Posted by JenCA on 5/25/07 10:45am
Msg #191973

Learning Spanish...

Hello all... I am really trying to expand my customer base... any ideas on on if I should take an extensive spanish course, or just learn the "basics" and if so what are the basics!!! lol Hope everyone is havinga great day.

Reply by SharonMN on 5/25/07 10:50am
Msg #191974

I personally wouldn't even attempt a signing in a language I wasn't fluent in. I took French for over 6 years and feel pretty comfortable asking directions and ordering food, etc. when traveling but wouldn't dare do a signing in French. I don't think taking a class or two is going to qualify you to conduct Spanish signings. How would you feel if a Spanish-speaking person who had taken a semester of English class showed up to do your signing?

Reply by JenCA on 5/25/07 10:53am
Msg #191976

good point...with that in mind... ixnay on the spanish-ay!!! lol... I would like to say I am new to this forum and really have enjoyed all of the information that I have been able to obtain from here. :-)

Reply by Marlene/USNA on 5/25/07 11:08am
Msg #191981

You wouldn't need to conduct an entire signing in Spanish, but supplying a word here and there to help understanding, and to give your customer some comfort level with what's going on, might help your customer base. Customers appreciate it when you make the extra effort, whether it's complementing them on their living room decor or pointing to a line and saying, "Su nombre, por favor."

(Did I say that right?!)

Reply by BrendaTx on 5/25/07 10:53am
Msg #191977

Wasn't it Kelly who said she'd take a Spanish class? Joe, Joan?

Reply by Calnotary on 5/25/07 11:00am
Msg #191979

I took the notary class with Joan, and at that time she said to the class that she did not speak a word of Spanish, now she says she speaks or can conduct signing in Spanish!(PER HER PROFILE IN NOT-ROT) Wow! not that she is taking my Spanish speaking clients but I would love to hear when she explains the difference between the NOTE RATE and the APR in Spanish.

Reply by JenCA on 5/25/07 11:03am
Msg #191980

well, see and thats why I asked, how much in depth would you really have to learn... because I got a call last night to do a signing and was so mad at myself when I had to decline because I didnt speak spanish. ( I swear I am kicking myself in the butt for not listening to my spanish teacher in high school... as if I would really have remembered it anyways!!!) lol

Reply by Laurie Notary in a flash on 5/25/07 11:34am
Msg #191983

I took Spanish for 3yrs and even though I can understand reading it mostly....I would not be able to speak it well enough :-) I have been thinking of taking some of those courses they advertise on tv just to become more fluent. It would be a great asset here in Arizona. Good luck and I hope you have a great Memorial Day weekend!!

Reply by cara on 5/25/07 1:52pm
Msg #192006

As a bliingual speaker with many years of formal language classes, I cannot image taking a course and conducting a signing in Spanish. Even though I am certifified by the county in written and spoken, native speakers are often suspicious of my "accent" and wonder if I can truly understand them. It takes a few minutes of casual conversation about the news of the day, etc. to get their comfort level up. Additionally, Spanish-speakers in California are not homogenous. I encounter may forms of Spanish, ranging from South American, Central American, Mexican, Carribean etc. Even in Mexico, there are many regional differences.

Reply by Cassandra Andrews on 5/25/07 2:33pm
Msg #192015

Re: Learning Spanish... ur absolutely right cara! . . .

90% of the time the borrowers greatly appreciate casual conversation & when you are able to do it fluently - it really puts their mind at ease. also there is a great variety of regional accents you'll encounter. many times they are a little uneasy b/c the docs are not in their native tongue so when you can easily (the key word is easily) communicate w/them, it makes all the difference in the world. remember alot of communication is non verbal and if you cannot speak the language well - your body language will restate that fact and cause the borrower even more unease - JMHO

Reply by John_NorCal on 5/25/07 12:04pm
Msg #191987

I would not attempt to conduct a signing in Spanish, or any other language, unless I were fluent in it. Merely pointing and saying "Su nombre por favor or Firma aqui (sign here) is not enough. I used to be fluent in Spanish but have lost my "ear" for it and so I would not be comfortable at this point and would not be able to provide a service to the client. I might take a refresher course (Rosetta stone) and see where that gets me.

