This work details my own personal experience with multilingualism.
The subway station was especially crowded this morning. The aroma of coffee, the stifling of newspaper, and the screeching of the rails filled the air. As I stood there waiting for the Red Line, I notice in my peripheral vision a mother consoling her baby, two business men carrying on a conversation about the latest financial reports, a homeless man begging for change, a man playing his saxophone, and an older woman crocheting a scarf. As my Red Line train approaches the boarding deck, people begin to rush and crowd up like sardines to secure a space on the already congested train. Once I board the train I quickly acquire a seat next to a woman and her young family. They appear to be tourists: they’re wearing “I Love DC” shirts and the mother is looking at the visitor map trying to figure out which museums and monuments to go to next. One of the kids screams, “Me encanta el museo!” The other yells back, “Yo también!” “Dejar de gritar los niños”, the mother gently says. Just as I am about to pull out my phone to check out the news, the woman lightly taps me on the shoulder, “Excuse me ma’am”, in a Spanish accent, “¿Hablas español?”
I’m nearly caught off guard. The last time I had Spanish was one and a half years ago when I was a junior in high school. Now for the first time in my life, I was about to embark in a real-life, no boundaries, Spanish conversation. I was prepared for the daunting, yet invigorating experience. Let’s put these three years of Spanish schooling to the test.
One, two three…”Sí”, I swiftly reply. “Magnífico,” she responds, smiling; “¿Sabes dónde está la casa blanca es, cómo puedo llegar?” As I hear her speak, I understand what she is saying, “Do you know where the White House is located, how do I get there?” And I know how to answer, “Yeah, just get off at the Farragut North Metro Station, exit the subway station, go straight for two blocks, then turn left onto H Street, then the White House should be on the right”. But I am struggling to convert English to Spanish…
I’m nearly caught off guard. The last time I had Spanish was one and a half years ago when I was a junior in high school. Now for the first time in my life, I was about to embark in a real-life, no boundaries, Spanish conversation. I was prepared for the daunting, yet invigorating experience. Let’s put these three years of Spanish schooling to the test.
One, two three…”Sí”, I swiftly reply. “Magnífico,” she responds, smiling; “¿Sabes dónde está la casa blanca es, cómo puedo llegar?” As I hear her speak, I understand what she is saying, “Do you know where the White House is located, how do I get there?” And I know how to answer, “Yeah, just get off at the Farragut North Metro Station, exit the subway station, go straight for two blocks, then turn left onto H Street, then the White House should be on the right”. But I am struggling to convert English to Spanish…
“Josefina! You’re up next to present! Let’s GO!” screeches my Spanish teacher, Ms. Osella. I literally jump out of my seat. My heartbeat accelerates, I begin to shake, and the palms of my hands become sweaty. I’m nervous, on edge, and about to experience a serious bout of anxiety. I slowly trudge to the front of the room. I’m about to speak Spanish for the first time in front of my classmates and I have exactly no idea what I will be asked to say. “In Spanish”, she says slowly, “tell me how to get from this classroom to the gym”. At this point I am a nervous wreck: I am shaking as much as a maraca, I can’t develop a full thought, my mouth feels like sandpaper. I know the material, but I just couldn’t; the words wouldn’t come out of my mouth. “No lo sé”, I struggle to say. Ms. Osella insists, “Don’t give up so easily, try”.
“Alright”, I take a deep breath and gather myself. Suddenly the nervousness subsides, the answer to the question comes nearly immediately: ”Gire a la izquierda …de la puerta”, I respond, pausing. “Keep going”, Ms. Osella commands. “Ir por el pasillo …hasta llegar a la puerta. Gire a la derecha, y el gimnasio está allí,” I expressed. “Buen trabajo, siéntate!” yells Ms. Osella…
Back on the subway. The woman is patiently waiting for a response to her pertinent question. Everything suddenly comes back to me. “Sí, sólo bajar en la estación de Metro Farragut North, salga de la estación de metro, ir directamente a dos cuadras y gire a la izquierda en la calle H, entonces la casa blanca debería ser a la derecha,” I answer, relieved. “Muchas Gracias”, the woman declares and gets off at the next station.
“Alright”, I take a deep breath and gather myself. Suddenly the nervousness subsides, the answer to the question comes nearly immediately: ”Gire a la izquierda …de la puerta”, I respond, pausing. “Keep going”, Ms. Osella commands. “Ir por el pasillo …hasta llegar a la puerta. Gire a la derecha, y el gimnasio está allí,” I expressed. “Buen trabajo, siéntate!” yells Ms. Osella…
Back on the subway. The woman is patiently waiting for a response to her pertinent question. Everything suddenly comes back to me. “Sí, sólo bajar en la estación de Metro Farragut North, salga de la estación de metro, ir directamente a dos cuadras y gire a la izquierda en la calle H, entonces la casa blanca debería ser a la derecha,” I answer, relieved. “Muchas Gracias”, the woman declares and gets off at the next station.
Just through this brief interaction on the subway, I fully understand and appreciate the importance of learning and understanding a different language, such as Spanish. Giving directions to the Spanish-speaking mother was both a gratifying and thought-provoking experience. I am always enthusiastic about assisting others in need, but this situation was unique in the fact that I utilized my Spanish skills that I acquired in school and then applied them in order to communicate with her. The significance of Spanish is profound. Spanish is important in the American society because it literally opens many doors and opportunities to interact with the Hispanic and Spanish-speaking communities throughout the nation. For example, as a doctor I would come in contact with a very diverse population of patients. Knowing Spanish and English would pose a great advantage, considering that Spanish is the second most spoken language in the US. Because of the importance of Spanish and other languages, multilingualism is a tool that is increasingly critical in our global society.
If I didn’t have the interest or the motive to try to learn Spanish, I would not have the chance to experience this intellectually stimulating event of speaking to another human being in a language that I don’t call my own. This experience was intellectually stimulating because the use of different languages, multilingualism, is a human behavior that fascinates me because it represents cultural diversity and globalization. Because of this occurrence, I want to pursue at least a minor in Spanish and study abroad or volunteer in a Spanish-speaking country. Also I plan on becoming at least functional or perhaps fluent in Spanish.
It’s funny how just one, small moment can make such a large, lasting impact upon your life.
If I didn’t have the interest or the motive to try to learn Spanish, I would not have the chance to experience this intellectually stimulating event of speaking to another human being in a language that I don’t call my own. This experience was intellectually stimulating because the use of different languages, multilingualism, is a human behavior that fascinates me because it represents cultural diversity and globalization. Because of this occurrence, I want to pursue at least a minor in Spanish and study abroad or volunteer in a Spanish-speaking country. Also I plan on becoming at least functional or perhaps fluent in Spanish.
It’s funny how just one, small moment can make such a large, lasting impact upon your life.