From the archive: Learning Spanish? Don’t be shy or afraid of making mistakes

In November 2019, Sarah DeVries wrote an article about the challenges and rewards of learning Mexican Spanish. Initially, she had two years of college-level Spanish education but still felt self-conscious about speaking and feared making embarrassing mistakes. Her fear was based on Mexico's love-hate relationship with the United States, where people might mock her accent or mistakes. However, this fear was largely unfounded, as most Mexicans were patient and encouraging towards non-native speakers.

Phrasebooks and grammar books proved helpful in learning the language. While some people would point out her American accent, DeVries tried to see it as cosmic justice rather than personal criticism. In the area where she lived, English was not considered essential, so most foreigners put in the effort to learn Spanish. They took classes, practiced, and worked hard to improve their skills.

DeVries noted that learning Spanish demonstrated respect for the host country. Tourists who only speak English or don't make an effort to learn Spanish were less appreciated. Mexicans generally had a positive attitude towards non-native speakers who tried to communicate in Spanish, even if their pronunciation was imperfect. They would often switch to English if they sensed a language barrier, but this did not discourage foreign visitors from learning the language.

DeVries stressed that learning Spanish was a sign of respect for the culture and people of Mexico. Despite her own struggles, she found that attempting to learn Spanish earned her the respect and admiration of the people she encountered. She encouraged others to try learning the language, emphasizing that it was a valuable investment in their personal and cultural growth.