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What it Feels like to be OK at a Second Language

It's a lot of "despacio por favor" and "puedo entender frases básicas".

Savannah Bynum

Feb 07, 2017

Keene State

What it Feels like to be OK at a Second Language

Odyssey Online

I’m pretty decent at Spanish. I can hold my own in a conversation if it’s spoken slowly enough and I have time to think about what I want to say. Being surrounded in Spanish 24/7 has done nothing but help my reaction time with answers and my understanding of the language. However, I am not yet fluent (I’ve been here for two weeks).

Because I can hold my own, people get excited and start talking super fast, but in reality I can't process what you're saying. I’m still a "gringa" learning the language. Please. Speak. Slower.

I also need time to think so please don’t try to finish my sentences for me, let me do it all on my own. And please, for the love of all things holy, DON’T switch to English. you may know English better than I know Spanish, but I’m here to learn. I got this.

There is a good chance I’m going to know most of the Spanish songs in the club. Last weekend when we all went out, both gringos and Ecuadorians alike were shocked at my knowledge of Reggaeton. I listen to A LOT of Spanish music so I can learn the language better. And yes, I can dance. I channel my inner zumba instructor and shake my hips like Shakira.

So if you are talking to someone learning a new language, please remember that they are learning. They probably need time to think so don’t get frustrated if the conversation is slow, they will get better with practice. They probably know a lot of music in that language, don’t be surprised.

In closing, be patient, speak the language the person is trying to learn, and break out some dope music.

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What it Feels like to be OK at a Second Language

It's a lot of "despacio por favor" and "puedo entender frases básicas".

Subscribe to our Newsletter

No one best represents the struggle like our favorite 90s squad.

1. When course schedules are released and you have a conflict between two required classes.

2. When there is only one section of a popular course.

3. Receiving the 18,000 emails reminding you to register ASAP.

4. When you need to see an advisor, but they are too busy/unresponsive.

5. Trying not to dress like a bum for your appointments with your advisors/department heads.

6. When you have a perfectly planned out schedule, and one class ruins it.

7. Carefully moving things around to accommodate a different class/section.

8. Waking up at 6:00 a.m. for your enrollment time.

9. Concocting a new schedule at your enrollment time after your original plan gets changed.

10. Getting into a class and filling the last available seat.

11. When all of your classes finally go through.

12. Realizing that you forgot a class that was a pre-requisite for everything else.

When your capability of "adulting" is put to the test

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"Nobody living in one of the most influential nations in the world should be worried about making ends meet."

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What are the benefits of raising the minimum wage?

What are the states that have set a $15/hour minimum wage?

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Because who understands your bitterness better than April?

1. When you have to provide an "interesting fact" for your first day ice-breaker.

2. When your professor is babbling on and on in his lecture.

3. When you edit your friend's paper and they get an A.

4. When it's 2 AM and you remember you have a test tomorrow.

5. When you finish taking the test and you're pretty sure you failed...

6. ...but then you get the test back and somehow passed.

7. When you've been up for 12 hours straight writing a paper.

8. And then you manage to stay awake in class the next day.

9. When you have to butter up your professor for an extra credit opportunity.

10. When you're assigned a group project.

11. And your group-mates are trying to chat about life instead of the assignment.

12. When it's your last class of the day and you're about to go home.

13. But then you remember rent is due tonight and the anger comes back.

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