The chief problem for most Americans who want to learn Spanish but who
don't succeed is the Affective Factor. Plainly put, this means the
emotional issues; that is, adults become freaked out at the thought.
The fear of getting put on the spot and embarrassed is just too much
to bear.
I've talked to plenty monolingual American and Canadian expats in
Mexico who do not learn Spanish. They are, therefore, forced to live
in the various Gringolandias because they are too fearful of learning
Spanish. They self-perceive the problem as their "advanced years" or,
as one cantankerous old coot put it, "I have too lousy of a
disposition to learn Spanish."
Really, the fear of making a mistake is the issue here. If you attend
a class, you are put on the spot when your turn comes to produce
something verbally in the language. You've got to perform in front of
others who may be really, really good in the language. This is too
much for some folks. Adults tend to come to the private schools in
Mexico where students at all manner of levels are mixed into the same
class. You might be performing in front of someone who is advanced.
You think to yourself that you are going to die of humiliation because
you will have to speak Spanish in front of them. You sense they are
bored, and they are'you are freaked!...
http://groups.google.com/group/spanishlearnz
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