I grew up speaking mexican spanish in my home. Spanish was mandatory starting in middle school. I thought "oh this will be easy" but when I got to class I was really confused. Senora Anderson used words such as"vosotros, coche(and other vocab.) etc" that I've never heard of. When my papi corrected my homework I half of it wrong.

I understand that she uses some words from spain and others from latin America. She also tells me that I'm being rude and disrespectful because I'm not using formal spanish when talking to an adult. But this was my godparent and we are close thus not using formal language. I get confused especially when she randomly decides to use spanish over mexican vocabulary.

Do other Mexicans who take spanish have this issue or is it just me? I'm really upset with my grade and how the teacher is always telling me I'm wrong when I'm trying my best.
I found out before the first week ended it wouldn't be easy. I started trying as hard as I did in other classes. We don't just speak slang and use poor grammar at home. There is times where I need to speak proper spanish. That is a common misconception. Not all mexicans are lazy and in ELL.

I'm not trying to complain. I'm asking for advice at getting a better grade in this class. After one failed assignment I learned not to ask my dad for help.

Sorry if I phrased that a little strangely. I want to learn how to speak Spanish but the only places I can find that teach Spanish only teach the type that they speak in Spain but it would be more convenient for me to speak the Spanish that Mexicans speak because a lot of immigrants from there have recently moved to my neighborhood. If I learn European Spanish will I be able to talk to the Mexicans in Spanish and understand each other?

Today, a large pickup truck pulls up in my backyard and five Mexicans jump out of the truck with machetes and tank sprayers. I go outside and ask, “What’s up”. They just look at me, and one of them says something in Spanish.

Well there’s a Wisteria vine on my power pole, which I had planted a few years ago and an Elm tree nearby. This guy starts to whack on the vine with a machete, and another heads for my Elm tree and I yell at them. Then a sixth guy comes out of the drivers seat, says something and the whacking stops.

The driver walks over to me and he could barely speak any English. But he said he was working for the power company and he’s supposed to cut everything you know?

I said “ No, I don’t know, where’s your papers?” He says he doesn’t know. So’ I told him to get the hell off my property.

Later on, different truck pulls up and at least this Mexican can speak some decent English. He say’s, their supposed to trim the trees and brush along the power line. There are no markings on any of these vehicles and he doesn’t have any work orders either.

So, I tell him to shove off, he says I got to let him do it. I tell him call the cops, as he doesn’t have any work orders. Well, he left and it’s been 4 hours, no cops and no paper work.

Would you have done the same thing?
To those emailing me that I’m a racist. My current wife is part Algonquin Indian, the first wife was one quarter black (she died), and my son in law is Mexican. I have a foster brother that came from South Korea and my various in-laws are Mexican, African, and Iranian. So, you don’t know me, please, don’t make jackass assumptions, that I’m racist.

These guys had no ID’s and they were hacking plants that didn’t require trimming.

Guess what, we are here for opportunity. My people will learn eventually. My parents learned in time when they came to the U.S and they are now succesfull.

There are other spanish speaking Latinos to worry about. Also, check out the Spaniards. They're white and they speak Spanish. In fact, because of their conquests years ago in Latin America, Mexicans speak spanish because their ancestors were forced to learn by the Spaniards. The Spaniards were the first Spanish speakers just like the British were the first English speakers.

By the way, I'm not racist. In fact, I hope to visit Spain someday as well as Japan.

Also, not all Mexicans are brown. I'm white skinned. A lot of people have thought that I'm not Mexican until I start talking like one.

By the way, I learned in James Clavell's Shogun that language is the key to survival in any country.

VIVA LA RAZA!
By the way, I was born an American citizen thus making me Mexican-American. I'm not an immigrant. My parents have been American citizens for 4 or 5 years now. I helped them study for their exams.

Guess what, we are here for opportunity. My people will learn eventually. My parents learned in time when they came to the U.S and they are now succesfull.

There are other spanish speaking Latinos to worry about. Also, check out the Spaniards. They're white and they speak Spanish. In fact, because of their conquests years ago in Latin America, Mexicans speak spanish because their ancestors were forced to learn by the Spaniards. The Spaniards were the first Spanish speakers just like the British are the first English speakers.

By the way, I'm not racist. In fact, I hope to visit Spain someday as well as Japan.

Also, not all Mexicans are brown. I'm white skinned. A lot of people have thought that I'm not Mexican until I start talking like one.

By the way, I learned in James Clavell's Shogun that language is the key to survival in any country.

VIVA LA RAZA!

