Post: #1

Is it a good or bad thing not speaking portuguese/spanish while hitting up s.america...brazil or colombia?

some guys tell me it's better not to speak it because you get laid quicker but that seems a little far fetched, wouldnt I get further knowing the language lol?

Post: #2

(12-04-2011 01:31 PM)alchemist88 Wrote:  Is it a good or bad thing not speaking portuguese/spanish while hitting up s.america...brazil or colombia?

some guys tell me it's better not to speak it because you get laid quicker but that seems a little far fetched, wouldnt I get further knowing the language lol?

Here are the 2 scenarios:

1. If you look like a regular local, DO NOT SPEAK THE LANGUAGE, even if you are fluent, pretend you don't.

2. If you look like an obvious foreigner, MAKE AN EFFORT TO SPEAK THE LANGUAGE AS FLUENT AS POSSIBLE.

So, a Latin guy in Colombia, should pretend to speak little Spanish and more English....this is DHV, while an obvious Anglo-European who speaks fluent Spanish gets girls wet because he is fluent and not latin.


A polish looking guy in Poland should pretend he does not speak Polish, and play up his other language: English, French/Italian. Meanwhile a Latin guy should do very well speaking Polish because he is NOT polish.


The only exception is Russian. Women could give 2 shits you speak Russian when you were born in India or Brazil or any non-Russian speaking country.

So, you may as well speak your Language and not bother making an effort in Russia, unless you really do speak Russia fluently, then just use it for easy communication.

Get me?

Mixx

Post: #3

Depends where you are. If you're in Rio, Sao Paulo, Buzios, or Floripa, you can get away with just English. If you're just about anywhere else you should know Portuguese because you won't be gaming period, virtually no one will speak english. I've picked up some bad bitches with my mediocre Portuguese. Most of them say my accent is cute. As long as you can communicate what you are trying to say, you should be alright, even if you aren't speaking 100% correct.

Post: #4

Russian women don't give a shit if you can say privet, kak dela, whatever. If you're fluent they still might not give a shit, but I've seen plenty of them impressed with my intermediate level. They will just never show it right away. Once you get past the cold exterior a lot of them will admit it's pretty cool that you can speak such a difficult language.

You can get laid without speaking Russian, but then you're limiting yourself to the girls who speak English. Sometimes these girls are intelligent AND hot, but sometimes just intelligent and it is obvious that they HAD to learn English to have something going for them.

Still, it is a DHV to be recognized as a native English speaker regardless of your Russian ability.

Post: #5

(12-04-2011 02:11 PM)MiXX Wrote:  

(12-04-2011 01:31 PM)alchemist88 Wrote:  Is it a good or bad thing not speaking portuguese/spanish while hitting up s.america...brazil or colombia?

some guys tell me it's better not to speak it because you get laid quicker but that seems a little far fetched, wouldnt I get further knowing the language lol?

Here are the 2 scenarios:

1. If you look like a regular local, DO NOT SPEAK THE LANGUAGE, even if you are fluent, pretend you don't.

2. If you look like an obvious foreigner, MAKE AN EFFORT TO SPEAK THE LANGUAGE AS FLUENT AS POSSIBLE.

So, a Latin guy in Colombia, should pretend to speak little Spanish and more English....this is DHV, while an obvious Anglo-European who speaks fluent Spanish gets girls wet because he is fluent and not latin.


A polish looking guy in Poland should pretend he does not speak Polish, and play up his other language: English, French/Italian. Meanwhile a Latin guy should do very well speaking Polish because he is NOT polish.


The only exception is Russian. Women could give 2 shits you speak Russian when you were born in India or Brazil or any non-Russian speaking country.

So, you may as well speak your Language and not bother making an effort in Russia, unless you really do speak Russia fluently, then just use it for easy communication.

Get me?

Mixx

Mixx, so as a light brown skinned Indian man I should not bother learning Spanish beyond a functional beginner-intermediate level?

