Learning Spanish: out-of-pocket or on the company tab?

[ren]

I trust people's opinions around here, so I'm going to toss this out and see what you think.

I handle claims in California. Some accounts won't allow you to work their claims without being Spanish/English bilingual. I, of course, took Latin in school. (The jeering peanut gallery can shush. ) I would like to learn Spanish so I will have more opportunities in the future. I've already lost a promotion because the position was on one of those accounts.

Here's the iffy thing -- I've spoken with my office's HR goddess (no, really, she's that good) and my employer will pay for me to take community college classes, but I don't want to learn Castilian Spanish. I've heard too many horror stories of what happens when gringas trot out school Spanish to native speakers from this hemisphere. Yes, I am vain enough not to want my claimants not to laugh at me.

I did some research and found a faster-paced course that will cost $300 and is taught by native speakers. However, my company will not reimburse me for it because it's not accredited. I tried pointing out that I'll learn more useful Spanish this way, but HR told me to take it up with the CEO.

So I figure I have two options:
A) Take the community college classes and guilt trip a couple native speakers I know into repairing accent/phrasing issues. Pro: Cheaper for me! Cons: Slower, would have to reimburse employer if I job hop during/immediately after the classes.
B) Do it on my own and use the native speakers just for conversational practice. Pro: Faster. Cons: Money out of my pocket, no fancy accredited-ness.

Some would say I'm missing option C) flat out learn from my pet native speakers, but they have full time jobs and I'm not willing to pester them that much.

Priorities:
1. Speaking Spanish well -- I don't particularly care about literacy as we use state mandated forms for notices. I need to be able to take statements and carry on general phone conversation.
2. Money -- I'd like not to be out the $300, but I'd also like to make the money that rides on conversational fluency.
3. Time -- again, I don't really care about learning "Students will write and discuss in Spanish thematic and free essays. Study and practice of literary analysis and technical translation." [actually quoted from the course description of the acceptable course] I'm all for 'no learning is ever wasted', but it's just not something I care about.

I'm leaning toward taking the $300 hit and doing it my own way, but... $300! Opinions?

[PrincessPerky]

Re: Learning Spanish: out-of-pocket or on the company tab?

IMO, most classes designed for school on a language will gear you torward taking a test, the lessons the extras, the homework, all are often geared torward that test...but you don't want to take a test, you want to learn spanish for work...bit different of a goal.

However, I am confused on one point, claims....wouldn't that involve writing spanish? And some tecnical terms?

I think there are other courses availible such as online or CDrom, or DVD, while they may cost the same (though some are much less), they have the advatage of resalability....I think when looking into more french for my kids I came accross a site that was free, all ad based, ads play in the corner while you read/listen (silent ads)

If I were you (and I am not) I would buy a cheaper spanish CD, or look for the website, while working on the 'CEO'. It would give me a leg up, regardless. and offer a chance to test how bad or good the spanish is (on those friends of yours).

A formal letter explaining the course work of the class you want to take might help.

I would also insist that all visits with said friends were part spanish

[tinapbeana]

Re: Learning Spanish: out-of-pocket or on the company tab?

ren, try searching for Peace Corps tapes. a professor of mine learned Spanish using these for a few weeks before a trip to Cuba and Costa Rica, and said they were invaluable b/c they're taught in the vernacular and focus on spoken Spanish rather than reading/writing. and BTW, since you took Latin, Spanish actually shouldn't be that hard.

another option: try to barter services with a native speaker. does your library or literacy association offer "English as a Second Language" courses? if so, you might be able to partner up with a native speaker and tutor them on English while they tutor you on Spanish.

as for the technical terms, in my experience those are usually just spoken in English even in a Spanish conversation as there is frequently not a proper Spanish equivalent. same thing frequently goes for names, locations, and brands.

[LuxLiving]

Re: Learning Spanish: out-of-pocket or on the company tab?

Try the CEO first - you might get cooperation where you're expecting a wall.

[fairy74]

Re: Learning Spanish: out-of-pocket or on the company tab?

My two cents...as a native Spanish speaker (Mexican, not Castilian brand) I would recommend a third option, post an ad for a local tutor (native speaker) they tend to be cheap and very good and can tailor the program to whatever your most common conversations will be. Claims is quite specific so there is a lot of techinical vocabulary that a normal program may miss. Post in the newspaper, on craigslist, at your local grocery (you would be amazed at the number of Latinos with advanced degrees from their native countries who are working in groceries, etc...).

[fairy74]

Re: Learning Spanish: out-of-pocket or on the company tab?

