Se Habla Esppañol By Tanya M. Barrientos

In the United States there are many cultural backgrounds that have been stereotyped for what their culture is supposed to look like. Tanya M. Barrientos wrote an essay; “Se Habla Esppañol”, which she expresses her experience being a Latina, who is not fluent in speaking Spanish. Therefore, most cultures that move into the United States with a foreign language and children; the children tend to act or be more like an American, than their own culture, which later become confident in their native language. Growing up in the United States as a young Latina, Tanya Barrientos was found to only speak one language; English. She was raised to only speak English because at that time, her parents wanted their children to fit into society. Later on, she found herself in an environment that saw Spanish-speaking Latinos as poor or people who waited tables and clean hotel rooms.

Reading “Se Habla Español” showed that it hard to fit in when the environment that she was around was different from herself. For instance Tanya Barrientos wrote, “But in my case it was what kept me apart, I felt awkward among groups whose conversation flowed in and out of Spanish. . . I wanted to call myself Latina, to finally take pride, but it felt like a lie.” (Barrientos page 716.) In this, she explained that she didn’t feel like she belonged in her culture fully. She had a part in her that felt like she didn’t even belong in the Latina community. She also explained that she took pride in feeling American. That every time she would talk to Latino store clerks and waitresses and not understanding them when they spoke Spanish to her. She felt American. (Barrientos page 716.) It also showed that her confidence in being a Latina and not being fluent in the native language was developed. She gained the confidence by putting perspective into other cultures. Which not all cultures have all native speaking