I'm going to Mexico...help anyone?

Question

Hello, well, It looks like I'm going to Mexico next summer to hang out with some missionaries from our church. Anyway, I've been taking Spanish for a really long time and can speak it okay for someone who's not Spanish. But, has anyone ever been there and do you know which verbs/words I'll need to know? By the way, I'll probably be staying with a Spanigh speaking family down there, too. Does anyone have any tips? Or certain words that would be politer than other?

Thanks so much in advance!!!

Answer 1

Use usted when addressing adults.  Use tu when addressing children.

If you don't know the word for something, ask: Que es la palabra para esto?

Helping around the house would be polite.  And you can ask the lady of the house to teach you how to cook in the Mexican style.

Answer 2

Mexicans are very hospitable, as long as you are kind and helpful, they will be gald to help you out and be patient with your Spanish. Don't worry too much.

I recommend you practice as much as you can until it is time to go. But a lot of mexican people speak English too, so don't sweat it. have a good time and enjoy.

Welcome

Answer 3

Hello.

I am mexican, answering from Mexico.

I would like to know where in Mexico are you going to, because our country is very big and each state and zone is very (really very) different to the others. The best help depends on the place you are going to go.

Don't be so worried about your spanish, if you have been studied years ago, it is okay for sure. We do tolerate mistakes to no native spanish speaking people (more than "gringos" tolerate our bad english).

But, since you are in missions from your church, perhaps the matter is not going to be your spanish, but the spanish of the people you will visit. They may speak some of the nearly 40 dialects we have in Mexico. My younger brother went to Puebla State in missions and the people didn't speak spanish; and also some friends went to Durango state in missions with huichol indians that didn't speak spanish. I have catholic friends and evangelicos ("protestant") that have gone in those missions.

Answer 4

Nouns (things) and action verbs: to go, see, drink, eat, etc. Mexican people are very forgiving with non-Spanish speakers. Smile a lot and don't shout.

Answer 5

are you LDS?

Answer 6

well it depends where are you going. always use Por Favor and Gracias smiling  everybody like that.  

bye

Answer 7

well, did you study spanish from spain, or from mexico?  obviously mexico does not use the vosotros form, but spain does.  otherwise, slang is SOOO localized, there isn't anything i could possibly tell you here, that would be for sure acurate there.  

one thing is, that mexican people are so sweet and flattered when you try to use spanish. they will understand and help you.

i recommend watching the news in spanish, or watching fun game shows and stuff on telemundo or univision, because then you can put the words into context, maybe pick up some slang, and get used to the speed of talking