I remember many years ago when a classmate who was Latino admitted that he failed his Spanish course. Someone said “How can you flunk Spanish since it’s your native language?” His comment was “How can you flunk English when it’s your native language?”
My school offered Spanish, German and French. And of course, English. I chose English, cause that is what I speak. It was not what I expected, but it was cool.
I remember that in my French class in high school we had a lot of French Canadian kids whose parents had come from Canada and Maine to work at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft. The poor teacher almost had a nervous breakdown trying to teach a classroom full of Québécois how to speak Parisian French!
A friend of mine whose parents are from Mexico grew up in a Spanish speaking household. He said he had a horrible time in Spanish class because it wasn’t like the Spanish he knew.
The tiny little high school I attended in New Mexico in the sixties decided to start offering Spanish classes since the English teacher they’d hired had a wife who was certified to teach Spanish. Interestingly, a lot of the Hispanics in my class decided to take it because, after all, they all already spoke Spanish and would supposedly have a “leg up” over the Anglos in school!
Most all the boys dropped the class by the second week – it seems that she was teaching proper “Castilian” Spanish – not the polyglot they spoke – Suprise, Suprise.
By the way, it was mostly the “boys” who took and dropped out – the “girls” stuck to the class and were successful, though one or two told me it really was like learning a “foreign” language to them.
It would be harder, actually, because they’d not only need to learn the new language, but “unlearn” the old language that they’d already learned.
Actually, Hispanics who can speak a little are the worst students because they think they know everything and in reality, most of them can speak a little and understand a great deal of what they hear, but they have a limited vocabulary and can’t read or write.
My grandmother spoke English, French and Flemish. She and my grandfather would argue in French. One day I asked her what “sacre bleu” (a phrase she yelled often at my grandfather) meant. She replied "I would never say such a thing.
Templo S.U.D. over 2 years ago
This is also why we anglohablantes take English classes.
rbstefka over 2 years ago
I remember many years ago when a classmate who was Latino admitted that he failed his Spanish course. Someone said “How can you flunk Spanish since it’s your native language?” His comment was “How can you flunk English when it’s your native language?”
kaylin over 2 years ago
My school offered Spanish, German and French. And of course, English. I chose English, cause that is what I speak. It was not what I expected, but it was cool.
BLUEBONNETS Premium Member over 2 years ago
My family is Welsh. I’m glad I didn’t have to learn that impossible language .
NeedaChuckle Premium Member over 2 years ago
One kid in Spanish class spoke Italian. He had a lot of trouble because similar words in both languages could mean different things.
Linguist over 2 years ago
I remember that in my French class in high school we had a lot of French Canadian kids whose parents had come from Canada and Maine to work at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft. The poor teacher almost had a nervous breakdown trying to teach a classroom full of Québécois how to speak Parisian French!
tabby over 2 years ago
A friend of mine whose parents are from Mexico grew up in a Spanish speaking household. He said he had a horrible time in Spanish class because it wasn’t like the Spanish he knew.
wellis1947 Premium Member over 2 years ago
The tiny little high school I attended in New Mexico in the sixties decided to start offering Spanish classes since the English teacher they’d hired had a wife who was certified to teach Spanish. Interestingly, a lot of the Hispanics in my class decided to take it because, after all, they all already spoke Spanish and would supposedly have a “leg up” over the Anglos in school!
Most all the boys dropped the class by the second week – it seems that she was teaching proper “Castilian” Spanish – not the polyglot they spoke – Suprise, Suprise.
By the way, it was mostly the “boys” who took and dropped out – the “girls” stuck to the class and were successful, though one or two told me it really was like learning a “foreign” language to them.
It would be harder, actually, because they’d not only need to learn the new language, but “unlearn” the old language that they’d already learned.
Petemejia77 over 2 years ago
Thank you for saying latino, Baldo!
DaBump Premium Member over 2 years ago
I wonder how many English-speaking teens would draw a blank on “impeccable”?
maestrabella67 over 2 years ago
Actually, Hispanics who can speak a little are the worst students because they think they know everything and in reality, most of them can speak a little and understand a great deal of what they hear, but they have a limited vocabulary and can’t read or write.
Ina Tizzy over 2 years ago
My grandmother spoke English, French and Flemish. She and my grandfather would argue in French. One day I asked her what “sacre bleu” (a phrase she yelled often at my grandfather) meant. She replied "I would never say such a thing.
Naldrin 8 months ago
I can’t tell about American countries, but in Spain the translation for “grades” is “notas”.