For most people, learning a new language, especially when an
adult, is no easy task. I feel very comfortable with Spanish these days, but I
don’t get many chances to use it or improve it. So what do you do when you have
all this language knowledge in your brain, but it is starting to evaporate from
lack of use? If that language is Spanish, you watch telenovelas. Latin American
soap operas.
I know. You might be thinking, “Jill usually writes such a
smart and sophisticated blog. Why is she writing about soap operas?” And I know
I am probably risking my reputation as watcher of all things PBS, but
please let me explain why telenovelas are so awesome.
Telenovelas allow you to hear native speakers use the
language. You hear the accents, the cadence of phrasing, and the idioms that
make a language more interesting. You hear slang and insults. You hear the
different tenses used correctly. You hear romantic declarations and heartfelt
speeches. You learn very useful phrases, like “¡Auxilio!” (Help!), “¡Sueltame!”
(Let me go!), and “¿De dónde demonios sacaste esto?” (Where the hell did you
get this?).
I have even gone so far as to make flashcards for the words
I hear but do not yet know. Yes, I am serious – telenovela flashcards. In the
past couple of months that I have been watching a telenovela again, my
vocabulary has increased exponentially. All while being entertained by
very good looking actors with amazing dental work.
Could I get this language assistance by simply watching the
news in Spanish? No, I do not believe so because the news anchors and reporters
talk a lot faster and in a more monotone manner. It’s not how people speak
in normal conversation. I like to watch the news in Spanish sometimes, but I
don’t get as much out of it that would help my overall language abilities.
Another reason I like telenovelas is because almost everyone
I have ever met in a Latin American country likes them. I have watched them with most of my host families, even back when I hardly understood a thing. Telenovelas are the main form
of programming. There are some that are just plain goofy as heck. There are
some that are a little more dark and dramatic. And there are others that are
more in the middle with the typical melodrama, and some comic relief thrown in
now and again. Sure, some of the acting is over the top. The amount of crying
is at times comical. The drama can be unbelievable, the fight scenes
unrealistic. But all that makes it
even more enjoyable to watch. That is the world of telenovelas. And it is a fun part of the culture.
I think telenovelas are better than U.S. soaps because they
actually have a beginning and an end. They only last a few months. Why do U.S.
television networks allow shows (any shows, not just the soaps) to go on and on, for years and years? Enough
already! Quit trying to squeeze more juice out of a dried up orange. Follow the
example of the Latin American telenovela, where when someone dies, they die.
They don’t die and then come back in the future, played by a different actor,
all “I was kidnapped and held captive on an island for six years and had plastic surgery and now I look like this instead.” None of that. There is no adding on
season after season just to make money. Because there will most certainly be another show after
this one is over; another novela to bring in ad dollars. That is just how it
is. No worries.
As unrealistic as this may be, at the end of telenovelas,
the bad guys and gals get what is coming to them. They either go to prison,
contract a horrible disease, lose all their money, die alone, or
some other well-deserved consequence. Likewise, the good characters you have
grown to love typically have happy endings. At the end there are newborn
babies; recovery of stolen funds, ranches or companies; justice; reunions with long lost children; and a
huge wedding for the main couple. It’s all wrapped up in a nice little bow. The
end. It’s over. Move on to the next novela.
I was recently telling someone about my telenovela flashcard
Spanish lessons and she said, “Wow, you must have a lot of free time.” Well,
yes, I probably have more free time than a lot of people. But a telenovela only
lasts an hour. I know most of you spend at least an hour each night watching TV
anyway. Don’t act like you don’t.
So why not learn something while you’re watching? I mean,
can you really learn how to dance the foxtrot by watching Dancing With The
Stars? No, not really. And can you learn
how to sing like Mariah Carey by watching American Idol? No, you can’t. But can you improve your Spanish by
watching a telenovela? I am here to say “¡Sí! Se puede. Yes, you can!”