Post: #6

(12-04-2011 02:11 PM)MiXX Wrote:  

(12-04-2011 01:31 PM)alchemist88 Wrote:  Is it a good or bad thing not speaking portuguese/spanish while hitting up s.america...brazil or colombia?

some guys tell me it's better not to speak it because you get laid quicker but that seems a little far fetched, wouldnt I get further knowing the language lol?

Here are the 2 scenarios:

1. If you look like a regular local, DO NOT SPEAK THE LANGUAGE, even if you are fluent, pretend you don't.

2. If you look like an obvious foreigner, MAKE AN EFFORT TO SPEAK THE LANGUAGE AS FLUENT AS POSSIBLE.

So, a Latin guy in Colombia, should pretend to speak little Spanish and more English....this is DHV, while an obvious Anglo-European who speaks fluent Spanish gets girls wet because he is fluent and not latin.


A polish looking guy in Poland should pretend he does not speak Polish, and play up his other language: English, French/Italian. Meanwhile a Latin guy should do very well speaking Polish because he is NOT polish.


The only exception is Russian. Women could give 2 shits you speak Russian when you were born in India or Brazil or any non-Russian speaking country.

So, you may as well speak your Language and not bother making an effort in Russia, unless you really do speak Russia fluently, then just use it for easy communication.

Get me?

Mixx

So I guess I am in the clear then, people tell me I look more latin than the average american gringo who stands out with his blonde hair blue/eyes.....so I'm glad to use more english than spanish I dont know!

Post: #7

IMO you should learn the language, get as good as you possibly can. If time is short then learn some basics. It cannot be a bad thing and you're just being lazy if you try and convince yourself that it will be beneficial NOT to speak it.

Post: #8

i can promise you you will get more ass if you can speak the language.

tons of doors will open.

Post: #9

I found very few women, very few people in fact, that spoke English in Colombia. And I was in Bogota which is supposed to have the most English Speakers.

If you don't speak Spanish well enough to have a conversation you're going to have a rough time of it in Colombia.

Post: #10

(12-05-2011 10:25 PM)Celtic Wrote:  I found very few women, very few people in fact, that spoke English in Colombia. And I was in Bogota which is supposed to have the most English Speakers.

If you don't speak Spanish well enough to have a conversation you're going to have a rough time of it in Colombia.

yeah man, I would learn the basics but I've been so busy with work and school I have literally no free time to pick up anything. I'll grab one of those little books with things to say and pimslers spanish audio for the plane ride but other than that Im depending on my friends there who speak english with and their friends who do also

Post: #11

In a word, it's ALWAYS a positive to have some knowledge of the native language wherever you are. It may not always be necessary or practical depending on location, but it's NEVER a negative. People open up to you and are friendlier when they see you're at least trying. Think about it in reverse, how when a person that is trying to speak English and they're self-conscious about it, and you tell them it's okay...I understand you. It puts them at ease and they open up.

Post: #12

Don't underestimate the power of learning a new language and being able to converse with locals, this goes for all places.

From my experience learning French in France and Quebec, before my language skills were decent, I was so stressed out by everyday things like going to a store, taking a bus etc. It was hard because I couldn't express myself properly, and I lost my patience with people quickly and basically thought they were all assholes ( which I sure some people will argue they all are, lol). This is one aspect of culture shock, a real phenomenon that I'm sure others on this board have experienced as well.

Once you are able to have basic conversations, ask questions, etc. things become SO MUCH easier, the people become nicer, more approachable and open, you won't sweat the small stuff in your daily routine.

Good luck!

Post: #13

Just to chip in:

Expanding on the point Mixx made, particularly point one, speaking spain spanish in Colombia seemed to get a beter reaction then south american spanish. I found myself subconciously exaggerating the pronunciation to highlight the difference.

Ditto with queens english in New York, Miami and Vancouver

If i was hazarding a guess, I suppose its the association with the old country, and percieved refinement and culture.

Food for thought.