A high school student has vented his frustration online over his Spanish teacher’s insistence on calling him by a translated version of his initials instead of the nickname he prefers.
The original poster (OP), user Alternative-Sun-630, shared his story on Reddit, explaining that his name is John Paul but “all my friends, teachers, and family members call me J.P.”
But in his Spanish class, the teacher pronounces his initials in Spanish, referring to him as “Hota Pay.”
“When he first said ‘Hota Pay,’ I found it a bit funny and laughed with the class,” the OP wrote. “I thought it was a one-off remark by my teacher. But he kept calling me ‘Hota Pay’ even beyond the first day of class, and it is getting annoying now.”
According to the post, he asked his teacher after class to use J.P. instead, but he refused, saying it was Spanish class and that “Hota Pay” was simply the Spanish equivalent of his two-letter nickname.
“Even if it is harmless, I just don’t like it and prefer J.P.,” the OP added.
Reddit Reacts
Reddit users weighed in via the comments, with many noting that adopting Spanish versions of names is common practice.
One wrote, “These comments are so weird. Everyone I have ever met in the States had Spanish and had a Spanish name in said class. Every state, every friend, every family member. I guarantee if this kid was being honest, he’d tell you the rest of the class has a name too.”
Another contributor was more critical of the student’s objection, writing, “You are in Spanish class learning Spanish. We all had ethnic names in language class. Why not go by Juan (John), your first name?”
“Lighten up,” they added bluntly.
Classroom Routines
The teen’s post sparked debate about classroom norms in language courses. On Secondary Spanish Space, educator Allison Wienhold wrote that “Classroom routines have always been a saver for me when teaching all levels as a #deptof1.”
“Routines also make things easier for students,” she added. “They feel more comfortable when they know what to expect each day.”
Language teachers often incorporate cultural and linguistic immersion into daily practice. In an article for Superprof, writer Jon advises students to begin preparing before lessons start.
“To arrive at your first Spanish class with confidence and reassurance, we advise you to prepare a basic vocabulary list in advance,” he wrote.
“Knowing how to say hello, thank you, goodbye, how are you, etc. will give you a good start in how to speak Spanish,” he continued.
Newsweek has reached out to Alternative-Sun-630 for comment via Reddit. We could not verify the details of the case.
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