I studied Spanish over a span of 5 years of middle school and high school. Then, I took 16 hours of Spanish in college. But, none of that has mattered. Sure, I can remember grammar rules, and vocabulary has come back to me quickly. I can read and write, even putting the accent marks in the right places most of the time. I can mostly understand when someone speaks to me, but I can’t always respond. Talking has been the most difficult aspect of my language learning, and it makes working in my community that much more challenging.
Thus, I’ve collected a handful of ‘blunderful’ stories throughout my 2 years of living in a Spanish speaking country.
There have been many small, insignificant instances where people don’t understand me, or I slightly mispronounce a sound in a word, or I emphasize the wrong syllable.
But there also have been embarrassing stories, like the time at the dinner table with my host family and I was talking about brushing my hair. I intended to say comb (peine), but instead said the word for penis (pene).
After a long day, also with the same host family, I was talking about what time I would be leaving the next morning- 7:30, but instead of saying “media,” “mierda” (shit) came out of my mouth.
Most notably, and most recently, I was giving instructions to the kids I tutor English. I told them to turn to the next page (página), which led to an eruption of laughter from one of the 10-year-old boys who thought I said vagina. Once he explained why he was laughing, the other 7 kids lost it as well. Since then, I’ve realized how much I say the word “página” and have been rather hesitant to continue to use it.
These blunders often humble me once I get past the initial embarrassment; they remind me that I’m not perfect and I still have a lot to learn, to practice.
They also have been a way for me to connect with people. As an outsider, and especially one from the U.S. – which is viewed as a powerful nation by many here – these moments make me human and more relatable. I am no longer the teacher, but the student. And these moments become inside jokes, “Remember that time you said…” and we all share a good laugh.
Learning a language is difficult. I might never master the Spanish language, but I feel like this is one of those cases where the journey is much more interesting and important than the end result. As is with most aspects of life.
Brittany McGee 