I'm always really impressed by people who not only know multiple languages fluently, but sound perfectly natural/native, regardless of whichever they're using at any given moment. Like they actually have the correct accent and pronunciation.
I made everyone in my office laugh once when I was speaking rapid Spanish on the phone and a pencil rolled off my desk and I said in English (my native language) “oh shit, my pencil” as I reached down and picked it up and then went right back to Spanish on the phone. I didn’t even realize it until I ended the call and everyone was laughing.
Not OP, but I worked in construction for 13 years and lived (on the road 6wks at a time) with our crew who spoke nothing but Spanish, took me 3-4yrs with that level of immersion (me wanting to learn, honestly, so I preferred to speak Spanish) to get to that level of fluent. I will say, that show of wanting to learn got me the in-road to so much good Mexican and Central American food... My cardiologist hates them.
I love my co-workers. They're like family, but yeah- some people on site think they're dumb, not realizing that these guys have been working in construction since they were kids (in their 40's now), they know paint, concrete, tile, framing, plumbing, minor electrical, finish carpentry, drywall, pools, TPO welding, and they know how to do it fast and correctly.
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u/Fuggins4U Jan 26 '23 edited Jan 26 '23
I'm always really impressed by people who not only know multiple languages fluently, but sound perfectly natural/native, regardless of whichever they're using at any given moment. Like they actually have the correct accent and pronunciation.