SPANISH IN US SCHOOLS

In U.S. schools, there is a tendency to teach a “global” Spanish that aims to embrace all varieties of the language. But in attempting to include everyone, this approach can end up pleasing no one. Showing videos of colloquial Spanish from Panamá, Costa Rica, Spain, and Chile confuses students and often bewilders teachers, who may lack the tools to explain unfamiliar variants.

I advocate for a consistent, focused approach: teach the educated, cultured Spanish of one country. This gives students a clear, coherent linguistic model. They will have ample opportunity to encounter regional differences once they travel or advance in their studies. The key is for the school to clarify that the Spanish taught in the classroom corresponds to a specific country, and that it reflects educated speech and writing. At the early stages, we must steer clear of slang, colloquialisms, and juvenile language. A firm foundation in the cultured language will serve the student well, wherever they go.