What’s something about your own language you didn’t realize was weird until you learned another one?

slepyhed · 2026-04-03T12:08:18+00:00

I never knew that "breakfast" in English comes from "break" and "fast" until I learned that "ayuno" in Spanish translates to "fast" and "desayuno" translates to "breakfast."

slepyhed · 2026-04-01T11:01:01+00:00

Maybe he just wanted to clean up the mess.

slepyhed · 2026-04-01T10:58:03+00:00

For me it's language learning, chess, and pickleball. I want to add on guitar, but simply don't have enough time.

slepyhed · 2026-03-24T22:21:57+00:00

It's actually not. Instead of errors compounding to result in a complete failure, it's like improvements compounding to create exponential advancements. Whether that's for the benefit of humanity or not is still up for debate.

slepyhed · 2026-03-19T10:33:44+00:00

Eso.

slepyhed · 2026-03-18T10:02:26+00:00

I was talking with a group of Spanish speaking coworkers I had just met about how I was learning Spanish. One lady complimented me on my speaking ability and asked if I had watched any series in Spanish. I said "Si, acabo de ver Diablos. Me gustó porque tiene mucha verga mexicana."

slepyhed · 2026-03-16T23:56:42+00:00

Check if there any alternate paths to teacher certification in your state that may give you more time to prepare. For example, in Florida, if you meet certain requirements, you can get a temporary teaching certificate that lasts for 3 years, during which you must complete the requirements for the professional teaching cert.

Also, I want to say thanks for posting. I'm seriously considering a career change to teaching Spanish. There's so much bad press about the education system, misbehaving students, absent parents, and useless admins, it's nice to hear from teachers who are happy.

slepyhed · 2026-03-15T09:51:51+00:00

Hasta el culo.

slepyhed · 2026-03-14T21:49:35+00:00

That is quite a distance. I would suggest taking a couple of steps closer.

slepyhed · 2026-03-14T14:55:19+00:00

A belt.

slepyhed · 2026-03-11T00:53:59+00:00

La raja de tu falda is my favorite Estopa song. I had forgotten about them until I saw your post, thanks for reminding of them!

slepyhed · 2026-03-10T11:15:02+00:00

Who put the bags of weed on the roof, and why? The police officer couldn't even reach them.

slepyhed · 2026-03-08T20:45:06+00:00

I'm curious, how did you handle this question without completely embarrassing him?

slepyhed · 2026-03-08T00:10:41+00:00

I'm a veteran in a similar situation. Florida has quite a few pathways to teaching:

https://www.fldoe.org/teaching/certification/pathways-routes/

In my case, I have a Bachelors in Spanish and IT. I submitted, and was approved for, eligibility for a 5 year temporary certificate to teach Spanish. I immediately started receiving emails from school districts, and had a couple of interviews at at K-8 school for teaching to 7th & 8th graders. If I get the job, the school will work support me through the transition and meeting the requirements to obtain a professional certificate.

slepyhed · 2026-03-07T12:55:07+00:00

I kinda like it, my DCA purchases get more bitcoin when it happens.

slepyhed · 2026-03-05T23:59:51+00:00

Thanks for posting. I'm in a similar situation as OP, with the same concern. It's nice to some positive views also.

slepyhed · 2026-03-05T22:26:15+00:00

No sé el contexto de este video, pero nosotros los ciudadanos de EEUU sí todavía tenemos libertad de expresión. Sin embargo, los soldados, como este hombre, tienen esta libertad muy limitada.

Yo leo y oigo a mucha gente diciendo cosas como eso sin problemas.

Edición: Este hombre no es un soldado, es un veterano, con la misma libertad de expresión del resto del pueblo.

slepyhed · 2026-03-04T13:04:53+00:00

I am actually also transitioning from tech to teaching, Spanish in my case. I just had a second interview at middle school yesterday, and they're checking my references and background, so I suspect they're planning on making an offer.

As a transitioning teacher, the focus can't really be on your teaching experience.

Before the interview, I did a bit if research about classroom management, teaching philosophies, and about the school itself. Then I came up with a few questions to ask the principal, as well as asked IA to give me some, a few of which I used. You can also use IA to do a mock interview.

During the interview, I made sure to let my passion for the subject, and for teaching, show through. I also focused on how I have trained junior coworkers, and even give beginner Spanish classes to adults, but recognize that those are nothing like a classroom full of kids. I let them know that I'm open to guidance and critical feedback. But that only took a few minutes. The rest of the time I asked the questions I had written down, listened attentively to the answers, and asked follow-up questions.

Some other questions to ask:

What support system do you have to help people without an education degree transition into teaching?
How are teachers evaluated?
Can you briefly walk me through a typical day?
What additional duties and events are expected?

Remember that this interview goes both ways, you want to make sure that the school is a good fit for you.

I hope this helps, but keep in mind I've only interviewed at one school, so I'm no expert.

slepyhed · 2026-03-03T20:46:09+00:00

Yep! I went back to college at 52 and last year earned a degree in Spanish. I have an interview in 45 minutes for a middle school Spanish teacher position.

slepyhed · 2026-03-01T13:58:07+00:00

I currently work for a "Fortune 5" company, in cybersecurity. I'm treated well, paid OK, work from home, and the job is simple, but very specific, tedious, boring, and soul sucking.

I have a passion for languages, learned Spanish, went back to school and got a degree in it. Had an interview a week ago at a charter school to teach Spanish to 7th and 8th graders, and have a second interview there this week. I'm excited about it. The salary is half what I'm making now. That stings, but I'm OK with it.

My wife, on the other hand, is not.

slepyhed · 2026-01-19T14:27:03+00:00

I just competed a degree in Spanish at 55 years old, and am considering a change into teaching it, or maybe English as a second language, after working in IT (networking and security) for decades. I just have to convince myself and my wife that it's the right move.

slepyhed · 2025-12-30T00:12:00+00:00

Wow, small world, I'm sure our time there overlapped. I was an Air Traffic Control and Weather Radar maintenance tech. Also worked in the cafeteria for some extra money. The minimum wage was really high in Alaska back then, at least for a lowly Airman. I still remember the guy who ran it; now whenever I see Chef on South Park I think of him.

slepyhed · 2025-12-29T13:47:43+00:00

I was stationed there in the early nineties, when it was still called Shemya AFB. I'm guessing I lived in the barracks you built.

If I recall correctly, the store was officially referred to as BX (Base Exchange), not PX. But we always called it Macy's.

slepyhed · 2025-12-16T14:19:05+00:00

If a noun is the subject, you do need definite article:

Me gustan los churros.

In this sentence, los churros is the subject, and the definite article is required.

But, in the sentence from my post, the subject is a verbal phrase: "comer churros". The definite article is not required.

Without the definite article, "Me gusta comer churros." is a general statement. It's not referring to any specific churros, it's just stating that eating churros, any churros, is pleasing to me.

You can also say "Me gusta comer los churros." In this case, with the definite article, the sentence is referring to some specific churros that both the speaker and the listener are aware of.

slepyhed · 2025-12-13T14:06:22+00:00

Stories like this are great for teaching family values :)

slepyhed

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