Mexican president says it's okay to put troops on the border but don't arrest Mexicans illegally crossing the border. What? How about we shoot anyone sneaking across. How about that?
Turns out the 1200 national guard troops are not actually going to be manning the border, they are going to be in the back offices. So once again the government is just all talk and no action. This is all for show to make it look like Obama is actually doing something.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/us_mexico_usa_border

Teddy Roosevelt defeated the evil empire of Nicuragua and some mexicans. he also killed a mexican with his bare hands. was he not a better president than Reagan? Reagan never killed a mexican with his bare hands. Reagan cheated When he tried to stop the awesome power of the Nicuraguan empire that, in addition to being 'ten days marching distance from Texas', was also evil. Compared to T. Roosevelt Reagan was a complete douchebag.

Mexicans and other latinos who speak Spanish never say "Americans speak American"
they say Americans speak English

however, I've heard a lot of Americans saying "He/she speaks Mexican"

should I blame McDonald's or Coca-Cola??

If i had a dollar for every time i saw Mexicans describing themselves as Spanish, i'd get to bang Obama's wife cause i'd then be rich. Just because you speak Spanish, doesn't mean you're Spanish. That's like saying Americans are English, cause most speak English.

A Mexican woman in my office makes two visits per year to the grave stone of someone who died 20 years ago. She takes time off of work to go and speak to the dead person in hopes that he hears her..................are all Mexicans like this and if so, why?
I never heard of such a thing on the scale that Mexicans do it.

Hello.
I am looking at learning Spanish for when i go to the USA in March 2008.
Now i am going to California and i am wanting to learn Spanish.
Now i have a few questions.

1 - Is Latin American Spanish the same as Latin Spanish and Mexican Spanish ?

2 - What is the best audio cd for me to learn american spanish (mexicans etc) i have over a year to learn so something what is going to get me extremly knowledgable.

3 - I heard the Rosetta Stone software for latin american spanish is good but i also heard that after it you wont be able to have a conversation with anyone.

Thanks
hey Cra added u to msn then

Now i got told that latin american spanish and mexican spanish is the same correct ?

That its just a form of spanish.

In that case i have got told theres a couple of good audio cd's.

Michel Thomas - Spanish
Pimsluer - Spanish

I dont mind paying the money as i realy wanto learn so yer

i want the language to be in english..i really want to watch a movie based on mexico, mexicans or mexican american
it can be anything horror comedy history etc ??

Here in California I have noticed that most Mexican Americans refer to other Mexicans as "Spanish". Why? Just speaking Spanish doesn't make one Spanish. Being from Spain makes one Spanish. I speak English, but I'm not from England so I'm not English. I almost get the feeling that Mexicans here in California regard the word Mexican as an insult. Why? Being from Mexico makes one Mexican just as surely as being from Italy makes one Italian.

I'm asking this because I told my mom that I had a very hairy Chest and she said its normal for us Mexicans to have hairy chest!

Is this true? And do White guys find this attractive/Hot?

Thanks.

Why is it that Mexicans in Tijuana speak English but in San Diego they cant? As soon as I came back into the United States, none of them could speak English. Do they only send the dumb ones to the US????

This guy I know who is salvadorian called me a chunti because I play soccer and I'm Mexican. He says he doesn't like Mexican soccer players because they are chuntis and he also said that some mexicans are bitches. Does this sound racist? After I pointed it out to him he got all mad and said that he was talking about "some" mexicans.

La Jornada
April 19, 1998
by Jose Agustin Ortiz Pinchetti

During the last 100 years, the racism in Mexico has shown 3 characteristics: 1) it has slowed the process of modernization; 2) it has contributed to the dissolution of public consciousness 3) it has damaged the moral assets of the nation.

1. During the Porfiato nobody hindered the subsistence of the racial social structure, or the heritage of colonization, and Mexico was pledging to overcome these things by "whitening" itself. From here the government was trying to directly structure itself around the descendants of the European colonists.

Today racism still subsists in Mexico as it did during the beginning of the 20th century and before during the period of colonization, all the while hindering the modern growth of its populace. There are indications of growth such as the increase in literacy, the expansion of elemental education, electrification, the introduction of telephone services and the Internet, laser computers, radios, televisions, etc... Mexicans, however, not only live with discrepancies of incomes directly correlating with race, but also live with the rest of the inequalities that are linked to the caste system present here. The original criollo (direct Spanish descendants) structure still has a hegemonic position within Mexico.

Some have defended the status quo, talking of how the racial mobility of Mexico has dramatically increased during this century. But as soon as they have the opportunity to proclaim the implicit supremacy of the "white race" in the process of promoting the sales of products and services, they never hesitate to do so.

