Many people (mostly science and math majors, ahem) are surprised when I say I actually enjoy learning languages. When you have an affinity or genuine interest in it, languages are so much fun, just as I can only imagine that an affinity for learning the Periodic Table could lead to a real hoot in Organic Chemistry. I tutor Spanish to a girl who is not, shall we say, the most adept in languages, and she asks me every session how I could possibly enjoy studying Spanish, and what in God’s name has motivated me to pick up another language, German. I suppose the most simple and conscise response to her would be this: Schnappi, the Number #1 hit song in Germany, which we watch and recite in language class and earn college credit while doing so. Schnappi is such an irresistible little crocodile that anyone in their right mind should want to learn German just to figure out what he is saying in this delightful Youtube video.

(Can I reiterate here….this song was a NUMBER ONE HIT in Germany! My Professor put it best: “I think the situation here is that as Germans, we tend to be a sort of serious people, and so we simply go crazy for a little sass like Schnappi.” The only logical reason, I must agree.)

About The Author

Jenny

Jenny Marshall studied Language, Culture, and Society at the University of California Santa Barbara, and now teaches English in Spain. Here she writes about the intersection of language and culture, and lives a life translated by travel.