Bogota Reports

[Corpo]

Anyone been to Lido recently? Any opinions or comparisons to Bar Zhivago?

[Eszpresszo]

In Montreal everyone doesn't speak both languages. I've had several phone conversations, arranging international shipments, where the resident English speaker had to be tracked down. And there are certainly people who've moved to Montreal without ever learning French. As for Ontario, taking a class in high school, doesn't automatically equal speaking the language.

No Canadians that I've ever met, who came from any province west of Ontario can speak French. They all confess to learning some in school. But, they all admit they forgot it rather quickly and have no use for it nor any use for French-speaking Canadians. These are serious Anglophones, I tell you, and I am not about to argue with them.

[KainNYC]

Looking for some new friends to meet up, with. Ill be in Medellin, and Bogotá next month.

[JjBee62]

Not sure how factual this is. If you mean fluent French in Ontario you are right but almost everybody speaks broken French in Ontario as French is the second language they teach at high school in Canada, unless they are high school drop outs then at least they know a bit if French all over. In Montreal everyone speaks both languages. I don't know about Americans so I can't debate about that.

In Montreal everyone doesn't speak both languages. I've had several phone conversations, arranging international shipments, where the resident English speaker had to be tracked down. And there are certainly people who've moved to Montreal without ever learning French. As for Ontario, taking a class in high school, doesn't automatically equal speaking the language.

[JjBee62]

Anyone who visits Latin AMerica, could have told you this- Same in all of South America and Mexico- Learn Spanish- I recommend Pimsleur conversational Spanish for English speakers.

He was already told this week's ago, but taking advice isn't high on his priority list. It only takes a few hours to pick up numbers, greetings, basic questions and a few useful phrases. Combined with a translation app, it's enough for most.

[Bogota Visitor]

Anyone who visits Latin AMerica, could have told you this- Same in all of South America and Mexico- Learn Spanish- I recommend Pimsleur conversational Spanish for English speakers.

Thanks but it would be too late to learn now as I will arrive in Bogota in 3 weeks. I must have super mind to learn a fourth language in just 3 weeks. I am using Google translation to learn some very needy Spanish like expressions to ladies (te gustaría bailar, eres muy bonita, eres lindo, hermosa, te amo.) but I don't even know how to order food for one (for home delivery as I won't venture out after dark). I hope I come back in one piece and without starvation.

I am also trying to find a home country (so that it is not so damn cold) for retirement in 10 years. Greece was not where I like to live nor UK but France maybe but Paris is very expensive. With my retirement income I can live like a king in Bogota (though just middle class in Canada) so it is an ideal place. So now you guys know my purpose for the trip. Not sex or escorts (as you have been asking me why I am here if I don't want to have sex).

I also like to thank all you guys for help and advice you have given me. JjBee and others thank you so much (macho gracias).

[Woodman09]

Everyone knows that Colombians speak Spanish but in all countries there is also a second language where people start learning starting with junior high school and up. English is the most common second language in the world followed by a distant second French. Now to my surprise in Colombia a relatively progressive country it appears nobody speak English! Or any other second language even those college and university graduates! I have been to Greece (everybody speaks English very well) and in Western Europe and even Eastern Europe and everyone is able to speak at least broken English even in middle east a high percentage speak English so what on earth is wrong with Colombians!

Anyone who visits Latin AMerica, could have told you this- Same in all of South America and Mexico- Learn Spanish- I recommend Pimsleur conversational Spanish for English speakers.

[Bogota Visitor]

You need to get out more. Of the Canadians I deal with every week, in Ontario, not one speaks French. Most only speak English, unless they emigrated from another country. Of the Americans I've spent my whole life around, very few speak any language other than English. Once again, most exceptions are immigrants. Of the Mexicans I used to deal with, those who lived and worked closely to the US border, generally spoke some English, while those outside the border region spoke none.

And I thought it was only Americans who expect everyone else to learn English.

Not sure how factual this is. If you mean fluent French in Ontario you are right but almost everybody speaks broken French in Ontario as French is the second language they teach at high school in Canada, unless they are high school drop outs then at least they know a bit if French all over. In Montreal everyone speaks both languages. I don't know about Americans so I can't debate about that.

[JjBee62]

My point was that every country speaks a second language except Colombia. Canadians have a second language too and most speak French as second language (In English Canada) or English as second language (in French Canada). So for a two weeks trip to Colombia I learn Spanish huh?