2. Our racism is not up for debate. There is no political official to denounce it, confront it, or overcome it, and of course, this in no way worries the elite. The classical studies of Vasconcelos, Ramos, and Molina Enriquez aren't circulating. Santiago Ramirez makes a freudian interpretation and speaks of our inferiority complex in the face of Europe, without realizing that this inferiority complex exists independently amongst Mexicans as a result of the racism present here. The study about the correlation between income and race done by Jose Iturriaga was an important study that was never followed or expanded upon. Bonfil Batalla has a book, "Mexico Profundo" that takes a look at some of the race issues in Mexico, but it has only stimulated a little interest. The official position is not so much one based on support of the Mestizo, but one based on the continuation of criollo dominance. The presence of an increasingly angry indigenous consciousness has unfortunately not led to a greater level of consciousness for the dominant class.

3. The worst damage as a result of the racism present in Mexico is the psychological and cultural damage. Agustin Basave in Mexico Mestizo, describes the results of the imposition of culture on the identity and improvement of Mexico . He points to the contempt of the achievements of the national culture, and the embrace of western culture, particularly that of North America. He continues by indicating that this attitude is impeding Mexico from making the necessary synthesis away from our racism, and creating internal security for ourselves. This embrace of western culture, according to Basave, is also breaking our internal images, and generating unequal dualities, making it nearly impossible to create a true national project. In total the racism present in Mexico, along with the embrace of western culture is dividing and debilitating our nation.

It is very difficult to attack the racism inherent in Mexican culture when those that suffer from it, mainly mestizos, seen to be accomplices in the process of discrimination. But it is possible to go at the dissolution of racism from a different angle. Of great importance is to accept that we suffer from racism in this country as a result of the caste system. It is absolutely necessary that the government and intellectual side of Mexico promote the expansion of this consciousness. They should prohibit the use of commercials in Mexico that promote racial dominance, or at the very least modify what already exists. Also of importance is to change the informal education system, particularly that which offers access to different types of media, such as books, newspapers, radio and television. They should all be attempting to create a type of race consciousness that directly goes at the problem of racism in Mexico.

The decadence of the public education system is currently greatly contributing to the augmentation of racism throughout Mexico. In private universities, the criollo population is being educated and taught to control the media for the particular reason of maintaining their dominance. Vicente Fox recently declared that the slowly increasing access to education for all, is at the root of the continuation and spread of racist ideology. This t

Im 16 and and my friend mike always corrects me when i say im not bilingual and i speak American... Is he stupid or something? Of course I speak American! just like Mexicans speak Mexican, or English people speak English or how Indians speak Indians!!! How should I tell him that he isnt a bright boy? only serious answers please.

I need a few websites of information to help me write about how Americans view Mexicans in the American society...and their feelings towards Mexicans.

After all, when we speak English our voices are flatter and more nasally than when the British speak. Plus we and Mexicans have some shared culture and history and live close to one another.

Are there still Mexicans who speak the native Aztec Language?

The mexicans I've met are hard-working and have great work ethics, They try to get by with what little they have and don't bother anyone.
They have great courage to drop their lives in Mexico and come to a racist country which hardly respects, a country whose language they haven't mastered.
If the shoe were on the other foot, I would be scared and wouldn't leave my native country at all.
Not all the Mexicans I've met are illegal, so why do Americans stereotype so much?

Are ppl just being racist when they berate Mexican immigrants?

what are the basics of analyzing facts to prove a thesis?

if i'm writing a research paper about mexico, and my thesis is that contact with spain yielded a negative out come. My reasons to prove this are that

1. spain enslaved millions of mexicans
2. spain entered war with mexico
3. spain broke up the peace between the tribes
4. spain brought disease to mexico, and the natives had no resistance to it
5. after counquering mexico, mexico was only allowed to rade with spain
6. mexicans were originally discriminated against, and could not improve their lives easily
(i just made these facts up, but they're true)
how could i analyze these facts? what are some things that i could try when i'm analyzing?
how would you analyze these facts?

how else could you connect them to the thesis?

are the basics just stating why, and how? how can you further analyze these things, giving deeper reasons then just why, and how.

