Reasons I Should Be Fluent In Spanish | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Relationships

Reasons I Should Be Fluent In Spanish

I mean, for one thing, there are 52.6 million people in the United States alone who speak this language.

38
Reasons I Should Be Fluent In Spanish
Know Your Meme

I’ve underestimated how much Spanish I actually know. Up until just recently, Spanish was a language that kind of freaked me out because I didn't know it. My palms would get sweaty and I would mostly just play dumb when I heard it avoiding the possibility of my answer being wrong. What was actually wrong was my aversion toward the language. I grew up in a household that spoke mostly English, with the exception of my Filipino mom yelling Filipino words at my brother and me when we were in trouble. And even though I took a Spanish class for three years in high school, I wouldn’t necessarily say I took it with the intention of actually learning the language but rather passing the class. You see, I should be fluent in Spanish. I should be able to keep up with the ridiculous banter of telenovelas. I should be able to understand what the lyrics to the songs I’m dancing to are. I know I should for a number of reasons.

First, according to a New York Post article, it's a language that an estimated 52.6 million people in the United States alone speak. Being fluent would mean that I could talk to and connect with an estimated 52.6 million people in my home country alone. Nowadays, there are more Spanish speakers here in the United States than in Spain, which is not as surprising in all actuality because of how much closer the United States is to Mexico, the country with the most Spanish speakers. And even though it can be assumed that there are still many people who speak English, being fluent in a second language, especially Spanish, puts people at such an advantage when applying for jobs.

In addition to that first point, it is always assumed that I am a part of the 52.6 million Spanish speakers because of my physical appearance. I mean, technically I am because I can speak Spanish, but not as well as I should. Although my mom is Filipino, as previously mentioned, I look a lot like my dad who is Mexican. It's actually uncanny how much I take after my dad. This past week I was vacationing in El Paso, Texas, where my dad's family is from, for my abuelita's ("grandma's" for the non-Spanish speakers) 75th birthday celebration, and I saw some old pictures from when he was a young boy, and I kind of look exactly like him. It's wild. But whenever I'm in a densely populated area, when there is confusion, confused Spanish speakers always turn to me for assistance. Before I would redirect them to my parents or some employee, but now I try to at least smash together some Spanish words that would make sense.

Now that I think about it, my reasons for why I should be fluent are all interrelated to that first point. What I think to be my most important reason is that my abuelita only speaks Spanish. Before high school, the little Spanish I knew had to do with saying "I love you" and asking "how are you?" Phone calls with my abuelita were short and were more or less:

"Hola abuelita! Como está?" ("Hi grandma! How are you?")

"Hola mi niña! Estoy bien! Y tú?" (Hi my girl! I'm good! And you?")

"Muy bien!!!!" (Very good!!!!) (Hey, I was a very enthusiastic child, okay?)

"[insert a really complex (probably not as complex, but complex for the non-Spanish speaker that I was) sentence that I didn't understand]"

"[insert awkward laughter on my end] Well abuelita, I gotta go eat-o! Hasta la vista, bebe! Te quiero mucho! Adios!" (See you later, bebe! I love you very much! Deuces! (just kidding, it means goodbye))

And then after that massacre of a conversation was finished, I would throw the phone back at my dad and eat-o some Cheetos, or whatever my mom had in the pantry. But you get the idea.

For fourteen years, I missed out on so many great conversations I could have had with my abuelita. All the advice and the words of encouragement that could have helped me through the dark days of middle school, gone. Luckily, I picked up Spanish when I did though because the more I matured, the more I was able to appreciate my relationships, first and foremost, my relationship with my abuelita. Although my Spanish is still relatively choppy and my repertoire of word is still relatively small, my conversations with my abuelita are much more comprehensive than from when I was younger.

So this past week, when I went to stay with my abuelita, it dawned on me that I know so much more Spanish than I give myself credit for. This was the first trip that I was able to really understand her jokes and her stories without needing someone to explain them to me, the first trip that I was able to reply and keep the conversations going, the first trip that I was able to really connect with my abuelita.

I still have a long way to go till I become fluent in this language, but I am happily continuing learning Spanish be it through subtitles when I watch movies on Netflix, reading more Spanish poetry, paying more attention to the bilingual signs, and talking to more Spanish speakers. The world is my Spanish classroom and the A is my relationship with my abuelita that I have been able to grow and nurture.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

181095
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

8015
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

453053
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

23642
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments