Second-Language Speakers

[PamelaRose]

We're getting more and more requests for HG support from non-English speakers, and I would love to know if some of the current volunteers (or new volunteers - we can always use more!) are able to help out. If you are fluent in a language other than English, please let me know so I can add the information to the volunteer list.

[JennyK]

I speak a limited amount of Polish, couldn't read or write it to save my life. My dad is proficient and my grandma is fluent, so they could translate if we ever got an HGer from Poland.

[PamelaRose]

Very cool! Though I could have guessed the Polish connection from your last name. I'm just the opposite--I can read and interpret lots in certain languages, but I can't speak more than baby talk!

[JennyK]

I should add that my SIL is fluent in Japanese and fairly good in Chinese. I could recruit her to translate those languages for us if need be.

Did I ever tell you that Annie is bilingual? My grandma watches her every afternoon and they speak only Polish. Annie is starting to mix her Polish and English in the same sentence and sometimes I have to ask my grandma to translate.

What languages are you getting requests for? I'm guessing Polish, Japanese and Chinese are not on the list . . . .

[PamelaRose]

Too funny - You're using an intrepreter for your toddler. That is just great, though. I spend so much time trying to convince my Spanish-speaking students that they have a huge advantage because they can function in both languages. Such an asset in today's world, not to mention the fantastic brain connections that are being made!

I'll just pass along any translation needs to your family; it sounds like you have most languages covered.

[aaronsmommy]

My spoken Spanish is okay, especially when it comes to medical stuff. I can't write in Spanish at all, and I don't communicate as well on phone, but I could help in a pinch.

I used to be quite fluent in French, but it's a bit rusty these days, and if I try to talk in French it all comes out in Spanish. I might do okay if someone understood english, so I could use it at least sometimes, but didn't speak or write well - I think I'd do fine understanding them in French.

[PamelaRose]

I knew you speak French, but I forgot about the necessity for Spanish in your area. I'm guessing quite a few ladies in the southwest are pretty capable in Spanish, which is where we'll be seeing need, I'm sure.

[mandy]

I know it's extremely unlikely but we have Africaans and Dutch covered in this corner. Both languages are very similar and dh is fluent in Africaans and so could post with me if there is ever a need.

Mandy x

[PamelaRose]

Very cool! I love finding out how lingually enhanced you all are--I feel so inadequate.

[teddi]

Yo puedo hablar un poco de Espanol.

My grandmother is bi-lingual, but due to the racism of times past, didn't allow her male children to speak it, so my dad understands it, but doesn't speak it. Never passed it on to me, so what I know comes from 4 yrs high school spanish.

I'm the opposite of Aimee, my reading/writing/speaking skills are WAY better than my listening comprehension skills. But umm, Spanish medical terminology was never something we covered in class..though I picked up a *tiny* bit working in the clinic.

But I would happily help out with anyone needing Spanish help. I have a spanish / english dictionary, and truly could use the brush up on skills.

[teddi]

LOL, how do you speak French and have it come out Spanish? That cracked me up

Sometimes I try to speak English and it just comes out gibberish.

[aaronsmommy]

The funny thing is that I actually went to a French school (in LA) for elementary through high school, all my classes in French, all my friends and teachers were French, but since then I have rarely used it, so it just doesn't flow like it used to.

I have never taken a single Spanish class, but for 8 years now, I have just picked it up as I go along (and I think the French helped a lot with that). When I was working at the county hospital in San Jose, about 70% of the patients spoke Spanish only, and at first I used the translators, but then I got to the point I could tell they were translating things wrong and I figured why waste my time! My last job about 90% of the patients spoke Spanish only, so I would end up speaking more Spanish than English, sometimes speaking Spanish to the English speaking ones out of habit!! Now people will grab me to interpret! The Spanish flows quite well because of how much I use it, and I guess that's why things tend to flow out in Spanish when I'm trying to speak French these days.

If you ever need help interpreting the medical stuff let me know!

[Irene]

Hello!

I just recently signed up to become a suport buddy. I don't expect many skandinavians to come across this site, but if so, it may be of help to know that I understand Swedish and Danish. We 3 skandinavian countrys have no problems comunicating or reading each others languages as they are very similar. I speak English and Norwegian fluently, I have Irish parents, who got "stuck" in Norway. My German is VERY rusty, but can be brushed up with a little help from my Mum.

Irene

[PamelaRose]

Thank you, Irene. Actually, we do get requests from Scandinavian countries - I've got women in Sweden and Norway just finishing up HG pregnancies right now.

I'm so envious of people who speak many languages. I can piece together some Spanish and have a veeeery shaky command of Deutsch from my school days. That's not much help, so I really appreciate others sharing their skills.

[megs4413]

I'm pretty good with French, though I probably write like a 6 yr old!

[Storyung]

I am effective in Chinese. Would be glad to help.

[PamelaRose]

A first for our list! Thanks for volunteering to help.

[deb]

hey

i'm an english/german bilingual, so i could help with that if need be.

deb

[PamelaRose]

Danke!

Whew, those 5 years of German in school served me well, huh? I'll make a note that we've got the Deutsch angle covered.

[Starfoot]

Count me in for Hungarian... My writing and grammar are a little rusty but with a spell checker I could manage just fine.