Published Dec 13th, 2017 - My Spanish language journey started when I was just a tiny middle schooler in Long Island, NY. I was very excited to finally learn another language, as I had always had an affinity for languages and marveled at people who spoke more than one. I continued my studies into high school then all the way through college. During my junior year, I had the chance to visit my best friend Jessica while she was studying abroad in Spain, which got me even more excited about not just learning Spanish, but speaking it! It was the first time I felt like I could practice conversing with native speakers and although I was shy, I was excited to listen to the sounds of the trilling r and the lightning fast speech of the locals. Many of Jessica's new "family" and friends didn't speak English, so Spanish was the only option! I sat around wishing I could speak like they did, but I wasn't there long enough to really get comfortable. After college, my learning kind of tapered off because I didn't really have anyone to converse with in my day-to-day life. Later, in my early twenties, I went to Italy for a few months, and while living there, I really lost my ability to speak Spanish...or rather I traded in my Spanish for Italian! Living in Italy, I learned more Italian in a few short weeks than I had during my entire course of studies in Spanish growing up. I could still write a decent essay about the history of Latin America, but couldn't order a taco at a local restaurant!
My desire to learn Spanish was renewed upon taking a trip to Mexico a few years ago. I really enjoyed the people and the culture there and started practicing with the locals. Although I was making mistakes, I laughed at myself and realized I was saying words in Italian. People would ask, "are you from Italy," and I would reply, "no, New York!" It also didn't hurt that I started dating a guy from Mexico City, which turned out to be the real catalyst for taking my Spanish to the next level. Although my boyfriend and I mainly communicated in English, I wanted to be able to interact with his family in more than just a very basic way. I wanted them to get to know the real me, quirks and all. And I certainly couldn't do that, unless I was going to start practicing the right way, with native speakers. I knew I needed to crack jokes and felt helpless the first time I went and could barely say basic phrases without freezing up. Also, I craved independence while visiting Mexico. I wanted the ability to do things like shop or go to the movies on my own, without needing a translator.
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The desire to go beyond textbook or traditional language learning led me to Spanish55. My online Spanish tutor, Ana, tailors my lessons to me. She teaches me what I want to learn, which is a more colloquial style of Mexican Spanish, including slang used in conversations with friends. I prepare for our sessions by watching telenovelas, Spanish language series and movies on Netflix. I read the news every day on my BBC Mundo app on my phone, and I listen to music to try to immerse myself in every way possible. But the one thing that has been missing until now, is the one-on-one practice that comes with speaking. My lessons with Ana don't feel like being in a boring classroom, they are just like chatting with a friend. We laugh most of the session and talk about real life events. Every week I look at the clock, I realize we're out of time, and think, not again! In my one-on-one session each week I learn new words, phrases, and verb tenses that are so important to speaking on a conversational level and really building fluency. Ana helps me get the language from inside my head and OUT of my mouth, which has been a difficult thing for me.
I have always been very shy about the actual speaking part of learning the language. I was always worried about making mistakes and how my accent or pronunciation sounded. If I overheard someone in my apartment building or in a store speaking Spanish, I never felt comfortable trying to speak with them, even if I thought I might know enough to respond.
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Working with Ana has really boosted my confidence! During my last trip to Mexico, I had a bicycle that I was using to get around town. I was out on my own one afternoon and the bike broke down. I needed to get it fixed, but I was in a bit of a touristy section and didn't want to get charged the "tourist price" (you know how tourist places can be!) In the repair shop, I tried really hard to speak quickly and use my best accent when explaining the problem with my bike. I must have done really well because I got a great price for the brake repair and new basket thrown in, ¡gratis!
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The more I practice speaking Spanish, the more my confidence grows, and not just in the "Spanish" part of my life. My sister, Jen, recently got very sick, and I was able to advocate for her care without the fear of speaking up. I was able to communicate clearly with doctors, nurses, and other medical staff without feeling shy. This was such a critical time for my family, and I am so grateful that I was able to find the confidence to be there for her when she needed me most.
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My sister was a singer and played guitar, and although I sing in the car (where no one can hear me!), I've never had the courage to sing in front of other people, not even my own family. Jen was scheduled to perform at a benefit concert just a couple of weeks ago. When she realized she wouldn't make it to the show, she asked me to sing for her. I can definitely say, without the confidence I have gained from learning Spanish, I would have been way too shy to sing on that stage, but I hope I made her very proud! Sometimes just getting out there and trying it is the most important part. Life flies by and if you miss out for fear of judgment, you miss all the fun and excitement!
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I really think learning another language can have a huge impact on your life because it makes your brain think in new and different ways. It has made me a more creative person. I also think it helps me hold my focus at work, as I process information more quickly and efficiently. I really encourage everyone to try to learn a second language because it will benefit your whole life! Not to mention, it's really fun. I especially love overhearing people speaking Spanish, and I let out a little giggle and they are surprised that I could understand. I have made many friendships the past few months with people I never would have met if I wasn't able to speak Spanish.
If I could give advice to my younger self, I would say, "Go study abroad! Live out in another country and try to immerse yourself in the language and culture. Meet new people and expand your horizons." I wish I had done as my friend Jess did by studying in Spain, where after only a few months, she was light years ahead of me in her fluency! It really makes such a difference in your learning when you are forced to use the language with such consistency.
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I know that I will never stop learning and using Spanish, and I plan to continue my studies with Spanish55 for a long time! I think of Ana as more than just a coach, she's my friend. Besides, who knows what will happen, hopefully someday I will get the chance to live in Mexico. When that day comes, I want to be 100% at ease, able to hang out with friends, conduct business, and really acclimate to the culture. I look forward to see where this road takes me, ándale!
