British Yates in Espana

[Guest]

Why do so many British yates come to Espana without taking the time or having the good manners to learn a little Espanol before they come. You expect me to speak English when I visit Londres so I expect you to speak Espanol in my country. Am I rong?

 

[Guest]

Re: British Yachtsmen in Espana

And what language would you speak in Holland, Pobla? Truth is English is one of the most widespread languages in Europe and unfortunately the English do not have a tradition of learning languages, so our language teaching systems are not nearly as good as those in Holland, or Belgium, or Germany or perhaps Spain. And the proficiency of other Europeans at speaking English makes it even harder for the English to learn a foreign tongue. What we are quite good at is spending money, in restaurants, hotels, marinas, on villas and builders and car hire and so on. I have just returned from my first ever holiday in Spain, enjoyed it very much, and have to say that the welcome we received wherever we went, even places where we were not spending money, was very friendly indeed even though we speak next to no Spanish at all. Don't spoil the good first impressions!

 

[LadyInBed]

Re: Yates

Biographical note on Dornford Yates
Dornford Yates, real name Cecil William Mercer, born 1885 at Walmer, Kent, resident Pau, France 1922-40, and Umtali, Rhodesia, from 1946 until his death in 1960

otherwise see post on Practical Boat Owner's Reader to Reader Forum

 

[Guest]

i never expect people abroad to speak english. when they do it is a treat and i am always embarassed that i cannot speak their language. however i have visited most countries in europe, come from an irish background and married a polish girl. even the Pope can't speak that many languages so why not use the universal english. i always order beer in french, no matter what country i am in.

 

[webcraft]

Que?

 

[LadyInBed]

Re: Yates - Sorry . . .

I was in a Great Bustard (fowl or maybe even foul) mood when I wrote the above.

Of course I feel a great sense of achievement when I hesitantly splutter out a sentence or two in a foreign language. The main trouble is, it is often German when in France, French in Spain etc.
But one thing I have learnt is not to speak German in Holland, there I stick to English.

 

[Guest]

Re: Yates - Sorry . . .

What language do you speak in other parts of The Netherlands, then?

 

[LadyInBed]

Re: The Netherlands

English all the way, and I cant get my head around Malaccan.

 

[Guest]

Re: Yates - Sorry . . .

Very, very wise......................