Becoming Fluent

Our receptionist, Denisse, just got my attention. "Amy," she said, and then very deliberately, "It's raining cats and dogs." Then she looked at me expectantly. I laughed and said, "You are absolutely right! it IS raining cats and dogs!" So she said, "so that's a real expression?" Yes, I told her. She was very proud to have used it correctly.

Denisse's English is excellent, much better than my Spanish is. Occasionally she confuses verbs, or other minor things, but in general, it's really good. And it's her third language too - her second is French.

This also made me think of a conversation I had with Alejandro on Saturday. He was an exchange student for a while in California, where he grew to love Sprite, Ranch dressing, and KFC. As part of his language experience, he also apparently learned a full repertoire of "momma jokes," which he proceeded to share with me, giggling after he delivered each joke.

People often ask me if I'm fluent in Spanish. I don't think I am. Or rather, maybe I have a certain level of functional fluency, but to be truly fluent, you have to be able to add in idiomatic expressions or use local humor, or even use sarcasm in another language. I can do some of this, but not frequently enough. To these fluency requirements, I might also add that you have to be able to argue in the language, and really argue your point. Because to do that requires that you understand 100% of what the other person is saying. I think my level of understanding usually hovers around 80%. Not great for arguing with someone.

Not that 80% is too shabby, considering I haven't spent years living in a Spanish speaking country and I don't use the language on a day to day basis. People understand me, and I understand them. I get around just fine and I can do my job. But it still contributes to my end-of-the-day exhaustion because sometimes I really have to focus and think hard about what's being said or what I'm trying to say. My brain translates some of the more simple day to day conversations automatically, but not everything comes that easy.

Maybe Alejandro will teach me the "momma joke" equivalent in Spanish before I leave. :-)