Many people who are fluent in a second or third language have told me about a good indicator of language proficiency. They say that you really have an excellent command of the language when you begin to dream in it. Now, I also know some people who say they never remember their dreams, so for those folks this indicator won’t work.
Since we started language institute two weeks ago to learn Spanish, I feel like my head is full to the top with sustantivos (nouns), adjetivos (adjectives), articulos (articles), and verbos (verbs). Our teachers give us homework assignments and many times I am working to complete them before I nod off for the night.
Several nights ago I sat up in bed and started to speak (this happens on a fairly regular basis and Keeley has had a variety of reactions ranging from amused to annoyed). Usually whenever I sit up in bed it wakes Keeley up and she asks me what is wrong. On this particular occasion my reply was something like this, “I can’t find el verbo” (which happens to be a fine example of Spanglish).
Upon realizing that once again I was talking gibberish, Keeley sighed and went back to sleep.
Now for those of you that talk in your sleep or try to talk about your dreams first thing in the morning before you are “really” awake, you can relate to me when I say that at the time you are saying whatever you are saying, it makes complete and perfect sense. Because of this I am always bewildered at why my wife is looking at me like I am crazy when I say these things. Fortunately we are able to have a good laugh about it in the morning after she reminds me of my dream-induced statements of nonsense.
So although I can’t yet say that I am dreaming “in” Spanish, I can with full confidence say that I am dreaming “about” Spanish.
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