STOP APOLOGIZING!

THE POLITE MEXICAN CULTURE IS A TRAP FOR ENGLISH LEARNERS.

"You're at a work meeting in Mexico City. You need to grab a pen from your colleague's desk. You say: '¿Me da permiso?' Perfect. Polite. Normal… Now imagine saying that in English: 'Would you give me permission?'

Awkward, right? Too formal. Maybe even strange.

When Mexicans switch to English, they often keep that "pedir permiso" brain wiring. In Mexico, you ask permission for everything: passing someone, entering a room, starting to speak, leaving a table. It's automatic, warm, and expected.

In English? They sound overly hesitant, apologetic, or even insecure — not polite. Constant permission-seeking sounds like you lack confidence or authority. Let's fix that!

Look at some examples:

What Mexicans think is polite:

"Can I ask you a question?" (every time)

"If you don't mind, could I please…"

"Excuse me, sorry, excuse me, sorry…" (to pass someone)

What native English speakers think about it:

"Why are you asking permission to speak?"

"Just say what you need!"

"Are you okay? You seem nervous."

Let me clarify some rules about politeness. In English-speaking cultures, politeness = efficiency + respect for time, so saying "Excuse me" once is enough. "Sorry" is for real mistakes. Direct isn't rude; it's clear.

Instead of: "Would you give me permission to leave early?"
Say: "I'm going to head out a bit early — okay if I do that?"

Instead of: "Excuse me, sorry, could I please pass?"
Say: "Excuse me, just passing behind you." (with a smile)

Instead of: "Can I give my opinion?"
Say: "My take on this is…" (just state it)

To apply the theoretical knowledge in practice, here is one practical exercise for you:

The 'No Permiso' Challenge

For one day:

Count how many times you want to say "¿Me da permiso?" in English.
Replace it with a direct-but-warm phrase: "Coming through," "One sec," "My turn to talk," or just "Excuse me".
Notice: Did anyone get offended? (They won't.)

In Mexico, you ask permission to exist in someone's space. In English, you assume the space is already shared — and that's not rude. That's confidence.