Journal writings about Spanish tutoring...I need it!

Wed, Aug 5,09- Mike wanted to go to a zone class just to meet with Elder A, who needed some extra attention. That was important and so I went with him and studied my scriptures in the nursery, out of the way, so he wouldn’t have to see me. Then home and I worked on the blog, added all the fotos, took care of some business, meanwhile Keka made cookies for next week’s interviews and banana bread for our concilio tomorrow, and then fixed our dinner, thankfully. I was able to meet with my tutor from 4-5:30pm. I am learning so much, and see so many areas that he is able to correct and help me. I have been accustomed to committing too many bad habits. (Spanish we don’t make errors, we commit them….) For examples…(these are some of the many from which I stumble!)



• Translation-Traduccion
• Translator-Tranductor
• To Transfer-Traslatar
• Translator-explains written language meaning
• Interpreter-explains oral language meaning
Study, learning and practicing: 15 Reasons to use “POR” and 10 reasons to use “Para”
• Cara-face on your head
• Cutis-skin of face
• Rostro-countenance referring to face
• Faz-face of the earth/not human
• Esfuera-face of a watch/clock
Differences when to use: Perdoneme’, Disculpeme, y ?me permite? Compared to when we use in English, ‘Excuse me,’ ‘pardon me’, “I’m sorry”, “may I?”
SPANISH: Impecable: without sin or mark/blemish Implacable: unforgiving/don’t forgive
Captar: Entender/to understand Captuar: to capture/like a delinquent/criminal person-- but not to be confused with CAZAR-which means to hunt like capturing an animal
Payments: laborer/worker-makes weekly SALARIO, an empleado-makes monthly SUELDO, and professional liberales- educated specialist, receives hrly, weekly or monthly HONORARIOS (wages) Horarios-planner books or schedules
Mas + que =comparisons (yo comi’ mas que mi hermano) Mas + de =quantity (Yo tengo mas de 25 anos casado)
El Cerdohis meat is Chancho, La Vacameat is Vacuno, La Ovejameat is Cordero, Pollomeat is Ave Pez meat or out of water is Pescado
• “Vamos al grano” (Let’s get straight to the point)
• “Wawa que no llora no mama (baby who doesn’t cry, won’t nurse/ or squeaky wheel gets the grease/oil)
• “mano de wawa” (means a tightwad, but is demonstrated like a fist, or baby’s clenched hand)
• “No quiero estar en su pellejo” (animal skins) (I wouldn’t like to be in your shoes!)


I have so much to learn, and with the words in the scriptures, along with ‘church vocabulary’ I keep plugging along, trying to use the correct words, and not be offensive. I am thankful that I have a tutor, (Hernan Pinto, linguist y pedagogo for years, teaching in Embassies all over Santiago.) I should have started before this, to take advantage of my time here. I have many bad habits that I need to change and study, to practice them correctly.