Do you take spanish classes in the Academy?

[Christophur]

I was just wondering if you usually take spanish classes in most academies. I need 4 foreign language credits to graduate from high school with honors, so I was thinking of taking either 4 years of spanish or 2 spanish 2 french. Thanks!

[Switchback]

The only academy that I know requiring Spanish proficiency to graduate is the US Border Patrol.

If I knew I was going into LE, I would have studied Spanish. I used to be pretty fluent in French, but have forgotten it all, as I have never had an occasion to use it.

[NightR0ver]

Most academies do not have it as a part of the academy. I know that LAPD does as far as police academies go although I'm not sure exactly how in depth their Spanish program is. I would HIGHLY recommend learning Spanish. It could in fact save your life in the field. There have been several many isntances where Officers have been hurt and or killed because of their lack of Spanish knowledge.

If you pull a car over with say two or three individuals in it that are speaking Spanish to each other and talking calmly about how they are going to jump and or kill you and you are just standing there with no clue as to what they are talking about, it could be the end of the line for you.

[txinvestigator1]

My Department was in S Texas, and we had Spanish. It was specialized for LE, and we received credit for Spanish from the local college. In fact, we received 15 hours of college credit from our time in the academy.

We received one semester of college credit for the Spanish.

I took another semester of Spanish on my own during the semester prior to being hired. I wanted an edge based on my positive thinking that I would be hired. It all paid off and I still use what I learned today.

[retdetsgt]

We don't teach it in the academy, but even up here the department offers free Spanish classes for any officer who wants to take them. While they are free, you must do it on your off duty time.

[kels]

I would take as much Spanish as you can get.
You will probably need it, no matter what line of work
you get into.

[MikeG]

I was just wondering if you usually take spanish classes in most academies. I need 4 foreign language credits to graduate from high school with honors, so I was thinking of taking either 4 years of spanish or 2 spanish 2 french. Thanks!

They offer community college courses here called "Spanish for law enforcement." I don't think it's at the academy though. There are basic commands and words that every LEO should know for safety and I think they hand those out on a card but it's not going to help with a conversation. alto, manos, siente se, cayate are the basics. Then there are the colorful phrases. But try to get a description or talk to a victim and you will need a lot more than the card.

Not a LEO, though.

Was it Outshined that said spanish for LEOs was just English spoken louder and he's never had a translation problem?

[Switchback]

I have found that rifles help a lot with their English comprehension.

[Ispbear]

I had 3 years in high school and have done the Spanish for LE classes. Still can't remember that stuff. I've found that when they try that "no hablo English" stuff, if you just ignore them and keep on talking in English, they give up and miraculously understand. Maybe I'm getting old and grouchy.

[kels]

For the ones you think are yanking your chain,
reaching for your shoulder mike (not pressing the transmit button) and saying,
Dispatch, Im bringing one to the jail for obstruction,
it usually helps them to remember their language skills.

[Apexer]

I broke down and got all five levels of rosetta stone for Spanish. It's quite a bit of work and I'm still on the first level but my ability to retain the information is a lot better compared to the 2 years of spanish I completed in high school.

[SANE-A30]

I would take as much Spanish as you can get.
You will probably need it, no matter what line of work
you get into.

I always thought it was a requirement, maybe perhaps in Florida it is?

lol at the speaking louder and the rifle... yeah not only will they understand magically but they will be moving swiftly too

[seeking]

If you pull a car over with say two or three individuals in it that are speaking Spanish to each other and talking calmly about how they are going to jump and or kill you and you are just standing there with no clue as to what they are talking about, it could be the end of the line for you.

This is a very good reason to learn Spanish and not at all far fetched. I remember my dad mentioning a similar situation. Especially up north it's not that common for non-Hispanics to be fluent so it's more common for those who speak Spanish to do so and assume they won't be understood. I believe he said that they'd lined up three guys who were speaking Spanish and not sure what was being discussed. They called over an officer who did know the language and I forget exactly what the threat was but one of them was discussing causing harm to an officer. I don't know what would have happened if that guy hadn't been there and glad I didn't have to find out.

One thing to be mindful of is that there are different dialects of Spanish too. Basic Spanish will help but you might want to find out what the predominant culture of the area is and find out their slang and manner of speaking. A guy in my complex one night told me about some of the differences between Puerto Rican and Dominican manners of speaking and slang that they might use and suggested that I get a basic grasp on Spanish but spend time around people who know and use vocabulary from those regions so you'll have wider comprehension.

Here's a little site I found when I was first trying to pick up Spanish. Some of the questions aren't going to be particularly useful if you get a Spanish answer back and don't understand it, but the basic commands might come in handy:http://www.slanguage.com/funspan_police.html

Of course, as some have already pointed out, a lot of people who know Spanish also know English and will just pretend they don't. When I worked at a hotel up north I had a lot of noise coming from a room. When I called up, the guy who'd booked the room wasn't there, it was his Hispanic friend watching the kids and letting them run wild. He tried to pull that he is just in the room he "no speak Ingles" and I have to "wait for Mr. X get back to room and call back. Ok?" I told him that it is late, the room is loud, and they need to quiet down or I will call the police. He says "no policia no policia...we will be quiet." Funny that one word was uttered and he understood all the rest

[MikeLowrey]

As Spanish being my first and main language (English second), I can tell you, learn it, if you can learn more language throughout your life, do it too, why? because like our fellow officer said about the car stop, I rather look like i don't know what they are talking about and actually understand what they are saying, than be standing there and not knowing.

Whenever I stop people and they see my last name and face, they automatically assume I'm Spanish (even though I am) I make them believe I'm not.

[Safety Steve]

We get 50 hours of Spanish with my department while in the academy. I also agree with Ispbear, keep talking and even put your hand on your pistol. I have heard that gets quick compliance! lol


Be Safe.