Learn a new language in ten minutes!

Tuesday February 26, 2008
Word of the Day - Misremember
Attendance - 7

There is a old saying -- if you live long enough, you'll see just about everything. At last Tuesday's meeting I REALLY must be old because I witnessed one of the most unique speeches I've seen in as a Toastmaster! Paul Burke, CC (Vice President of Education) presented Spanish 101 from the Advanced Communications Manual.

Now it is difficult enough presenting your topic in five to seven minutes, but doing a ten minute speech is quite a challenge. But the icing on the cake was that his speech was delivered totally in Spanish! The gist of the speech was the learning Spanish wasn't difícil at all; he compared how words in English have multiple spelling and enunciation which are often confusing for the non-English speaking; how living in Los Angeles makes it easier because of the diversity of languages and cultures, illustrating these points behind humorous examples.

By the end of his speech, even the non-speakers in the audience (all of us but one) could follow his "teaching" method. And to think, with this refresher, I could have been fully fluent (if I hadn't forgot those two years of high school Spanish growing up in Michigan)! Very imaginative and entertaining indeed. Don José signing out...


Join us this week for the second installment of Musical Table Topics and a look ahead to what our next event will be. Bring a friend and your lunch and we'll see you there.