Student Voices: “Mi español / My Spanish”

At Central Washington University, language is more than grammar and vocabulary—it is memory, family, and a way of moving through the world. Each fall, students in SPAN 261 reflect on their relationships with Spanish by composing an original poem titled “Mi español / My Spanish.” This year’s selections—shared anonymously with permission—speak with tenderness and clarity about love of language, pride in heritage, and the pressures many bilingual speakers navigate in daily life.

Dr. Andrea Herrera-Dulcet, who teaches SPAN 261, describes the assignment as “an invitation to honor the language that raised you, however it sounds today.” The poems below reveal how Spanish lives in our students’ voices: sometimes hesitant, often courageous, always their own.

“Mi español se esconde”

Anonymous SPAN 261 poet

Mi español se esconde, casi no lo uso.
Lo entiendo muy bien, pero hablar me asusta.
Mi español me sigue, aunque yo lo ignore.
Las palabras vienen lentas, y a veces se quedan cortas.
No siempre sale fácil.
Tengo que pensar cada palabra.
No lo uso todos los días, pero nunca se va.
Mi español, aprendido de la voz de mis papas.
Es parte de mi sangre, una voz que me recuerda quién soy

This poem captures a familiar experience among heritage speakers—the push and pull between understanding and speaking. Spanish “never leaves,” even when words arrive slowly. The voice is gentle and resolute, naming Spanish as “parte de mi sangre,” a living inheritance that continues to shape belonging and self-recognition.

“Yo amo mi idioma”

Anonymous SPAN 261 poet

Mi idioma viene de un lugar con mucho amor.
El español es como me siento conectada con mi familia.
Miro como sus ojos me ven cuando hablo con mi mama.
“Speak English this is America.”
Just because I speak a different language does not mean you get to treat me differently.
Yo amo mi Idioma.
Yo amo mi cultura.
You will not make me feel bad for speaking my language.

Here, pride meets protest. The poem moves from home’s warmth to the coldness of a public rebuke—then turns toward affirmation: “Yo amo mi idioma. Yo amo mi cultura.” It insists that dignity does not depend on monolingual comfort. Instead, it stakes a claim to joy and to the right to be heard, en inglés y en español.

“Mi español es amor”

Anonymous SPAN 261 poet

Mi español es poderoso y fuerte.
Mi español me conecta con mis raíces.
Mi español no es perfecto, pero
Mi español tiene el poder de comunicarse con los demás.
Mi español me anima.
Mi español no es peligroso.
Mi español es amor.
Yo amo mi español.

This poem reframes “imperfection” as power. Spanish does not need to be flawless to be meaningful; it is already “poderoso,” connective, and kind. The poet reminds us that language should not be policed as a threat—it is “amor,” a gift that encourages, bridges, and belongs.

These poems reveal how students carry Spanish in their bodies, families, and futures. Some feel hesitation; many feel pride; all are in motion. "It is honorable to witness the courage it takes to put that journey into words with the hope that readers recognize their own stories here—and feel welcomed to write the next verse." —Dr. Christna Torres Garcia, co-chair of WLC. 

World Languages & Cultures is proud to showcase these anonymous works from SPAN 261. They remind us that language is a home we keep building together: in classrooms, across generations, and throughout our communities. To our student poets—gracias. Your words invite CWU to listen more carefully and to love more boldly.

Note: Poems are published with the authors’ consent and appear as submitted, with minimal formatting for web accessibility. If an author later wishes to withdraw a poem, we will honor that request.