You need to get out more. Of the Canadians I deal with every week, in Ontario, not one speaks French. Most only speak English, unless they emigrated from another country. Of the Americans I've spent my whole life around, very few speak any language other than English. Once again, most exceptions are immigrants. Of the Mexicans I used to deal with, those who lived and worked closely to the US border, generally spoke some English, while those outside the border region spoke none.

And I thought it was only Americans who expect everyone else to learn English.

[Bogota Visitor]

Are you serious? They don't teach English in public school in many Latin American countries so don't expect it. Also, why is it that YOU don't learn a second language, but they have to?

If it was your first time in Colombia why did you go for two weeks? Next time pick up a phrase book and learn from it. Even a little Spanish goes a long way. When you put no effort they won't either.

Actually I speak three languages (Spanish is not one of them unfortunately) and English is indeed my second language. Please find the facts before making a judgment.

I could get away from work only 2 weeks.

No in all countries that I have visited at least some of population speaks a second language (English being the second) even third world and they actually start teaching as second language in High School (I started in primary school when I was 6 years old). So it was a surprise to see that even educated people in Colombia don't speak a second language.

[ShooBree]

There are Colombians who speak English, in the reception at my hotel, in the Airport and Colombians which I met in the clubs in the Zona Rosa.

And no, not every country speaks a second language. The US, UK, Australia to start with.

[Mr Enternational]

My point was that every country speaks a second language except Colombia. Canadians have a second language too and most speak French as second language (In English Canada) or English as second language (in French Canada). So for a two weeks trip to Colombia I learn Spanish huh?

What second language do my fellow Americans speak? You must have not been many places if you believe what you wrote. So you think for a 2 week trip to your country someone from Colombia should have to learn English or should everybody have learned Spanish as one of their 2 languages before the person arrives?

[YippieKayay]

My point was that every country speaks a second language except Colombia. Canadians have a second language too and most speak French as second language (In English Canada) or English as second language (in French Canada). So for a two weeks trip to Colombia I learn Spanish huh?

Are you serious? They don't teach English in public school in many Latin American countries so don't expect it. Also, why is it that YOU don't learn a second language, but they have to?

If it was your first time in Colombia why did you go for two weeks? Next time pick up a phrase book and learn from it. Even a little Spanish goes a long way. When you put no effort they won't either.

[Bogota Visitor]

Nothing is wrong with Colombians. They speak Spanish. It's the 4th most popular language in the world, not far behind English. Why would you expect a country of nearly 50 million to learn English just to accommodate you?

All of their neighbors speak Spanish, except Brazil, which uses Portuguese. English is not considered a necessity.

Why don't Canadians speak Spanish? It's a much more common language than French (ranked 14th), it's a reasonably simple language with (mostly) consistent conjugation and many cognates, and outside the US and UK, many common Canadian vacation destinations are in Spanish speaking countries.

Why don't more Americans speak Spanish? We share a border with the biggest Spanish speaking population in the world.

Instead of complaining that Colombians don't speak much English (something you've been told more than once) why don't you learn some Spanish?

My point was that every country speaks a second language except Colombia. Canadians have a second language too and most speak French as second language (In English Canada) or English as second language (in French Canada). So for a two weeks trip to Colombia I learn Spanish huh?

[JjBee62]

Everyone knows that Colombians speak Spanish but in all countries there is also a second language where people start learning starting with junior high school and up. English is the most common second language in the world followed by a distant second French. Now to my surprise in Colombia a relatively progressive country it appears nobody speak English! Or any other second language even those college and university graduates! I have been to Greece (everybody speaks English very well) and in Western Europe and even Eastern Europe and everyone is able to speak at least broken English even in middle east a high percentage speak English so what on earth is wrong with Colombians!

Nothing is wrong with Colombians. They speak Spanish. It's the 4th most popular language in the world, not far behind English. Why would you expect a country of nearly 50 million to learn English just to accommodate you?

All of their neighbors speak Spanish, except Brazil, which uses Portuguese. English is not considered a necessity.

Why don't Canadians speak Spanish? It's a much more common language than French (ranked 14th), it's a reasonably simple language with (mostly) consistent conjugation and many cognates, and outside the US and UK, many common Canadian vacation destinations are in Spanish speaking countries.

Why don't more Americans speak Spanish? We share a border with the biggest Spanish speaking population in the world.

Instead of complaining that Colombians don't speak much English (something you've been told more than once) why don't you learn some Spanish?