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Do you need to speak Spanish in Mexico?

© Geri Anderson

"Do I need to speak Spanish in Mexico?" That's a question I'm frequently asked by people wanting information about traveling in Mexico. The answer is both yes and no. I traveled many times to and through Mexico, knowing very little Spanish. It wasn't easy, but I got by. Now, having lived in Mexico for five months, I can speak a bit better and read quite a bit better, and I am "beginning" to understand when people speak to me "slowly." More importantly, I'm motivated to learn, because I realize how much I missed by not speaking the language.

My advice: Before your next trip to Mexico, learn, or at least brush up on, the basics. Memorize phrases you'll use frequently - know the numbers, names of foods, etc. To do this, you can stay right where you are this minute. You have to go no farther than the Internet, where you'll find resources and courses to help you habla espanol.

If you know absolutely nothing about Spanish and don't have any background in a foreign language, Basic Spanish for the Virtual Student is a good place to start. Or, spend some time at Webspanol.This lighthearted fun site offers a vocabulary of Spanish words you can click on and hear pronounced. Be sure to check out The Devil Verbs, those that don't follow the rules.

You can Learn Spanish, practical Spanish, here. Since you'll no doubt be eating your way through Mexico, set aside time before your trip to browse through the English-Spanish food glossary. You'll find a link to books, CD's and tapes you can order online to help you learn Spanish when you're not at your computer, that is, while driving your car or sunning on the beach.

Yet another resource offers seven categories of common words. Pick from basic words, numbers, shopping/dining, travel, directions, places, and time and dates. You'll use them all when traveling.

I have personally bookmarked a simple chart of verb tenses and will spend a few minutes every day here. I need to etch verb endings into my brain in order to converse with mis amigos, and it's more fun to do it at my computer than searching for them in the small print of my textbook. Or, at least, it's "another" way of learning.

If you prefer a lesson-by-lesson approach rather than vocabulary lists, then study spanish here. There are 20 lessons up and running, which will keep you busy for awhile. More are promised. They'll notify you by e-mail when new lessons appear.

International Language Development looks intriguing. For a one-time fee of $9, you get visual AND audio lessons, in conversational style. You'll

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