My first post

Hola Imelda, ¿Qué tal? Qué casualidad ... soy periodista también y estudio español. Me gustaria ayudarte con tu inglés escrito y quizas me puedes ayudar un poco con mi español. ¿Trabajas en radio o television o un periodico?

Creo que tu nivel de inglés es un poco más alto que el mio en español, pero si quieres charlar un poco conmigo por correo electronico dame un mensaje por este sitio.

Saludos, Rick.

Hola Imelda,

Soy tu "learning buddy". Escribes a las mil maravillas en inglés. Sin embargo, te puedo ayudar porque soy muy buena para revisar y corregir la escritura. Siendo periodista me imagino que tu también lo eres. Soy profesora de español en la universidad donde enseño los primeros tres niveles. Desde que empecé a aprender español en 2001, tengo el anhelo de llegar más allá. ¡Parece ser una lucha eterna!

A mí también me gusta leer mucho en los dos idiomas. Acabo de leer La casa de los espíritus y ya empecé a leer La sombra del viento, Gaia: la venganza de la tierra y Water for Elephants.

Encontré algunos pocos errores en lo que escribiste arriba:

1. I am Spaniard.
'Spaniard' is used sometimes to refer to a man, but I haven't heard it used to refer to a woman. I think 'Spanish' is much more common en general. It's possible that 'Spaniard' is used more often in British English.

2. I am Spaniard, I have
In English a conjunction is usually required here. Ex. I am Spanish and also a journalist; therefore, I have...

3. I hope finding
I hope to find...

4. and what I'm looking for it's...
and what I'm looking for is...

5. extrovert
extroverted

Estos errores son los únicos que he podido encontrar. Por favor déjame saber si esta manera de corregir es demasiado quisquillosa para ti.

Cambiando de tema, ¿Qué tipo de películas te gusta más? ¡Me encantan la películas también! Estos días estoy viendo casi todas con Christian Bale, un actor galés. Hace poco vi "El orfanato", que es aterradora.

¿Qué tipo de periodista eres? ¿Qué temas cubres?

¡Estupendo feedback, Colleen! Para mí también es muy útil.

Welcome, Imelda. Nice to see you here. I hope the exams went well.

Hi Rick, first of all, thanks for writing. I'm glad to be your virtual partner. Well, I reckon your Spanish is really good, in fact I haven't found any relevant mistake in your little composition (perhaps some accents -televisiÓn, periÓdico- and the use of the expression "dame un mensaje" sounds estrange, it would be better "envíame un mensaje"), so you have to be proud.
Well, I have worked in several places during time life -radio, television, news agency...- but since 2003 I work as the person in charge of the communication of companies or institutions.
Nowadays I'm the head of Dissemination and Communication of the Spanish National Competency Center for the application of open source technologies. So I don't work as a typical journalist... I do other kind of job, trying to disseminate the results of my institution projects.
Well, perhaps you're interested in open source software...
Anyway, I'm really happy of having your as a English colleague, and I promise to write to you as frequently as I coul.
Best regards,
Imelda

Hi Collen, first of all, thanks for writing and correcting me. You are no too "quisquillosa", that's precisely the way that I love to be corrected, because I think it's the only way of improving my skills in English.
I'm absolutely glad to be your virtual partner. Well, I reckon your Spanish is merely extraordinary and I would like to have the same level in English one day... well, by the moment what I have to do is to practice, and practice, as much as I can. I prone to write too much, because I'm talkative (not only speaking, writing too), so I tend to commit a lot of mistakes.
Thanks for you polite words about my English Knowledge, I appreciate it too much, believe me.
I'm going to answer some of your questions.

Firs of all I'll tell you that I have worked in several places during my time life -radio, television, news agency...- but since 2003 I work as the person in charge of the communication of companies or institutions.
Nowadays I'm the head of Dissemination and Communication of the Spanish National Competency Center for the application of open source technologies. So I don't work as a typical journalist... I do other kind of job, trying to disseminate the results of my institution projects.
Well, perhaps you're interested in open source software...

Talking about films, I love vampires films, but not gore films. What I mean it's that I love frightening films but only which one that are well done in an artistic sense, like "Dracula, of Bram Stroker", for instance. I really enjoy almost any kind of film (not gore, I have to insist, because I hate watching films like "Saw" or "Hostel"...you know? I think they are really revolting). Nowadays I'm really hooked on tv series like "Lost" or "Heroes"...

I'm really happy of having your as a English colleague, and I promise to write to you as frequently as I coul.