Also as another side note, be very careful about listing yourself as Spanish/English bilingual. Until you have truly had enough practice that you can speak, read and write with a high degree of accuracy you are not bilingual (list yourself as conversational or proficient until that time). It is highly insulting to Latinos to say you speak fluent Spanish when you don't . The last thing you would want to do is put yourself in a position where you offend your contracts and loose a promotion because you oversold your abilities. Take it slow, practice a lot and in time it will come.

[scfr]

Re: Learning Spanish: out-of-pocket or on the company tab?

Here's my 2-cents ...

If you are taking Spanish just for your current job, take whatever the company will pay for (of course, talk to the CEO first, but take the community college course if that is all that is available).

If you think you will use Spanish in your life outside of work or at another job at another company, then bite the bullet and pay for it yourself.

I agree wholeheartedly with fairy74 about not over-selling your skills. But I'll add that a native speaker won't expect you to speak as well as a native speaker (as long as you don't claim that you do). Also - don't worry about making mistakes ... Just ask Jeffrey, who ended up telling his Japanese neighbors that their children were "pathetic" (kawai-soo) instead of "cute" (kawai). And since I don't mean to point the finger at Jeffrey, I will confess that I once hollered to my husband that there was a "bear" (kuma) in the bathroom when I meant to say "spider" (kumo).

[LuxLiving]

Re: Learning Spanish: out-of-pocket or on the company tab?

ren, have you met MIClason on the boards and blogs here? Possibly you two could hook up for some internet lessons?

[ren]

Re: Learning Spanish: out-of-pocket or on the company tab?

Perky, writing isn't a priority, because the important documents either are already in Spanish (the "Autorización de divulgación de informaciones médicas reservadas" -- medical information release -- is sent out with every new claim packet) or we are required to send them in English (so the judges know we didn't sneak "And cashing a disability check will give us the right to sell your children and take your home" in there to intimidate a claimant). Before anyone gets too upset, most native English speakers are utterly confused by those notices and I end up having to explain what they mean when claimants call in freaking out anyway.

As far as technical terminology goes, I'm not too worried about it, since another adjustor in the office -- he's actually the one who got the job I wasn't qualified for -- is one of my native speaker friends.

Tina, I'll see if I can find those tapes. Actually, I may try Lux's suggestion and write up a proposal to the CEO to see if the company would be willing to buy them for my office's use. As long as the price isn't too high, it might be doable. Something that benefits the entire office might be an easier sell. If not, there's always eBay.

Lux, I wasn't comfortable requesting a special allowance for 1 worker bee out of 6000. The CEO's three time zones away and 8 levels of management above me. But, if I can find Tina's tapes or something similar, then I'm asking for something that would benefit an entire office. And I'll keep MIClason in mind, esp. if I get ambitious and decide to try my hand at writing and reading after all.

Fairy, I take your point on not calling myself bilingual. I will be very careful to avoid that. And I'm not entirely comfortable seeking out someone for tutoring, even though that would probably be the best way to go about it. I deal with approaching strangers all day. I know, stupid, it's not like I won't be asking the same of my friends.

SCFR, I'll use it at the current employer, but I'll also take it to the next company. Maybe that means I should do both? And my cousin told me that when he was an exchange student he called his host family's youngest kawaii (I think that's how it's spelled? anyway, he said it meant scary) instead of kawai.

Wow, that was an awful lot of responses. Thanks, everyone, I appreciate the ideas! I knew I could count on y'all.

[jeffrey]

Re: Learning Spanish: out-of-pocket or on the company tab?

Free language courses developed by the Foreign Service Institute by the United States government and are in the public domain: http://fsi-language-courses.com/

[ren]

Re: Learning Spanish: out-of-pocket or on the company tab?

Oooooo, Jeffrey, thanks!

[smooper]

Re: Learning Spanish: out-of-pocket or on the company tab?

I like the link, i was hoping there was something on the web like that. Thanx!

[fairy74]

Re: Learning Spanish: out-of-pocket or on the company tab?

Good luck Ren and Jeffrey that is a very cool site!

[scfr]

Re: Learning Spanish: out-of-pocket or on the company tab?

And my cousin told me that when he was an exchange student he called his host family's youngest kawaii (I think that's how it's spelled? anyway, he said it meant scary) instead of kawai.

kowai = scary
That's funny! So many ways to make mistakes...

[miclason]

Re: Learning Spanish: out-of-pocket or on the company tab?

I'm late in reading this!
Ren, if you want to practice, feel free to contact me!

Saludos y buena suerte!