Student moving to Brownsville, Texas; should I learn Spanish? (Houston: best cities, how much)

[mriver]

I'm from the Philippines and in a few months we'll be moving to Brownsville. Uh, such a long distance. I've researched a bit about Brownsville and I read that it's 90% Hispanic. I took Spanish class last year because it was required for us to have foreign language classes and Spanish was given to us. I know basic stuff and I can answer a basic Spanish test but not talk/have a coversation in Spanish. Should I learn more Spanish? Or will English be enough? (I kinda regret not taking my Spanish classes seriously haha never thought it would be useful in the future)

[eastontracks]

Yes learn more Spanish. Why are you moving there and not a place like San Antonio, Houston, Austin or Dallas? You'll def be ok if don't speak Spanish (you are in the USA after all), but you'll be viewed sorta as an outsider for not speaking it fluently. Very cliquish in that sense down there.

Put it this way, I'm Hispanic but didn't grow up speaking a lot of Spanish. I tell people I'm about 60% fluent. When I told someone that down there there they said, "ah no worries, I speak Spanish 50%". But, he interpreted me a different way as he speaks fluent Spanish daily 50% of the time and English 50% of the time.

Brownsville and Mcallen are the best cities imo down there but many mix Spanish and English when speaking and most will assume you can speak it. Id discourage moving thereuntil you're at least coversational. Only so that you won't constantly feel uncomfortable w that culture. Even white and black peoples are good Spanish speakers that will think you're odd you can't at least carry a conversation in Spanish.

[mriver]

Originally Posted by eastontracks

Yes learn more Spanish. Why are you moving there and not a place like San Antonio, Houston, Austin or Dallas? You'll def be ok if don't speak Spanish (you are in the USA after all), but you'll be viewed sorta as an outsider for not speaking it fluently. Very cliquish in that sense down there.

Put it this way, I'm Hispanic but didn't grow up speaking a lot of Spanish. I tell people I'm about 60% fluent. When I told someone that down there there they said, "ah no worries, I speak Spanish 50%". But, he interpreted me a different way as he speaks fluent Spanish daily 50% of the time and English 50% of the time.

Brownsville and Mcallen are the best cities imo down there but many mix Spanish and English when speaking and most will assume you can speak it. Id discourage moving thereuntil you're at least coversational. Only so that you won't constantly feel uncomfortable w that culture. Even white and black peoples are good Spanish speakers that will think you're odd you can't at least carry a conversation in Spanish.

It wasn't my choice, my mom was assigned there so we have to live there. Thank you! I'm kinda worried now with communicating with people there. And also worried for my family where only my mom and I can speak english fluently and no one knows Spanish but me.

Thank you for answering! It helped a lot

[USERXXXX]

Originally Posted by mriver

I'm from the Philippines and in a few months we'll be moving to Brownsville. Uh, such a long distance. I've researched a bit about Brownsville and I read that it's 90% Hispanic. I took Spanish class last year because it was required for us to have foreign language classes and Spanish was given to us. I know basic stuff and I can answer a basic Spanish test but not talk/have a coversation in Spanish. Should I learn more Spanish? Or will English be enough? (I kinda regret not taking my Spanish classes seriously haha never thought it would be useful in the future)

If you from Philippines, why you move to Brownsville? Why not move to LA/NY? There is a bigger Phillipino community.

BTW, UT-Brownsville is not a very good school in academic as well.

[CptnRn]

You will do fine with English alone, but since you already know some Spanish it won't hurt to brush up on it and us it when the occasion seems to call for it.

[mriver]

Originally Posted by USERXXXX

If you from Philippines, why you move to Brownsville? Why not move to LA/NY? There is a bigger Phillipino community.

BTW, UT-Brownsville is not a very good school in academic as well.

As I said, I really had no choice because my mom was assigned there. It was Florida or Texas and I wish it was Florida Also thanks for the info about UT-Brownsville! Where to study is another problem of mine

Originally Posted by CptnRn

You will do fine with English alone, but since you already know some Spanish it won't hurt to brush up on it and us it when the occasion seems to call for it.

I'm relieved to hear that!! Relieved for myself and my family members who don't speak english well, how much more in Spanish? Thank you! I will try to learn Spanish again.

[eastontracks]

Since you have no choice, maybe y'all can live more near south padre island. If you enjoy the water, that will make up for it plus, less fluent speakers in that port Isabel / spi area.

[gguerra]

The are plenty of Filipinos here in the RGV and they assimilate quite well. NO, you don't need to know Spanish to communicate. The majority of hispanics from the RGV are bi-lingual and they also speak English. It's the Mexican nationals that that may speak little to no English but that's their problem not yours. You will be just fine.

[DSL_PWR]

Originally Posted by mriver

Should I learn more spanish?

No!

[payutenyodagimas]

Originally Posted by DSL_PWR

No!

just tell you don't speak Spanish if they talk Spanish to you..you can even answer in Tagalog if you want..that way he is forced to speak English