Please, tell me something about you. What do you do? How old are you? What do you like to do in your free time? Have you ever been in Spain? Where do you life...

Best regards,
Imelda

Hi Bernardo, It's good to see you too. Yesterday I did my writing exam, today I have listening and reading, and tomorrow I'm doing speaking. I hope passing them in flowing colors ;-)) I'll tell you as soon as I knew the marks.

How are you? I haven't received any piece of news from you during last days... are you been busy? Tell me, please. I really appreciate to share information with you, and don't worry too much about correcting me. I know that it could be really hard and exhausting sometimes...

Best regards,

Imelda

Hi Imelda,

You know what it's like, I'm sure. Sometimes a lot of things come together at the same time --- more work than usual, a trip to another city, a burst of social activity. I have been busy but I'll keep in touch.

One correction --- to pass with FLYING colours --- think of victory flags flying in the breeze!

all the best, Yotro

Hi Yotro,
Thank you very much and take it easy. Don't get too much stress and try to be as calm as you could. Of course, sometimes to be busy is good, if the reasons of the activities are good, like social activity or trips, you know what I mean, don't you?

Anyway, thanks a lot for keeping in touch.

Have a nice day

Bye

Imelda

Imelda,

Gracias por escribirme. Es una gran ventaja tuya poder escribir tanto sin preocuparte demasiado por los errores que realmente son pocos. Así vas a seguir avanzando a un ritmo rápido. Siempre ha sido mi talón de Aquiles (no sé si se dice en español) tener miedo de cometer errores tanto en la escritura como en la conversación pero así se aprende, ¿verdad?

Sí me interesa el software a acceso libre (¿open source software?) si es que entiendo el concepto. ¿Son programas como Firefox que son gratuitos?

Ahora voy a contestar algunas de tus preguntas.

Vivo en Fort Collins, Colorado, EEUU. Cumplo 38 años este sábado. ¡Dios mío! Intento pensar en las experiencias que he vivido en vez del hecho de envejecerme. Me casé recientemente en septiembre del año pasado con un hombre maravilloso que también es maestro de español. Los dos hemos viajado bastante en el extranjero; los viajes míos siempre fueron cortos de uno o dos meses hasta el 2006 cuando mi esposo (novio en ese momento) y yo fuimos a México por un año a enseñar inglés. Mi primer viaje a España fue a Sevilla en 2001. Luego, hice un viaje a Granada y en el mismo viaje visité Madrid, Toledo y Salamanca. Hace unos años fui a Barcelona después de pasar por Francia para visitar a mi hermano, quien vivía en Paris en ese entonces.

En mi tiempo libre me gusta leer, ver películas, andar en bicicleta a todos lados, hacer yoga (empecé la semana pasada) y pasar tiempo con amigos, mi esposo y mi familia. Toda mi familia menos mi hermana vive en Fort Collins y estamos bastante unidos. Me encanta partirme de la risa con mis queridos. Confieso que puedo ser un poco burlona.

¿Por qué quieres aprender inglés? ¿Cómo empezaste? ¿Dónde vives? Si podrías cumplir un sueño, ¿qué cosa harías?

Te voy a dejar con algunas correcciones para que no pienses que me haya puesto floja.

1. by the moment
at the moment ...

2. I prone to...
I am prone to...

3. I appreciate it too much
I appreciate it very much (or a lot)

4. Since 2003 I work
Since 2003 I have worked

5. What I mean it's
What I mean is that...

Saludos,
Colleen

Wow Collin, what a impressive message!
First of all thank you very much for your comments about my English. I try to do my best, but I feel insecure about writing and speaking (they are my 'talón de Aquiles', that expression of course exists). I suppose it's a question of practicing.

Your Spanish is really good, perhaps you tend to use some expressions that sound a little unnatural in Spanish, as "Me encanta partirme de la risa con mis queridos"... it would be better "me encanta echar unas risas con mi gente", but you don't commit any mistake and I've understood every thing perfectly. You have a great level, believe me.

I feel absolutely impress with your traveling experience. You have been in a lot of places. I haven't travel for so long. Only 15 days at Edinburgh, other 15 at Germany, some weeks at Portugal, Praha, London... my problem is that I haven't too much holidays. I haver only a month every year, and I have to share it with my husband, who is a plot writer, and it's difficult to have the same periods of holidays. I envy you, believe me. Teachers have, in general, really good conditions of work, and holidays are the best part of all.

