle class, and hold civil service type jobs -- but I suppose when one is so busy looking down one's nose, one might not consider how ill-educated a remark that was.

Might as well say all whites are ignorant bible-thumping zealots, all blacks are criminals, all Asians own Chinese restaurants, and all General forumites are of sub-human intelligence.

As a Hispanic, I find the implication that all people who speak Spanish are drug dealers or users to be extremely offensive. I've never known anyone who bought or used drugs, or was arrested, or was violent to anyone else. The folks I grew up with are educated, middle class, and hold civil service type jobs -- but I suppose when one is so busy looking down one's nose, one might not consider how ill-educated a remark that was.

Might as well say all whites are ignorant bible-thumping zealots, all blacks are criminals, all Asians own Chinese restaurants, and all General forumites are of sub-human intelligence.

Actually, some Asians own motels or bodegas. ;)

j/k

Yes, I can see how that might be a problem. Mi madre tiene el mismo problemo con sus clases. Mi madre es bonita y tu madre es muy fea y ruida y gorda tambien. So I can sympathize with you.

Oh, so YOUR mother is ugly, rude and fat? ;)

Actually, some Asians own motels or bodegas. ;)

j/k


LOL and some General Forumites are clearly highly intelligent. :D

Oh, so YOUR mother is ugly, rude and fat? ;)

That's an amazingly precise translation of what I posted. BTW, eres de Mexico? El Salvador? Paraguay? Puerto Rico? Su madre es una vaca gorda, mi amigo virtual. ;)