How I got into the Spanish language

Many years ago, as a child living my first years in southern California, I was exposed to so much Spanish. Mom taught at a predominantly hispanic populated elementary school, and Spanish was heard everywhere. I heard Spanish on the radio all the time, and the sounds of the language really clicked with me, especially the sounds of Spanish music, the music of the Mexican-American community, in particular.

Later, at the age of 11 or 12, we moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where mom continued to teach at a school with a large Spanish-speaking population, and dad found employment in the financial planning industry. I was still attracted to Spanish radio, and started developing strong friendships with a few Mexican-American children that hiked with me through my grandpa’s mountain valley. My friends showed me the caves, and interesting trails amidst big boulders of Echo Canyon. These boys, who were my age, did not know much English, so I was in an immersion situation, which I liked.

Then, I was given a booklet, or guide book to useful everyday Spanish. That booklet meant so much to me, and I read it and practiced the Spanish out of it, regularly, religiously, and passionately.

In my high school years in Milton, Florida, I got into CB radio, and was attracted to the Spanish words coming in from the distance. I tried to impress people with my Spanish ability. Whenever I met a Spanish-speaker, I was in awe, and wanted to listen to the speaker, and try speaking it myself.

I went on to formally study Spanish in high school, and made outstanding grades. I was the teachers pet in Spanish, and stayed after class bugging the teacher about Spanish. I was in love with Spanish. I earned a B.A. in Spanish from the University of West Florida, and studied mostly one on one, or in small groups under the wonderful, inspiring professior, Dr Caballero. He gave me so much support and suggested that I live in Mexico a semester, which I did, but for more than a semester, in fact.

After teaching Spanish to high school students for a few years, the time was right for me to go on to graduate school, and earn my master’s degree in Spanish Language and Linguistics. I taught Spanish to undergraduates, and met good people from Spain, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico, Peru, Argentina, and elsewhere. I really got a feel for the many Spanish-speaking cultures of the Americas, and Spain after reading 100 of books in Spanish, everything from commentaries, novels, history, and current events.

It all goes back to my early years in southern California. Mom had me go to her school festivals, and hear the sounds of Mexican music, eat good ethnic food, play games, break pinatas, and mingle among the Spanish-speaking children, and grownups.

Now, I have fun tutoring Spanish, using Spanish in work settings, and making friends among Spanish speakers.