"You exceeded my expectations!" the beautiful Brazilian girl beside me exclaimed, in her exotically accented English, to the barista in the gourmet cafe. The barista had created one of those cute little paintings with creamer on the surface of her latte, which apparently exceeded her expectations. That entire day, even after we finished our coffee and she left with an effortlessly enunciated ciao, I couldn't help but smile at how damn cute the way she talked sounded. I'd spent quite a lot of time around foreign accents and even hung out with a fair share of Brazilians, but something about hers was unique. After seven months in Central and South America spent learning Spanish and making friends with travelers hailing from Iceland to Pakistan, I've finally figured out what made the Brazilian in the cafe so charming. It wasn't the musicality of her native Portuguese tongue flirting with the Teutonic sounds of English; it wasn't because she could have passed for being Halle Berry's younger sister; her charm was in her usage of English expressions that captured the specific emotions of the moment. Have you ever met a foreigner who was very charming even though they had a thick accent and made some grammar mistakes? A lot of times, it's because they know how to use specific English expressions to capture the emotional tonality of the moment. This makes perfect sense on an elementary level; we feel a great affinity for people who understand what we are going through. If you speak or are learning a second language, you can use this to your advantage. Focus on learning and using expressions and phrases as opposed to grammar rules; it actually makes language learning fun and easier. Humor: For some reason, people are a whole lot funnier when they tell jokes in their second language to native speakers of that language. I remember cracking up when my friend Eli responded to a bold claim in his thick Israeli accent, "Is that the truth, or the brother of the truth?" So, be a little more daring in telling jokes in your second language, even if they are dumb or not original. Colloquialisms: There can also be a lot of charm in using colloquialisms, expressions, words, or phrases specific to geographic areas, cities, states, and countries. Learning colloquialisms is a great way to connect with local culture; simply ask locals to teach you some popular sayings or expressions. I do recommend that you use the SuperMemo flashcard app to commit these to memory It's a free tool that synchronizes things to be remembered between your smartphone and a web app with a very clever algorithm to optimize the practice of vocabulary you're trying to enshrine in your memory. https://www.limitlessmindset.com/software-apps/471-supermemo?embedable=true Expressions in Spanish El placer fue an el Mio - The pleasure was mine Todos los caminos yeavan hacia aroma - Everyone has to find their own way Encantado! - Charmed to meet you! Por supuesto - Of course! No es cosa tuya - None of your business Pura vida - Pure life! (Costa Rica) Que Onda - Whatsup! (Panama) Más vale tarde que nunca - Better late than never Cruzando los dedos - Cross your fingers Me estás tomando el pelo - You're pulling my leg Yo también - Same here Siéntete como en tu casa - Make yourself at home Los leones no se preocupan por las opiniones de ovejas" - Lions do not worry about the opinions of sheep ¡Qué oso! - “How embarrassing,”…they say, “What a bear!” Él le echó los perros - To flirt aggressively Espero que podamos seguir conversando despues - I look forward to a continued conversation with you. Suficientemente inteligente para bañar un oso sin mojar su pelaje - Clever enough to wash a bear without getting it's fur wet Brilla con luz propia - Grace without effort Caberniculas - Cavemen Se cree la ultima coca-cola Del desierto - I'm the last Coca-Cola in the desert (Expression of stupid confidence) Muy lindas y muy pobres, como las preferio - They (the women) are very beautiful and very poor, as I prefer them Si es comodo, es decir que no es una adventure - If it's comfortable, it won't be an adventure Hombre de todo terrano - Man of many talents Dame el globo que para eso es mío. - Give me the world for it's mine. Fui un esclavo de trabajo - I was a workaholic Estoy haciendo una trabajo que me apacciona - I'm doing a project that I'm very passionate about No somos seres humanos teniendo una experiencia espiritual. Somos seres espirituales teniendo una experiencia human. - We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience. He estado ocultando un secreto de ti - I've been hiding something from you...Voy a continuar a ocultando lo - I'll continue hiding it from you...Algunos veces cuando estoy dormido, babeo la almohada - Sometimes when I'm sleeping, I drool on the pillow Puedo babeo en tu almohada... - Maybe I can drool on your pillow... Algo vacano - Something cool Paresco muy amable pero en realidad soy malo - I seem nice but really, I'm bad Soy un experto en bailar salsa como un gingo. - I'm an expert at salsa dancing like a gringo Aqua de coco es el segundo mejor cura para un rezaka, el mejor es el paracaidismo - Coconut water is the second best cure for a hangover, the first is skydiving Por ellas, por las mamas de ellas, Que las hicieron tan bella as para poder pichar con ellas - For the ladies, for their mamas, who made them so we could peck them - A very cheeky toast! Goterear - To get something for free Anecdotista - Raconteur Tu sabras la repuesta cuando apareca - You will know the answer when it appears Yo me vengo - I will have revenge/I will come on you, a very cheeky double entendre Ver un pelicula - To watch a movie or Peleculiar - To "Netflix and chill" Ya te viniste - Have you come? Those are some of the fun phrases I learned before I got deported from Colombia, here’s that whole wild story… https://odysee.com/@jroseland:f/Deported-from-Colombia:f?embedable=true "You exceeded my expectations!" the beautiful Brazilian girl beside me exclaimed, in her exotically accented English, to the barista in the gourmet cafe. The barista had created one of those cute little paintings with creamer on the surface of her latte, which apparently exceeded her expectations. "You exceeded my expectations!" That entire day, even after we finished our coffee and she left with an effortlessly enunciated ciao , I couldn't help but smile at how damn cute the way she talked sounded. I'd spent quite a lot of time around foreign accents and even hung out with a fair share of Brazilians, but something about hers was unique. ciao After seven months in Central and South America spent learning Spanish and making friends with travelers hailing from Iceland to Pakistan , I've finally figured out what made the Brazilian in the cafe so charming. making friends with travelers hailing from Iceland to Pakistan It wasn't the musicality of her native Portuguese tongue flirting with the Teutonic sounds of English; it wasn't because she could have passed for being Halle Berry's younger sister; her charm was in her usage of English expressions that captured the specific emotions of the moment. charm was in her usage of English expressions that captured the specific emotions of the moment. captured the specific emotions Have you ever met a foreigner who was very charming even though they had a thick accent and made some grammar mistakes? A lot of times, it's because they know how to use specific English expressions to capture the emotional tonality of the moment. This makes perfect sense on an elementary level; we feel a great affinity for people who understand what we are going through. A lot of times, it's because they know how to use specific English expressions to capture the emotional tonality of the moment. If you speak or are learning a second language, you can use this to your advantage. Focus on learning and using expressions and phrases as opposed to grammar rules; it actually makes language learning fun and easier. on learning and using expressions and phrases Humor : For some reason, people are a whole lot funnier when they tell jokes in their second language to native speakers of that language. I remember cracking up when my friend Eli responded to a bold claim in his thick Israeli accent, "Is that the truth, or the brother of the truth? " Humor "Is that the truth, or the brother of the truth? So, be a little more daring in telling jokes in your second language, even if they are dumb or not original. Colloquialisms : There can also be a lot of charm in using colloquialisms, expressions, words, or phrases specific to geographic areas, cities, states, and countries. Learning colloquialisms is a great way to connect with local culture; simply ask locals to teach you some popular sayings or expressions. Colloquialisms I do recommend that you use the SuperMemo flashcard app to commit these to memory I do recommend that you use the SuperMemo flashcard app to commit these to memory SuperMemo flashcard app It's a free tool that synchronizes things to be remembered between your smartphone and a web app with a very clever algorithm to optimize the practice of vocabulary you're trying to enshrine in your memory. https://www.limitlessmindset.com/software-apps/471-supermemo?embedable=true https://www.limitlessmindset.com/software-apps/471-supermemo?embedable=true Expressions in Spanish Expressions in Spanish El placer fue an el Mio - The pleasure was mine El placer fue an el Mio The pleasure was mine Todos los caminos yeavan hacia aroma - Everyone has to find their own way Todos los caminos yeavan hacia aroma - Everyone has to find their own way Encantado! - Charmed to meet you! Encantado! Charmed to meet you! Por supuesto - Of course! Por supuesto Of course! No es cosa tuya - None of your business No es cosa tuya None of your business Pura vida - Pure life! (Costa Rica) Pura vida Pure life! Que Onda - Whatsup! (Panama) Que Onda Whatsup! Más vale tarde que nunca - Better late than never Más vale tarde que nunca Better late than never Cruzando los dedos - Cross your fingers Cruzando los dedos Cross your fingers Me estás tomando el pelo - You're pulling my leg Me estás tomando el pelo You're pulling my leg Yo también - Same here Yo también Same here Siéntete como en tu casa - Make yourself at home Siéntete como en tu casa Make yourself at home Los leones no se preocupan por las opiniones de ovejas" - Lions do not worry about the opinions of sheep Los leones no se preocupan por las opiniones de ovejas" Lions do not worry about the opinions of sheep ¡Qué oso! - “How embarrassing,”…they say, “What a bear!” ¡Qué oso! “How embarrassing,”…they say, “What a bear!” Él le echó los perros - To flirt aggressively Él le echó los perros To flirt aggressively Espero que podamos seguir conversando despues - I look forward to a continued conversation with you. Espero que podamos seguir conversando despues Suficientemente inteligente para bañar un oso sin mojar su pelaje - Clever enough to wash a bear without getting it's fur wet Suficientemente inteligente para bañar un oso sin mojar su pelaje - Clever enough to wash a bear without getting it's fur wet Brilla con luz propia - Grace without effort Brilla con luz propia Grace without effort Caberniculas - Cavemen Caberniculas - Cavemen Se cree la ultima coca-cola Del desierto - I'm the last Coca-Cola in the desert (Expression of stupid confidence) Se cree la ultima coca-cola Del desierto I'm the last Coca-Cola in the desert Muy lindas y muy pobres, como las preferio - They (the women) are very beautiful and very poor, as I prefer them Muy lindas y muy pobres, como las preferio They (the women) are very beautiful and very poor, as I prefer them Si es comodo, es decir que no es una adventure - If it's comfortable, it won't be an adventure Si es comodo, es decir que no es una adventure - If it's comfortable, it won't be an adventure Hombre de todo terrano - Man of many talents Hombre de todo terrano Man of many talents Dame el globo que para eso es mío. - Give me the world for it's mine. Dame el globo que para eso es mío. Give me the world for it's mine. Fui un esclavo de trabajo - I was a workaholic Fui un esclavo de trabajo I was a workaholic Estoy haciendo una trabajo que me apacciona - I'm doing a project that I'm very passionate about Estoy haciendo una trabajo que me apacciona - I'm doing a project that I'm very passionate about No somos seres humanos teniendo una experiencia espiritual. Somos seres espirituales teniendo una experiencia human . - We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience. No somos seres humanos teniendo una experiencia espiritual. Somos seres espirituales teniendo una experiencia human We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience. He estado ocultando un secreto de ti - I've been hiding something from you...Voy a continuar a ocultando lo - I'll continue hiding it from you...Algunos veces cuando estoy dormido, babeo la almohada - Sometimes when I'm sleeping, I drool on the pillow Puedo babeo en tu almohada... - Maybe I can drool on your pillow... He estado ocultando un secreto de ti I've been hiding something from you... Voy a continuar a ocultando lo - I'll continue hiding it from you... Algunos veces cuando estoy dormido, babeo la almohada - Sometimes when I'm sleeping, I drool on the pillow Voy a continuar a ocultando lo Algunos veces cuando estoy dormido, babeo la almohada Puedo babeo en tu almohada... Maybe I can drool on your pillow... Algo vacano - Something cool Algo vacano Something cool Paresco muy amable pero en realidad soy malo - I seem nice but really, I'm bad Paresco muy amable pero en realidad soy malo I seem nice but really, I'm bad Soy un experto en bailar salsa como un gingo. - I'm an expert at salsa dancing like a gringo Soy un experto en bailar salsa como un gingo. I'm an expert at salsa dancing like a gringo Aqua de coco es el segundo mejor cura para un rezaka, el mejor es el paracaidismo - Coconut water is the second best cure for a hangover, the first is skydiving Aqua de coco es el segundo mejor cura para un rezaka, el mejor es el paracaidismo Coconut water is the second best cure for a hangover, the first is skydiving Por ellas, por las mamas de ellas, Que las hicieron tan bella as para poder pichar con ellas - For the ladies, for their mamas, who made them so we could peck them - A very cheeky toast! Por ellas, por las mamas de ellas, Que las hicieron tan bella as para poder pichar con ellas For the ladies, for their mamas, who made them so we could peck them Goterear - To get something for free Goterear To get something for free Anecdotista - Raconteur Anecdotista Raconteur Tu sabras la repuesta cuando apareca - You will know the answer when it appears Tu sabras la repuesta cuando apareca You will know the answer when it appears Yo me vengo - I will have revenge/I will come on you, a very cheeky double entendre Yo me vengo I will have revenge/I will come on you, Ver un pelicula - To watch a movie or Peleculiar - To "Netflix and chill" Ver un pelicula - To watch a movie Peleculiar - To "Netflix and chill" Ya te viniste - Have you come? Ya te viniste Have you come? Those are some of the fun phrases I learned before I got deported from Colombia, here’s that whole wild story… https://odysee.com/@jroseland:f/Deported-from-Colombia:f?embedable=true https://odysee.com/@jroseland:f/Deported-from-Colombia:f?embedable=true

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Do This to Be Charming in a New Language (Don't Waste Your Time Learning Grammar Rules!)

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