For this holidays I was thinking about the possibility of exchange my house with other people. It's an unusual practice, and I've never tried it yet, but I think it's a good idea to give your house to some people who are going to give their own house at the same time. So, you can enjoy a place without wasting your money in an expensive hotel. You live in a lended house, and the owners of that house are living in you house during your travel. I know that it sounds strange, but I think that it could work, if I find the appropriate people.

I'm going to be 36 next 19th June, so both of us are Geminis and we have the same age, more or less. I feel I little worried about the fact of become older, but it isn't a big concern at the moment.

The reason why I'm learning English is that I love it, and it's useful for my job. I have to communicate with a lot of people all over the world in order to arrange meetings or happenings about open source software (yes, it's firefox, oppenOffice, thunderbird...). Besides, I love watching films, and doing it with their original sound and voices is a delighting sensation.

I live in Almendralejo (Extremadura) really near of Mérida, where there is one of the most roman original theaters in the world. You can see plays and performances every summer in this theater. It's an amazing place. Almendralejo is on the South-West of Spain and it only takes and hour and a half to get Sevilla, two hours to get Lisbon, three hours to get Madrid, or 3 hours to get Salamanca, for instance. Another amazing city near of Almendralejo is Cáceres. It's like a medieval city, really well maintained.

In this moment I haven't enough time to answer your last question: "Si podrías cumplir un sueño, ¿qué cosa harías?"... perhaps I would like travel all around the world for some years, and live in different places for a while... but it isn't time for dreaming, it's time for working. I have to leave you.

Write soon, please, and tell me things about your country. I'm interested in knowing if American Society is so conservative as it seems.

Best regards.

Imelda

Imelda,

Gracias por las sugerencias. Cada vez que me sugieras algo, voy a intentar ponerlo a la práctica. Busco palabras y expresiones en wordreference.com, pero resulta frecuentemente que no son las que la gente realmente usa.

Quiero contestar tu pregunta de que si los americanos somos muy conservadores. Como con todo, supongo que depende de la persona, pero sí hay muchas personas conservadoras aquí. Yo diría que casi la mitad de la población es conservadora, más o menos la misma proporción que votó por Bush. Espero que la corriente esté cambiando.

Estuve pintando el baño de nuestra casa casi todo el día, y ahora estoy un poco mareada por los gases que inhalé. ¿Quién habría pensado que llevaría tanto tiempo pintar un cuarto de baño? Mañana te escribiré más cuando pueda concentrarme mejor. Me parece que tienes una vida interesante.

Colleen

P.D. ¿Qué vas a hacer el día de tu cumpleaños?

Imelda,

Olvidé de decirte en mi último mensaje lo mucho que me han gustado tus mensajes. Siempre incluyes muchos detalles interesantes de tu vida. También me encanta que seas geminis y que tengamos la misma edad (más o menos; aún te faltan unos años).

Dijiste que no has viajado mucho, pero me parece que eres desmasiado humilde porque además de haber viajado un montón has ido a mucho países distintos. Tengo la ventaja de tener más vacaciones, pero en cambio no gano tanto porque no me pagan durante los veranos.

¿Cómo te fue en los exámenes que tomaste hace poco? ¿Para qué programa son estos exámenes?

Mañana voy a entrar en tu blog a ver si me has escrito. A partir del domingo voy a estar fuera hasta el 20 de junio durante lo cual (?) no voy a tener acceso al internet. Mi esposo y yo vamos a San Diego para pasar tiempo con su abuela, sus tíos y su madre, quien viajará a San Diego desde Georgia. Una cosa que mi esposo y yo tenemos en común es la costumbre de pasar mucho tiempo con la familia. Cuando lo conocí era algo que me llamaba la atención mucho y que me gustaba porque no es típico de los hombres aquí, por lo menos no de los hombres que conozco yo.

Cariñosos saludos,
Colleen

p.d. Alugnas sugerencias acerca de tu inglés (sigues impresionándome con tu nivel)

1. I feel absolutely impress...
I am really (very) impressed with...

2. conditions of work
working conditions

3. this holidays
these holidays

4. the possibility of exchange
the possibility of exchanging ...

5. most roman original theaters in the world
most original Roman theaters....

p.p.d. Yo también he pensado en los intercambios de casa (¿Cómos se dice en español?). Me parece una excelente oportunidad de conocer lugares nuevos sin gastar mucho dinero como tú dices.

