On Being Bilingual

My wife and I spent a few days in Houston last week. Our youngest son was at Centrifuge (Youth Camp) in Mississippi, so we took advantage of the opportunity. We were able to see the Astros play (They lost in the 10th inning), and see a new play at the A.D. Theater. We saw the play in a preview mode. The season hadn't actually opened, so the players pulled up chairs on stage and chatted with those in the audience who cared to stay when the play was over. I found the play and the discussion afterward enjoyable and entertaining. The message was distinctly Christian. In fact, the stage reminded me of a few of those country churches in which I've pastored and preached. I highly recommend the play. I'm not so sure about the Astros!

Anyway, wherever we went, we heard Spanish being spoken. I was reminded of my days right out of seminary on the border of Mexico. When I agreed to come to Falcon Heights Baptist Church, I agreed to learn Spanish. I took classes in McAllen and listened to Spanish conversation very carefully. I even learned a few words and phrases. Our oldest son, in preschool, came home speaking the language. If we had stayed in the Valley longer, I am positive he would be fluently bilingual.

I wish I'd learned to speak Spanish.

I believe that in a few years, Spanish will become almost a necessity. Here in Louisiana, we have public school classes that teach French. My son, Caleb, has been in one class and was happy to recite what he learned. But I don't believe that in the years ahead that there will be much of a need for French speakers. We are not exactly being inundated with French speaking people. But we are seeing a growth in the Spanish speaking population.

Being an Anglo in the Valley, I would often enter a store or come up to a group of people speaking Spanish. When they saw me, they would usually shift to English, if they could. Sometimes, when they didn't want me to hear what they were saying, they would shift from English to Spanish. How often I would wish I could retort in Spanish that I knew exactly what they were saying!

But alas, I never learned Spanish.

Learning a second language ought to be required in school. I know some schools require it, but not all. And Spanish should be the required language. In college, I chose to forego Spanish and took Greek instead. I know no one who speaks Greek, but it is the original language of the New Testament, which has helped me immensely in my Biblical studies. But I did have the opportunity to learn Greek in Seminary.

So I wish I had learned Spanish.

I know what some think- "Let them learn English." I agree. But I think it is also good for all of us to learn a second language.

I wish I had learned Spanish.