To The Students Who Never Understood Spanish | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

To The Students Who Never Understood Spanish

No gracias...I'll stick to English, por favor.

54
To The Students Who Never Understood Spanish
sharp.com

¡Uno, dos, tres, catorce! I would belt out these lyrics to Vertigo every time the song came on the radio in the car or over our speakers in the kitchen during dinner. My understanding was that since Bono sings catorce after tres, then catorce must mean four. What else could it be? Well, apparently to Bono, fourteen follows three, but no one seemed to clue me in on this mistranslation.

So I started my Spanish career with a basic misunderstanding of the numbers, and here lies the root to my inevitable future as a mediocre Spanish student. By now, I have most U2 songs memorized to heart, which is more than I can say about the Spanish language after about 10 years of classes. I skated by in middle school Spanish since it was treated more like an elective than a serious subject. Then I managed to die and resurrect in every high school Spanish class I took, always studying hard to pull out barely passing grades. No bueno.

#ThanksBono

But now that I am in college and no longer have to take Spanish, I am learning that I am not alone in the Spanish struggle. There is a special bond between people who took Spanish through middle school and high school and still don’t know how to hold a conversation or write an essay. So here's to people like me, the Spanish-inept Spanish students.

If you were like me in Spanish class, then you probably were the one who relied too heavily on words you already knew because everyone in the world already knew them. Any time you could, you would squeeze in the word “taco” without shame.

Every time you took oral exams, you had so much pent up anxiety that you even forgot how to speak English. And then speaking Spanish? Forget it! Instead, your tongue would have spasms as you tried to roll your r’s for words you were probably using incorrectly anyway.


There were grammar topics taught that no matter how hard you studied and reviewed them, you would just never understand them. It would get to such a hard point, that you were relieved to take the unit exam so that you would never have to think about that topic again.

Except when that topic was built upon for the next unit and you knew you were just screwed.

If you were in group projects, you were that partner who sat back and let the others work. You knew it was worse when your group actively avoided giving you any sort of responsibility for the project.

And let’s be honest, your group’s grade was better when you participated less. But hey, they always gave you the artsy parts of the project, so you had an excuse to use crayons!

You would only raise your hand when you were 100 percent certain that what you were about to say was coherent Spanish and you were ecstatic to show off that you knew something. Then when you spoke, and the teacher pointed out that your Spanish was 100 percent wrong, you kept your hand down for at least two weeks until your mustered up the courage to try and fail again.

How about that lovely feeling of watching your friends take the advanced language courses, while you manage to stay in the lower level Spanish classes and being schooled by the very eager freshmen who were practically bilingual?

But you never got mad at those freshmen because they were ultimately the ones who helped you with your homework.

You always looked forward to Cinco de Mayo because hopefully you would have a lecture in English about the significance of the holiday. Who doesn’t love a good independence story told in simple English?

Or better yet: Class Fiesta! (Fiesta = party; but you knew that because you love fiestas!)

You always brought the nachos because you could pronounce nachos.

Maybe you don’t have as concrete of a reason, like I do, as to why you could never learn Spanish. Some people just don’t get language, like how some don’t get Calculus or Chemistry. (Hell, I still don’t get either of those subjects!) And it looks like Bono doesn’t understand Spanish either, and yet he is pretty successful without it. But he didn’t have to mess me up like that. #ThanksBono

So here’s to you, the students who never did and still cannot learn Spanish. Never be discouraged or insecure by your lack of understanding because students like us are always the life of the fiesta! And let’s be honest, as long as you know how to say "taco" and "margarita," you are pretty much set for life.






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

15 Times "Parks and Recreation" Summed Up Your Library Experience

"I've only slept nine hours over the past four days, so I'm right on the verge of a nervous breakdown." - Leslie Knope

3491
Parks and Recreation excitedly gathered around a laptop at a table in an office setting.

The library. Club lib. The place every college student goes when they want to try and be a productive member of society. Who better to explain your experience than Parks and Rec?

1. When you've finally found the energy to leave your dorm room and walk into the lib like

Keep Reading...Show less
Taylor Swift in orange dress playing a moss-covered piano on stage with bright lights.

A three-and-a-half-hour runtime. Nine Eras. Eleven outfit changes. Three surprise songs. Zero breaks. One unforgettable evening. In the past century, no other performer has put on an electric performance quite like Taylor Swift, surpassing her fans ‘wildest dreams’. It is the reason supporters keep coming back to her shows each year. Days later, I’m still in awe of the spectacle ‘Miss Americana’ puts on every few days in a new city. And, like one of Taylor’s exes, has me smiling as I reminisce about the memories of the night we spent together.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

A Few Thoughts Every College Freshman Has

The transition into adulthood is never easy

28471
Mays Island
Courtney Jones

Today I started my third week of college at Minnesota State Moorhead. I have survived welcome week, finding my classes on the first day, and being an awkward loner in the dining hall. Even though I have yet to be here for a month, I have already experienced many thoughts and problems that only a new college student can relate to.

Keep Reading...Show less
Students walking on a sunny college campus with trees and buildings.

"Make sure to get involved when you're in college!"

We've all heard some variation of this phrase, whether it came from parents, other family members, friends, RAs, or college-related articles. And, like many clichés, it's true for the most part. Getting involved during your college years can help you make friends, build your resume, and feel connected to your campus. However, these commitments can get stressful if you're dealing with personal issues, need to work, or aren't sure how to balance classes and everything else going on during the semester.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

9 Reasons Why Friends Are Essential In College

College without friends is like peanut butter without jelly.

12264
Bridgaline Liberati and friends
Bridgaline Liberati

In college, one of the essential things to have is friends. Yes, textbooks, a laptop, and other school supplies are important but friends are essential. Friends are that support system everybody needs. The more friends you have the better the support system you have. But you also have someone to share experiences with. And don’t settle for just one or two friends because 8 out of 10 times they are busy and you are studying all alone. Or they have other friend groups that do not include you. Don’t settle for just one or two friends; make as many friends as you can. After the first couple of weeks of college, most friend groups are set and you may be without friends.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments