“Not a Priority:” Studying Spanish as a First-Generation Latino University Student

This essay considers the reaction of one group of first-generation Latino students to the idea of the university being a place where they could further hone their Spanish skills or formalize their already-existing knowledge and abilities with a Spanish major on their transcript. Though the majority of the 44 participants considered bilingualism to be an important resource and expressed openness to the possibility of polishing their Spanish at the university, they indicated that it was not a priority for most first-generation Latino students. Other participants, however, called into question the benefits of studying Spanish in a classroom setting and, in some cases, even the desirability of bilingual skills in the workplace. Their comments offer important insights for those who hope to promote bilingualism among this student population. It is important to recognize that their decisions about whether or not to study Spanish or to use it professionally stem from a unique and complex intersection of factors.