communicating in Spanish
This Friday I subbed for a 2nd grade teacher at a nearby school in Alexandria. I had one student named Debbie who came from El Salvador only two weeks ago. She could not speak English- she knew only a few words, including yes and no. While the children were doing their centers (rotations that involve reading, playing on computers, writing, and solving puzzles), I’ve noticed how Debbie seemed confused as to what to do. I went over to her and told her in Spanish that it was time for her to write a letter. She asked if she could write to a friend in El Salvador. I then explained how she was not sending a letter overseas, but to someone within the school- a friend, a teacher, or another staff member. She finally understood the instructions. During this time of translating to Debbie, another student was watching me with a surprised look. “You speak Spanish?” he asked. “Yes, I do!” I happily replied.
I was so happy that I was able to communicate with Debbie in her native language, and in doing so, make her feel a little more comfortable in a foreign land. I felt as though I could be a bridge between her and a successful educational experience. My years of studying Spanish have finally paid off! My ability to speak Spanish will continue to be useful in the classroom when I eventually become a teacher! 
That is good you were able to do that. I took about 6 years of spanish in school, and a semester in college. I still can’t speak it..perhaps it is because I can’t roll my r’s who knows. Part of me wants to pick it back up and keep trying as I still can understand and read a lot of it. But it will help you in your teaching career for sure.
im jealous of you. i took spanish for 5 years and im half pananmian and i cannot speak a word of it. that is definetly an awesome skill to have as a teacher!