Hi Colleen. I have lot of things to answer to you. First of all, thanks for your messages. You are really friendly and polite, and I really appreciate it, believe me. Secondly, thank you very much for correcting my mistakes again. It helps me to improve my English.
I wish you enjoy your next travel. As you say, it's unusual to find people who truly enjoy spending time with their families. You know, even in Spain it's unusual. There are lots of problems inside families, are their relationships many times become a sort of hell. Anyway, Spain is really diverse and wide, and it hasn't anything to do a person from Vasque Country and a person from Andalucía... we are very different in our mindsets and ways of live.

You asked me what I'm going to do during my birthday... well, I'm afraid than I am working, because I have too much job. I'm preparing the presence of my institution in a national education congress, related to internet and software that it's going to be by the end of this month, and it's giving me a lot of job. Anyway, I have spend this day with my family, having an splendid meal in a restaurant in Zafra, a precious village near from my city.

Well, tell me about you, what are you going to do during your birthday?

You told me that you don't earn your salary while holidays, and this is something really surprising to me, because in Spain teachers receive their incomes all the year, even in holidays... because of that a lot of people would like to be teacher in Spain, although things are changing lately, because of the increase of conflicts inside classrooms, I mean, bullying, aggressiveness, lost of respect to teachers...

I'll try to correct some of your mistakes (again, there are only a few, your Spanish is amazing):

1. "¿Cómo te fue en los exámenes que tomaste hace poco? ¿Para qué programa son estos exámenes?" The verb "tomar" isn't use in Spanish for exams, at least in Spanish from Spain, perhaps it's usual in South America. Here the most common word is "hacer". So the question would be "¿Cómo te fue en los exámenes que hiciste hace poco?" and better than "¿para qué programa son estos exámenes?" is "¿Para qué son?". You don need to repeat exams again, and the word "programa" isn't necessary neither, because asking "¿Para qué son?" is a wider question

Now, I'll answer... these exams are to obtain a degree in English. In Spain we have a public program of teaching languages, really cheap and good, it's named Escuela Nacional de Idiomas, and there you can learn English, French, Portuguese, Italian, Geman... I've been leaning English for five years, and now I have done my exams to obtain my degree. I hope I pass my exams, because I feel a bit tired of studying, but I want to continue learning by my own.

2. You say, "A partir del domingo voy a estar fuera hasta el 20 de junio durante lo cual (?) no voy a tener acceso al internet". This is correct, but it sounds more natural to say "A partir del domingo voy a estar fuera hasta el 20 de junio, y en este tiempo no voy a tener acceso A internet".

3. You use the word "esposo", and it's correct, but again it sounds unnatural. The most common word for your husband in Spanish is "marido".

4. "p.p.d." It's almost correct... PD. from POST DATA.

5. "intercambios de casa" is completely correct.

And that's all by the moment. It's Saturday here, and I'm going to the cinema with my husband and his son (he's divorced and have two children, a boy who is 15 and a girl who is 14). We are going to see "The incident" a thriller about a kind of plague which consists in people killing themselves without any apparent reason...I enjoy this kind of films but I have to admit that I prone to fell frightened.

Have a good travel and enjoy your family in law...

bye

Imelda

Imelda,

¡Feliz cumpleaños (con una semana de retraso) ¿Lo pasaste bien? Espero que hayas encontrado el tiempo para disfrutarlo a pesar de todo el trabajo que has tenido.

¡Estoy decepcionada! Te escribí un mensaje el sábado en que contesté algunas de tus preguntas y te di algunas sugerencias en cuanto a tu inglés y acabo de ver que no está. No sé que le haya pasado.

El viaje a San Diego ha sido todo un éxito. ¿Conoces San Diego? Está cerca de Los Ángeles en la costa oeste de California y tiene un clima perfecto. Pasamos mucho tiempo con la familia, nadamos y dimos paseos en un sendero al lado del mar. Más que nada, ¡Nos relajamos!

¿Te gustó la película que viste la semana pasada? A mí también me gustan las películas de suspense pero ya no aguanto muy bien las de terror. Supongo que me he puesto más sensible con los años. ¿Cuál es tu película favorita? A mí me gustan las de ciencia ficción pero tienen que tener buena trama y un buen desarrollo de los personajes. Odio las que se apoyan sólo en los efectos especiales. "Blade Runner", con Harrison Ford, y la serie "Battlestar Galactica" son algunos de mis preferidos. En casa no tenemos cable así que pedimos películas a Netflix, quienes nos mandan las películas que hemos puesto en cola, de las cuales siempre tenemos 3 en casa según nuestro plan. ¿Existe en España este tipo de servicio?

Saludos,
Colleen