I hear muffled sounds from a television, a clock ticking too loudly, and the clamor of bugs outside. I can smell feet, dusty fabric, and a hint of sweat. Gravity reminds me of its strength as it pulls me into the itchy carpet; the air pressure changes slightly as a door opens somewhere in the house. A car passes and I imagine the pieces of gravel kicked up by the tires. I open my eyes, trying to focus on the...

Have you heard Justin Timberlake’s song “Traje y Corbata,” Justin Bieber’s “Bebé,” or Miley Cyrus’s “Bola de Demolición”? It started slowly, but as I learned Spanish, I began to translate English songs and media into Spanish as a method of practicing the language outside of a typical learning environment. Six months ago, I undertook the task of teaching myself Spanish through the use of online resources, textbooks, and movies. Initially I would let the movies wash...

While it's been my biggest hurdle in college so far, Arabic has easily been my favorite course because of its community and the great teacher. Arabic, like most introductory language courses at George Washington, meets four times a week and...