History Recap / CommunityS1E02Spanish101

** [[spoiler:Chang seems awfully desperate to convince everyone that he's a "Spanish genius."]]

* StrangeMindsThinkAlike: Abed really gets Pierce and Jeff's presentation. [[spoiler: No one else does.]]

* ManOnFire: Pierce.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

* ArtisticLicenseGeography: The decorations in Chang's classroom, as well as the cards he hands out in Spanish class, have the ''Italian'' flag on them. One explanation is the noticeable similarity between Italian and Mexican flags. Another is that Chang is [[spoiler:not in fact the Spanish Genius he pretends to be]].

* ArtisticLicenseGeography: The cards Chang hands out in Spanish class have the ''Italian'' flag on one side. It could be foreshadowing the fact that Chang is [[spoiler:not in fact a Spanish Genius]].

* MundaneMadeAwesome: Pierce and Jeff turn a five-sentence long conversation assignment into an epic saga with props, songs, dance, and multiple costume changes. They get blank stares from everyone except an obviously impressed Abed.

* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Within the first minute of meeting him, Chang shows the study group (and the audience) just how crazy he is with his rant ("I AM A SPANISH GENIUS!").

-->'''Chang:''' (''points to Pierce'') F. (''points to Jeff'') F Minus.\\

* NotSoDifferent: Britta is stunned to realize that what she and Jeff have in common is that they pretend to care about things to look better to others. She admits as such to him when he shows up.

* TropeOverdosed:

* RealityEnsues: For what's supposed to be a short conversation, Pierce and Jeff instead put on a skit that goes on for several hours, without using any of the phrases in the assignment. Professor Chang understandably fails them for missing the point of the assignment and wasting everyone's time.

* ArtisticLicenseGeography: The cards Chang hands out in Spanish class have the ''Italian'' flag on one side.
** Could be foreshadowing the fact that Chang is [[spoiler:not in fact a Spanish Genius]].
** At the same time, he ''does'' have a Mexican flag in the room, so it's possible it's just a Mexican flag sans coat of arms

In Spanish Class the students pair off to do an oral presentation involving simple Spanish phrases. Jeff's attempt to be paired with Britta backfires when he finds himself partnered with Pierce instead -- and Pierce's unorthodox presentation ideas threaten to drive a wedge between them. Meanwhile the ladies in the study group get into activism to raise interest about freedom of speech in Guatemala -- however, Britta finds that Annie and Shirley have much different ideas about activism to her.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: Chevy Chase's section of the opening credits cootie-catcher has a drawing of a woman with [[NippleAndDimed bare breasts]]. The censors caught this later on and his drawings were changed to lips and "eyeballs" for the next episode.

In Spanish Class the students pair off to do a oral presentation involving simple Spanish phrases. Jeff's attempt to be paired with Britta backfires when he finds himself partnered with Pierce instead -- and Pierce's unorthodox presentation ideas threaten to drive a wedge between them. Meanwhile the ladies in the study group get into activism to raise interest about freedom of speech in Guatemala -- however, Britta finds that Annie and Shirley have much different ideas about activism to her.

* SoundtrackDissonance: Aimee Mann's somber "Wise Up" (which was in the movie ''Film/{{Magnolia}}'' and is about choosing to either face your personal problems or give up on ever resolving them) plays over Jeff and Pierce's Spanish surreal presentation, involving Mexican puppets, waving the Israeli and Saudi Arabian flags, doing a minstrel show with Afro wigs and Mickey Mouse gloves, robots, a kidnapping, and a silly string fight.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: Chevy's section of the opening credits cootie-catcher has a drawing of a woman with [[NippleAndDimed bare breasts]]. The censors caught this later on and his drawings were changed to lips and "eyeballs" for the next episode.

* SoundtrackDissonance: Aimee Mann's somber "Wise Up" (which was in the movie ''Film/{{Magnolia}}'' and is about choosing to either face your personal problems or give up on ever resolving them) plays over Jeff and Pierce's Spanish surreal presentation, complete with robots, blackface, Mexican puppets, and silly string.

* MundaneMadeAwesome: Pierce and Jeff turn a five sentence long conversation assignment into an epic saga with props, songs, dance and multiple costume changes. They get blank stares from everyone except an obviously impressed Abed.

--> Whoever is growing a small patch of cannibis behind the gymnasium: Congratulations! You have won a cruise. Report to security to claim your tickets.

* StrawmanU: The entire candle light vigil[=/=]silent protest subplot.

--> '''Chang:''' Every once in a while, a student will come up to me and ask, 'Señor Chang, [[AskAStupidQuestion why do you teach Spanish]]?' They say it just like that. 'Why do ''you'' teach Spanish?' (''{{Beat}}'') 'Why YOU? [[AsianAndNerdy Why not math?]] Why not photography? [[AllAsiansKnowMartialArts Why not martial arts?]]' I mean, surely, it must be in my nature to instruct you in something [[SarcasmMode that's ancient and secret]], like, oh, building a wall that you can see from outer space. Well, I tell you why I teach Spanish: [[JustForFun/GetAStupidAnswer it's none of your business]], OK? And I don't want to have any conversations about what a [[InscrutableOriental mysterious, inscrutable man I am]]. [[AsianRuneChant Oh heehee, oh huh huh]]. I am a [[InformedAbility Spanish genius]]! In [[GratuitousSpanish español]], my nickname is ''El Tigre Chino.''

'''Shirley:''' Sounds like someone has a case of 'likes to use fringe politics to be make themselves feel special but doesn't ever want to actually do anything'... [[{{Metaphorgotten}} itis]].

* WatchItForTheMeme: Those of you looking for the Spanish Rap? It's in the end credits.