Half-baked beaners

On the first day of the semester, I had students in three separate classes tell me, “I’m Mexican, but I don’t speak Spanish.” And they were genuinely embarrassed as they told me. I knew exactly how they felt because I once felt the same way when I had forgotten how to speak Spanish. I tried to comfort them by telling them about my three sons who don’t speak Spanish either. I always wanted to raise my children in a Spanish-speaking environment where no English was spoken. When I met my ex-wife she always told me to speak Spanish to her. Even though she never responded in Spanish, she understood everything I told her. I truly thought we would have children who spoke Spanish at home. However, she never spoke Spanish and later insisted on me speaking English only. So, I understand when Mexicans are embarrassed because they don’t speak Spanish.