In some businesses I've been to in the United States that advertise themselves as having bilingual staff, I've noticed that most of the workers are Mexicans who yes, speak Spanish very well, but their English is horrible. I'm not trying to make fun of them for their English, but seriously, it seems like bilingual these days means "Spanish required, English optional". I myself speak Spanish way better than some of these people speak English, and yet I doubt I would ever be taken seriously trying to get a bilingual job in California because they can always just go hire a Mexican who speaks Spanish better than me, but who speaks English far worse than me. I just can't understand why there is so much emphasis on Spanish skills but almost none on English. And as a side question, why does it seem like the majority of Chicanos I've met are so arrogant about knowing both languages from birth? I even had one insisting that I'm not a true bilingual because I didn't learn Spanish from birth.
Not one of you understood my question. My question is why do EMPLOYERS care so much about Spanish proficiency but almost nothing about their English proficiency. My question had nothing to do with immigrants refusing to learn English. My question is, why is it that someone who speaks Spanish at a 100% level but English at only a 25% level is hired over someone who speaks English at a 100% level and Spanish at a 75% level. It seems like to be considered "bilingual" you really just have to speak Spanish only, as long as you can get by in English you're bilingual, but if you speak English natively, you have to speak Spanish very well or else you're not bilingual. That was my question: why when it comes to being judged as a bilingual or not, native English speakers have to speak Spanish a lot better than native Spanish speakers have to speak English.

I know a bit of Spanish, I understand Mexicans perfectly but when I meet people from The countries I mention, it impossible for me to understand them unless they speak it slowly. Why is that Mexican Spanish is more understandable?

So I've done a little research and am so confused why they don't still speak spanish. They were a colony of Spain for about as long as Mexico was (300 years) but mexicans still speak spanish. And why in the heck is english an official language?
Also do they plan on making spanish their official language again (like it was once). Are they doing anything about it?

What are the different ways (in Spanish) that Mexicans refer to white people? I'm looking for derogatory terms, polite terms, "correct" terms, anything.

More importantly, as a white female who speaks Spanish (rather, trying to become more fluent), how would I refer to myself?
And as long as everyone's stuck on being PC, I'm referring to Caucasian Americans.
I'd like to point out that I'm NOT referring to Mexicans as a race, and am asking specifically about people from Mexico. Hence, Mexicans. I mean no disrespect.

Why is it that whenever someone talks about immigration, they go straight to the bias and say Mexicans. Last time I checked there are immigrants from asia, india, europe, colombia, guatemala, honduras, venezuela, argentina, peru, and so many other countries. Just because someone speaks a form of spanish because believe it or not every country speaks spanish differently with a whole different vocabulary, you all say Mexican. Mexicans don't call you British because you speak English so why call latinos Mexican becuase they speak Spanish?

Rude comments will be reported so answer respectfully and honestly.

What I was meaning was illegal mexicans that come to America and work 3 jobs and then send all the money they make back to mexican, then expect us to know Spanish. I think you should learn English if you are going to live in america. Sorry if some people don't think English is the offical language of America, but I do. And it is the same for us if we go to another county, we should learn to speak what the majority of the country speaks!!!

Why is Spanish the "native" language of 98% of Mexicans, but English isn't the native language of most Indians?
I meant Indians as in East Indians, not West Indians.

if u say this is not common ur full of bs because ive need through this my whole life and so have a number of light skinned non speaking mexicans who are basically "white boys". this is nothing new to me, a lot of the hardcore mexican men look down on non speaking mexicans..and me i look white anyways. ive been tease and treated like crap by them a lot of times... even about an hour ago... ive had friends who say the same thing happens to them regularly.. im not imaging things this is very real.. ive seen talk shows about ppl who feel exactly the same as me... dont deny it...

it sucks but what can i do? freaking mexicans...

I am quince. and my type in a guy is mexican but i really dont know what they like in a girl. i mean the people i talk to go for the wierd looking girls or thee really B*tchy girls. i am more of a thick nice funny girl who likes to smile like ALOT! am i sorta there type?
but. . . . i attract older mexicans who are 16-18 but i dont like older guys. it confuses me. why do older mexicans like me and not younger mexicans?

Do people who live along the coast in Mexico have a lot of the same mannerisms of Californians above them? It would be so hot to meet a Spanish speaking Mexican guy who surfs. None of the Mexicans I know right now in Cali do that. I want to meet a guy who surfs for some reason because it reminds me of my dad and I always grew up at the beach watching my dad surfing.

I have a easy time listening to Mexicans speak, but when I hear a Peruvian, I have so much trouble. In the Spanish language, are their accents truly very different or similar?

I am doing a 2-4 page research paper and I was instructed to pick 2 cultures to write about. I chose Mexicans and Chinese because they are not lazy at all and I admire these qualities. I searched the internet but wasn't able to find any info. on how these cultures became such hard workers. If anyone can provide me some sources to look up I would appreciate it dearly.
oops I meant to add this to the culture section; please forgive me. But if you know please still answer