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<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=210140814-05072001>3)
Language: In my "second life" I work for a company that teaches occupational
"momentary interface" Spanish. Some tricks you can use when you go abroad, but
don't speak Spanish are:</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=210140814-05072001></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=210140814-05072001>a) Ask
only yes/no (Si'/No) questions, if you can formulate a full sentence (or even if
you can't). Most people who don't speak Spanish (or don't speak much) have more
trouble understanding the response than getting the question out. For example,
asking someone "?Do'nde esta' el refugio?" is easy to say, but will get you a
full language response, of which you will catch about the first sentence. BUT if
you ask "?El refugio esta' por alla'?" and point down a street, you get either
Yes or No, and if no you'll probably get some additional directions. Watch the
direction in which the person points. Go that direction, then ask the next
person you see when you come to another decision point.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=210140814-05072001></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=210140814-05072001>b)
Take a very small dictionary (not a phrase book). Look up only the key words of
what would normally be a "real" question. Gabrielle's practicing of "Where can I
find a taxi stand, please?" is great, but the question "Taxi?" with an
inflection that goes up (like in English), a quizzical look, and perhaps your
hands up with palms out (typical American "clueless" gesture) will probably get
you the same information. (Although perhaps not the lovely story/experience of
Gabrielle).</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=210140814-05072001></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=210140814-05072001>Sorry
for the long post, but Gabrielle and Robert's posts made me think that perhaps
this information could be useful. Often it's easy to not see the forest for the
trees; as we focus on route specifics it's important to remember this is another
country too.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=210140814-05072001></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=210140814-05072001>Maryjane</SPAN></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>