I'm a white, i.e. non-Hispanic, Spanish major, and I'm not the only white Spanish major at my school. I didn't ever think it was something weird to choose to study, but I've learnt that it is, at least to other people. Here are some responses to frequent statements and questions I get about my choice in major.
1. Why?
Believe it or not, not everyone in the world speaks English, and most other first-world countries enforce a second-language education in their primary and secondary schools, meaning most students speak another language nearly fluently by the time they graduate high school or its equivalent.
I started my second-language education later in life, and I've experienced first hand the downfall of not speaking another language when traveling or encountering new people. I want to speak another language fluently, whatever it is, and it just so happens that Spanish is the most practical for someone who lives in the US, where the largest population of immigrants come from Mexico, and after that, mostly Spanish-speaking countries.
Isn't it sad how we share a border with Mexico but don't bother even trying to speak their language with them, when most of them try their best to speak our language with us?
2. But you're white.
I don't see what this matters, really. I'm white, yes, and I acknowledge my privilege as a white, native-English speaker. I want to shorten the bridge of distance between myself and people who don't speak perfect English, white, black, whatever, they deserve to be able to communicate, whether it's asking for a specific food at the grocery store or in a classroom. My skin color and native language may make it easier for me to navigate my way throughout the world, but I want to use this privilege to make it easier for others who don't have the same privileges at a fault that isn't their own.
3. What are you gonna do with that?
Well, I'm going to speak Spanish, hopefully...
In all seriousness, I'm a double major. I'm also studying Communication Studies. In the end, I want to work somewhere in the world of communication/journalism/PR/etc., and being able to reach an audience in two languages makes for a more effective communicator.
4. But you speak English, isn't that the most spoken language in the world?
It may be or it may not be.
A lot of other countries that speak other languages may teach English in school, but why am I, as a native English speaker, expected to wait for others to get on my level when I could be meeting them halfway?
What if that changes in the near future?
Even if it doesn't, I don't like the idea that just because I have an advantage automatically means that I'm expected to just sit by and only speak to others who have the same advantage when there are so many people in the world who didn't have the 'luxury' of being born into a country that speaks the same language as myself.
I think the question or idea we should all be considering is, why aren't you trying to speak another language, especially when you're sharing a border with a country that doesn't speak English? Why aren't you a Spanish major or minor?
