Is it common for Mexican immigrants and their children not to know Spanish grammar?

Question

I was recently speaking to a Mexican woman that I work with, who has lived in this country since she was 2 yet her English is pretty basic. I asked her what the infinitive form of a verb was and she seemed confused. I said, "you know, such as estar is the infinitive for estoy, estas, esta, etc." She then sort of hesitantly agreed - which made me think that many of them may not know Spanish grammar since they only learned to speak it from their parents and didn't have Spanish grammar lessons in school. I just always kind of guessed that they mostly were literate in Spanish but now I kind of wonder. Any ideas?

Answer 1

When I hear Mexicans speaking in their native language I can hardly understand them because they are speaking a dialect from whatever region of Mexico they are from. I'll bet that woman didn't know what you were trying to say to her.

Answer 2

hahah ok rev. its Castillian, which is a fancy way of saying spanish.
there is a mexican language? wow kind of like the American language versus the english language right? no i didn't think so. Spanish and English is a language, Mexican and American is not.
oh and to the question above. I got an idea why next time you got english grammar questions, sorry american grammar questions why don't you ask a hick, I'm sure they know what the infinitive form of a verb is.

Answer 3

Dairyo...got close. First, I don't think the asker was trying to be smart when he asked the question. Second, most people from Latin America come from poor illiterate environments and some who have gone to school, barely made it to fourth or sixth grade. That does not mean they are inferior or superior, it just means they didn't get a chance to go to school due to the extreme poverty in these countries. Mainly that is why the migrate. Third, most inmigrants have no time or the capacities to teach Spanish grammar and spelling to their kids. I was raised in the U.S. a daughter of inmigrants (came to the US when I was under a year old), but my parents encouraged me to learn Spanish at home, bought me books, and constantly reminded me to NOT mix both languages in one conversation. Therefore, SPANGLISH was forbidden at our home. My father always said: you either speak English or Spanish, one at a time and you do it correctly, no slang, no funny accents or dialects in either language. I have to thank him for that because having a good knowledge of English and Spanish, has allowed me to hold good steady jobs in both languages in the US and in Latin America. But not all inmigrants take the time or have the capacity to understand the implications of bringing up children in a bilingual environment. Some just take it for granted or are just happy to have their kids pass grades in school, instead of taking advantage of the opportunity to enrich their children's education with both cultural backgrounds. Teaching your children to aspire to a better education is also a part of responsible parenting. Even if your own parents had less education, nothing should stop you from trying to learn more. Parents should teach you to be ambitious in terms of being a better human being and a useful citizen to society. That is the best education a parent can give their children, even if they (the parents) never went to school.

Answer 4

The Spanish taught in schools is Costillian Spanish. The language spoke by Mexicans is Mexican. A language composed of Spanish and different types of Indian languages and slang.

Answer 5

How many Americans make A's in English?

Answer 6

Yes, I have an idea.....I think you were trying to be a smart a*s*s to her. I know how to speak and write very good English but I don't know what the rules are if you asked me. Does it really matter to quote the rules or is it better to practice what you have learned? Stop trying to act superior.....no one cares.

Answer 7

Unfortunately this is true. Many of them came from extreme poverty and survival became more important that education.

Answer 8

we only learn in wat were brought up in if shes been here most of her life shes more of a mexican american than a *******