Reply by Calnotary on 5/25/07 12:28pm
Msg #191992

I always thought that you speak Spanish John. Gonzalez in a very popular last name in Spanish speaking countries.

Reply by Marlene/USNA on 5/25/07 1:14pm
Msg #192001

I didn't say that

I didn't say conduct a signing in Spanish. I said use a word or phrase here and there to put the customer at ease.

Of course you can't conduct a signing in another language unless you're fluent in it.

Reply by ananotary on 5/25/07 2:04pm
Msg #192007

Per Ca. Handbook..The notary must be able to communicate

With the signer. I'm sure we can leave the word "communicate" up for debate for some people but in my opinion a word here and there would not qualify. You would need to be able to perform the oath in Spanish and answer any question the signer might have regarding the oath, etc. (any question regarding the notorial act) in their language. I have found that I have no problem commanding a higher fee for this service.

Reply by Marlene/USNA on 5/25/07 2:13pm
Msg #192009

I give up. n/m

Reply by SueW/Tn on 5/25/07 2:21pm
Msg #192012

Get in the corner Marlene! tee hee hee n/m

Reply by Ali/IL on 5/25/07 2:43pm
Msg #192019

Re: Get in the corner Marlene! tee hee hee

It is not easy.
I speak spanish and it can be hard.
That spanish that you learn from these classes I feel won't qualify you.
I have listened to those teaching some of those words are used somewhere in the world.Not everyday language.
Some of the hispanics that I close for have not had the terms explained to them properly. It takes time and effort to help them.

Reply by Marlene/USNA on 5/25/07 3:33pm
Msg #192037

Re: Get in the corner Marlene! tee hee hee

Either the concept is too big to grasp, or too small. Either way, I'm could not explain it well enough.

Reply by BrendaTx on 5/25/07 3:41pm
Msg #192041

Re: Get in the corner Marlene! Slapping my leg here. n/m

Reply by PL on 5/25/07 2:43pm
Msg #192018

Back in Feb., Beneficial had a problem with Spanish speaking

folks in Oregon, message 173562 talks about it. I'll pass on the Spanish signings.

Reply by Ali/IL on 5/25/07 3:01pm
Msg #192028

Re: Back in Feb., Beneficial had a problem with Spanish speaking

Beneficial had me in for spanish certification testing.
All they did was have a conversation with me over the phone . I was not tested on loan terminology.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 5/26/07 5:03am
Msg #192117

Re: Back in Feb., Beneficial had a problem with Spanish speaking

I was tested by them, too, when IREP first came to CA. It was a 30" phone conversation, half of which was conducting a mock signing, which involved loan terminology. That overall experience was very helpful to me in terms of learning the specialized vocabulary, but let's face it - how many English speaking people really understand what we are talking about when using the correct terminology?? :> I think this just emphasizes the need to be pretty comfortably fluent in another language before attempting to do signings in that language - a point that has been well beaten to death here.

FWIW, it took me twelve years of study in school, including a full year of immersion in a Spanish speaking country (and a full load of classes in Spanish), to get to where I could carry on a pretty normal conversation. [Dating a Spaniard didn't hurt, either... ;>] I strongly encourage anyone to try to learn a second language. Whatever you do manage to learn and retain may come in very handy some day and will certainly open your eyes to another world. But don't kid yourselves about doing signings unless you're willing to make a very strong commitment to becoming fluent. (With today's techniques, it shouldn't take anyone twelve years, but it isn't going to happen quickly, unless you jump in with both feet and completely immerse yourself.) I should add that becoming fluent in Spanish is among the most gratifying things I have ever done in my life. (I love it when people ask me if I'm from South America because they can't figure out my accent... ;> so don't let this thread discourage you from trying!)

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 5/26/07 6:18am
Msg #192121

Interesting thing about learning a new language ...

I've read a lot of psychology-type books and I remember reading that the two best ways to increase the brain pathways, or let's say to keep your brain firing optimally DESPITE what the years will do to it are to learn either a new language, or a new musical instrument. They didn't say you had to learn them WELL or pass any tests, just keep trying to learn them.