You are on page 1of 2

Tanya Maria Barrientos

Se Habla Espaol

The title grabbed my attention, I assumed it would have something to do with speaking the
Spanish language. Although I am proud to be a Latina I cannot speak Spanish either.

Engaging with the Text


1. The title suggests that the subject will have something to do with to do with the Spanish
language. Reading the title, I assumed Barrientos was proud of the fact that she spoke
Spanish. My assumption was incorrect because her main reason for wanting to learn to
speak Spanish was to prove to herself and others that she was in fact a true Latina.

2. The anecdote about signing up for a Spanish class made me curious as to why she wanted
to learn to Spanish. To learn that her parents wanted nothing to do with the Latin culture
was very shocking. Its hard to imagine not someone not being proud of their heritage or
culture. Which prepared me to understand where her pride came from in only speaking
English and her later desire to learn the Spanish language.
3. Barrientos felt the need to learn the Spanish language to fit in. She believed that
speaking Spanish would prove that she was a true Latina. She not only wanted to look
the part, she wanted to feel that she was a pure Latina by speaking the language.
4. Although she didnt translate the Spanish words and phrases her stance seemed
passionate to me. The desire to embrace her Guatemalan heritage by learning the Spanish
language could be seen throughout the essay.
5. My mother was from Cleveland, MS and my father a native from Honduras, so growing
up with some sort of accent was inevitable. At the age of 3, I spent three months in
Honduras with my grandmother and I learned to speak Spanish. When we came back to
the U.S. I could only speak Spanish, which of course made it difficult for my mother who
only spoke English. After few months of us not being to fully communicate my mother
decided it was time I learned how to speak English, so she made sure that everyone only
spoke to me in English. Learning to speak English again wasnt that difficult, but it left
me with an accent that both sides of my family found entertaining. To my Hispanic
family I had a so southern accent and to my American family I had a Spanish accent.
However, I didnt hear an accent, I felt I spoke just like everyone else, which in fact I did,
my accent was a blend of both families. Through the years I started to really hear the
way I said certain words or phrases and heard the accent that my family jokingly made

fun of. As an adult I learned how to change my accent when necessary but overall I love
the way I sound.

You might also like