Word Confusion August 6, 2014

Michelle, one of PC TECH’s excellent instructors, writes about an experience shared by many people as they travel internationally:

Cuernavaca, Mexico

Cuauhnahuac, Language Cultural Institute – Spanish Program

It was the first day at Cuauhnahuac, where I had come to study Spanish.

I needed lodging, so I decided to ask the director of the school

to help me and said in Spanish, “Quisiera hablarte de casamiento.”

I had wanted to say, “I would like to talk to you about housing.”

I knew the word for house was casa and I also knew that many

words ended in -miento.

Everyone began to laugh and I didn’t understand why.  I asked

what’s so funny and they said, “You asked him to talk about marriage.”

Could you imagine the first time I spoke to the Director, I mentioned

marriage?

I was so embarrassed, and of course I said “Estoy tan embarazada.”

“I’m so embarrassed.” and what I really was saying was

“I am so pregnant.”  The Director and the teachers began to howl

with laughter.

What a coincidence.  First I talked about marriage

and then pregnancy.  What a way to introduce myself!  And I was

trying to impress them with my knowledge of Spanish.

I like to tell my students this story and other stories of my mistakes

because then they feel I’m human and they begin to relax and

realize it’s OK to make mistakes in English.

PC TECH: English Language School in New York City