Ladies in Cali and English?

[Kit]

Wondering how wide English is spoken in Cali? I see that many study Spanish. Do ladies speak basic English? How about a clerk in the food store, taxi driver, Jon Doe on the street ?

[Pete E]

... in response to Ladies in Cali and English?, posted by Kit on Jan 23, 2002

Most people in Cali speak no english at all.The same goes for most agency girls in my experience,but some ,maybe 20-30%,speak some english.This is way less than fluent,but much better than no english at all.When I met my wife she spoke some,maybe 10% english.But that was enough for us to communicate with an electronic translater.It wasn't that difficult,plus we had people translate alot for the important stuff.We have always communicated in english.Her english has always been better than my spanish,especially now.She has been here 2 years and her english is about 50%.
Our conversations do not have the rapid flow that 2 people who speak the same language would have,but it worked and its working.Maybe 2% or so of the Cali Ladies speak good english.If you go to Bogota it might go up to 20-30%.
Its difficult to learn a language when you live in a culture where you don't use it.I think it would take a huge effort for a adult guy here to learn passable spanish while still living in the US.Some friends who have spent months in Colombia now speak fair spanish.
Don't let it stop you.Just go,don't let it delay you.If its a real big issue for you I suggest Bogota.
Most taxi drivers speak no english.Desk people in the better hotels speak english.The better restaurant or store you go in the higher  chance someone will speak english.

Pete

[El Diablo]

... in response to Ladies in Cali and English?, posted by Kit on Jan 23, 2002

The agency women by and large do not speak English.  Most of them know some common expressions and words but can not put sentences together.  A few girs may be attending English institutes but they are in the learning stage and so again conversation can be difficult with them.

Regular folks and English, well I've taken about about 500 taxis in Cali and I only remember one guy speaking English fluently, but he had lived in Chicago for a few years also. Around town, the more educated class of people may speak English.  When I was looking at real estate, it seemed like a much higher percentage of people I had contact with spoke English.

El Diablo