What Can You Learn from Lucy and Desi about Living at Lake Chapala Ajijic ?

What Can You Learn from Lucy and Desi about Living at Lake Chapala Ajijic ?

Well, to be honest I don’t know if Lucy or Desi ever made it to Lake Chapala or not, but I was a big fan of them both and was a faithful “I Love Lucy” groupie.

One of the things that Lucy used to do (usually in love and sometimes when she was frustrated) was to mock Desi’s English.

English is not an easy language to learn as an adult, especially given our weird rules of pronunciation as in Red – the color, and “Read “as in the past tense of read.

Then, we have the present tense as in ” I read the book now.” Then to really confuse new English speakers we have the water plant we call a “reed”.

When we gringos try to speak Spanish the “zapato” is on the other “pie” (pee eh). The Mexican people are very encouraging and helpful when we attempt Spanish and get it wrong which gives us encouragement to continue to try.

At least the Spanish vowel sounds don’t change and you can almost always sound out a word in Spanish.

Now, I want to share with you some sound alike words that Mexican English students have been known to get wrong in an effort to help you listen through their accent.

I never ran across the first 12 of this baker’s dozen of pronunciation misunderstandings, but when I was a “Maestro de Inglis” in Guadalajara I heard #13 a lot

1.*Cheese*

The teacher told Pepito to use the word cheese in a sentence.  Pepito replies:

Maria likes me, but cheese fat.

2. *Mushroom*

When all my family get in the car, there’s not mushroom.

3. *Shoulder*

My fren wanted 2 become a citizen but she didn’t know how to read so I shoulder.

4. * Texas*

My fren always Texas me when I’m not home wondering where I’m at!

5. *Herpes*

Me and my fren ordered pizza.  I got mine piece and she got herpes.

6. *July*

Ju told me ju were going to that store and July to me!  Julyer!

7. *Rectum*

I had 2 cars but my wife rectum!

8. *Chicken*

I was going to go to the store with my wife but chicken go herself.

9.*Wheelchair*

We only have one enchilada left, but don’t worry wheelchair.

10. *Chicken* and  *wing*

My wife plays the lottery so chicken wing.

11. *Body wash*

I want to go to the club but no body wash my kids.

12. *Budweiser*

That lady over there has a nice body, budweiser face so ugly?

The next one I hear all the time.

13. *bad*

I have to pee pee. Where is the badroom?

So, let’s do our best at pronunciation in Spanish and to listen through the Spanish accents we hear.