Culture 09.06.19 at 10:52 am

AOC’s Tweet About Struggling With Her Spanish Is Super Relatable

By Yara Simón

09.06.19 at 10:52 am

Lead Photo: U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) pauses while speaking during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on July 15, 2019 in Washington, DC. Photo by Alex Wroblewski/Getty Images

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) pauses while speaking during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on July 15, 2019 in Washington, DC. Photo by Alex Wroblewski/Getty Images

Growing up in the United States, you may find that you struggle with your Spanish – even if it’s your first language. This is certainly true for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. On Thursday, the Congresswoman tweeted about doing an interview in Spanish on Univision Nueva York about the Green New Deal, and many people felt seen by her revelation.

“I’m really proud of this interview!” she wrote. “Growing up, Spanish was my first language – but like many 1st generation Latinx Americans, I have to continuously work at it & improve. It’s not perfect, but the only way we improve our language skills is through public practice. #Palante.”

I’m really proud of this interview!

Growing up, Spanish was my first language – but like many 1st generation Latinx Americans, I have to continuously work at it & improve.

It’s not perfect, but the only way we improve our language skills is through public practice. #Palante https://t.co/FpGIFSQiRp

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) September 6, 2019

Many Latinos wrote back to AOC and told her they knew exactly what she meant, and that they, too, were also working on improving their Spanish. Check out a few responses below.

1

I feel this so much. Spanish was also my first language and I was in ESL classes in my early childhood. Now I’m working on bettering the Spanish I’ve forgotten (while every now and then getting my English wrong as well ).
— Gabe Ortíz (@TUSK81) September 6, 2019

2

Thanks for sharing this message! Totally feel this. Whenever I speak on policy etc in Spanish I find it hard to get my words to match the complex thoughts in my head. Often finding myself translating in the moment in my head from English to Spanish.
— José Alonso Muñoz (@munozjose) September 6, 2019

3

I'm so glad I'm not alone. I always feel bad when around my family because Spanish was my first language but after assimilating to life in the mainland I now have American accent when I speak it.
— Miss Americana (@monicagave) September 6, 2019

4

Nope. Spanish was my first language. Parents were bilingual. I was encouraged to learn English in Kindergarten and quickly acclimated to speaking English at school and home. I too struggle with grammar and fluency. Retention of a habit is from its frequency of practice.
— jocelyn bea (@jocett) September 6, 2019

5

Same here! Also, my Spanish kinda tops out at a 10th grade reading level or so. La lengua de la casa es diferente than what we are asked for in a professional context. I can kiki it up with my Tías but can struggle in some other contexts.
— Karla Monterroso #CloseTheCamps (@karlitaliliana) September 6, 2019

6

I can relate to this. Mother still speaks no English and I am still learning to perfect my Spanish.
— mucho gusto. (@Zzzxblu) September 6, 2019

7

I envy you. In 1952 when I started school in the Bronx I also spoke only Spanish. In those days their goal was to have you speaking only English. If you had and accent you went to speech class to get you speaking like everyone else. I had to relearn Spanish in college.
— Gregorio Rivera (@rivera_greg) September 6, 2019

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spanish