One of the core graduation requirements at THS is completing at least two years of a world language class. Students can choose from the variety of language classes Tenafly offers, ranging from Chinese to Italian, but one language in particular stands out: Spanish. Since Spanish is offered from the elementary level onward, many students continue studying it throughout their K-12 education. As a Spanish student myself, I have experienced the same roadblocks and hurdles most learners face: conjugation, ser vs. estar, feminine vs. masculine nouns and adjectives, false cognates–the list goes on. And so, I took it upon myself to ask one THS Spanish 4 Honors and AP teachers, Sra. Monell, about her thoughts on the curriculum, tips for learning the language, and what THS students struggle with most.
First, I asked Sra. Monell about her opinion on misconceptions people have developed surrounding Spanish. She emphasized that Latin American countries have their own respective cultures and dialects, which should not be homogenized. “Every single one of the 21 countries that speak Spanish has its own essence and cultural differences,” Monell remarked. Indeed, the Spanish language influences many parts of the world and different cultures, making it so versatile and unique–qualities that add to its appeal.
When it comes to learning Spanish, Monell believes the biggest struggle is learning to speak. Teenagers’ apprehension about speaking foreign languages often hinders them from progression. To combat this, Monell’s mantra is simple: “practice, practice, practice,” a tenet of learning any foreign language. Speaking is an especially important aspect, as communication is the primary reason why so many take up a new language. Improvement comes only through consistent practice, as Monell advises.
Recognizing the importance of how schools introduce foreign languages, I asked Monell about potential weak points in the current system. Monell firmly believes that all schools should begin teaching all languages during the elementary years. “When you are a child, you take away that self-consciousness because kids are going to find it fun, they are going to speak it, and they are going to be less self-conscious about what they sound like,” Monell explained.
Focusing specifically on THS, I asked Monell about the most common mistakes THS students make in Spanish. According to Monell, most of THS students’ mistakes stem from applying English grammar rules to the Spanish language. One such common mistake is the use of “un otro” rather than merely “otro” to say “another.” Other common errors have to do with aspects unique to Spanish and other Romance languages, such as gender agreement in nouns and adjectives. Unfortunately, one of the burdens of learning a new language is having to re-learn the rules, which can sometimes mean the painstaking memorization of gendered language and exceptions to patterns from one’s native language.
It’s nearly impossible to bring up the subject of learning a foreign language without mentioning immersion techniques, and so I asked Monell how THS students could embrace immersion in learning Spanish. Monell believes that the most effective way to immerse oneself in Spanish is to travel to a Spanish-speaking country for as little as one to two weeks, ideally with a host family. Of course, she acknowledged that this is not a luxury just anyone can partake in, but if possible, it can have lasting effects on communication skills. Immersion forces learners to communicate strictly in the language, helping them develop a strong vocabulary and providing abundant opportunities to utilize it.
On a final note, Monell encourages THS students to seize every opportunity to practice Spanish: “Keep going. Travel abroad, practice with your friends, practice with anyone that you have a chance to practice with, particularly the speaking skills. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes,” a sentiment I strongly agree with.
What I gleaned from this experience is that learning Spanish (or any foreign language) has a great deal to do with bravery, consistency, and the ability to consistently be brave. You will struggle at first–it’s an unavoidable part of the process for all non-native speakers. But in order for those training wheels to come off, you must challenge yourself to speak, knowing that you’ll sometimes conjugate wrong or mix up “por” and “para.” It is in these mistakes and the accompanying frustrations that we build our knowledge and gain the mastery that we seek. Along the way, you may even find yourself becoming a more disciplined and valiant person.
