It wasn't a cache of idling motorcycles, or an open audition to find a replacement for Tony the Tiger on the Frosted Flakes commercials.
No, the sound emanating from Key Elementary School last week came from Arlington’s 18th Annual "R" Rolling Contest — a competition to see who can enunciate the Spanish "R" sound for the longest period of time. The contest was started by Wakefield High School teacher Simón Contreras as a way of helping English speakers get their tongues around a noise that is notoriously difficult for people this side of the Rio Grande to utter.
"My students were having a hard time with the pronunciations," he said. "So I started [the contest] in my classroom and it expanded from there." Contreras said that it’s a fun way for people of any age to become interested in studying the Spanish language.
Naturally, in the spirit of investigative journalism, I was among the many contestants trying to elongate their R’s for cash prizes. While as a non-Spanish speaker I was at a distinct disadvantage, I felt I had several factors working in my favor.
Growing up in Southern Arizona, I am well versed in the ways of Spanish pronunciations (It’s ah-mah-REE-oh, folks, not am-uh-RILL-uh). I had also been training for weeks prior to the event, to the delight/annoyance of my friends and family.
Practicing on my own, I was up to 28 seconds. But would my articulation skills hold up in front of an audience?
I STARTED TO develop a mean case of performance anxiety as I watched the other impressive "R" rollers go on before me, many of whom had yet to reach a double-digit age. Contreras said that the record holder for "R" rolling is the legendary (and possibly apocryphal) Willie Lancaster, who rolled his way to immortality 10 years ago with a tongue-boggling 42 seconds.
Perhaps due to stage fright or perhaps due to my own inherent gringo-ness, I was only able to achieve a paltry 15 seconds, not even good enough for third place. Disappointed and dejected, I consoled myself in the fact that I did better than Arlington Superintendent of Schools Robert Smith who, after two false starts, was only able to muster up three and a half seconds.
Ultimately, the real winner of the contest, aside from those that actually did win it, was the Spanish language itself. Thanks to Contreras’ creativity, many students who might have been intimidated to learn a new language are now sparked with curiosity.
As for me, it’s back to the tongue exercises for the long wait until next year.