Learning Spanish

Currently I speak exclusively in the present tense with poorly conjugated verbs. My friends in France teased me about using gestures, but speaking Spanish is like a full on theatrical performance. Whole ideas are expressed using no words. What did you do today was once answered like this.

Good.
Go Friend of Anna´s Birthday.
Eat empanadas.
A lot, and the gesture for walk.
Artisan shopping.
Register School.
I like.
Good Day.

Details, sentences, and conjugations are extraneous. This economy of words lends a whole new dimension to the idea of minimalism. Every time I´m in the position of learning a language I have to question how important my contributions to conversations are, and if I couldn´t stand to hold my tongue more.

When first learning a language, I usually only speak when I´m asked something. Talking usually requires a translator of sorts. Someone who understands my baby talk and gestures. Some people are really awesome at it and I wonder if I have some special connection with these translators, or if these are just sensitive, observant, creative people.

I prefer to be in groups greater than three because their is a polite/awkward timidity about speaking when its only two others and I. They don´t want to talk for fear of excluding me, and I don´t speak for fear of excluding someone. When it´s me and more than two others the awkwardness of my not understanding quickly dissipates and I become a fly on the wall. At which point I´m free to practice my periphery vision, observe social interactions, or listen to whatever I can understand of the conversation. Generally I understand quite a bit if someone deliberately speaks slowly with me, although I´m getting better at normal conversation speed.

A week of Spanish classes starts today.