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.
The Community episode "Spanish 101" provides examples of:
- Actor Allusion: Pierce's play is entitled "Two Conquistadors".
- Big Man on Campus: Jeff's introduction in this episode definitely plays on this trope.
- Crosses the Line Twice: In universe: in their protest, Annie and Shirley decide to commemorate a murdered Guatemalan journalist... with a pinata. Britta is not happy.
Britta: You guys realize he was beaten to death, right?
Shirley: That's where we got the idea from.
- Destined Bystander: Star-Burns is first mentioned by nickname in this episode.
- F Minus Minus
Chang: (points to Pierce) F. (points to Jeff) F Minus.
Pierce: What? Did you say 'S'?
- Foreshadowing:
- Chang seems awfully desperate to convince everyone that he's a "Spanish genius."
- Pierce doesn't adequately answer his own question, "What's the moist towelette business like?"
- Getting Crap Past the Radar: Chevy's section of the opening credits cootie-catcher has a drawing of a woman with bare breasts. The censors caught this later on and his drawings were changed to lips and "eyeballs" for the next episode.
- Global Currency Exception: Jeff tries to bribe Abed with $50, but Abed instead wants his shirt.
- Ho Yay: Repeated mentions of "sausage fest"
- Hypocritical Humor:
Pierce: You know, Jeff, you can't pursue people so desperately; it creeps them out. (pause) What don't we go get a beer, I'll give you some advice, and we can have what the kids are calling a sausage fest?
- Large Ham: Jeff
- Lying to the Perp:
Dean over P.A.: To whoever is growing a small patch of cannabis behind the gymnasium, congratulations you have won a cruise. Report to Security to claim your tickets.
- Man on Fire: Pierce
- My Hovercraft is Full of Eels: The Tag. Here's a link.
- Second Episode Introduction: Chang
- Spoiler: invoked
Britta: Believe me, everyday in that country people are being killed for speaking out, and the worst part is when it's all over—
Abed: Spoilers!
Britta: —it's going to be as if it never even happened. Hey Abed, real stories—they don't have spoilers. You understand that TV and life are different? Right?
- Soundtrack Dissonance: Aimee Mann's somber "Wise Up" plays over Jeff and Pierce's Spanish surreal presentation, complete with robots and silly string.
- Strange Minds Think Alike: Abed really gets Pierce and Jeff's presentation. No one else does.
- Abed is half Palestinian, watching a presentation that is "surprisingly and gratuitously critical of Israel".
- Strawman U: The entire candle light vigil/silent protest subplot.
Shirley: I never went to a real college; I want to be political.
- Trope Overdosed
Chang: Every once in a while, a student will come up to me and ask, 'Seņor Chang,
why do you teach Spanish?' They say it just like that. 'Why do
you teach Spanish?' (
Beat) 'Why YOU?
Why not math? Why not cryptography?
Why not martial arts?' I mean, surely, it must be in my nature to instruct you in something
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:
it's none of your business, OK? And I don't want to have any conversations about what a
mysterious, inscrutable man I am.
Oh heehee, oh huh huh. I am a
Spanish genius! In
espaņol, my nickname is
El Tigre Chino. - What Do You Mean, It's Not Awesome?: Jeff and Pierce's multi-costumed, multi-propped Spanish presentation, which gets horrified looks from the students and F/F- grades.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Shirley and Annie quite accurately peg the hypocrisy in Britta's objection to their protest about Guatemala:
Shirley: Sounds like someone has a case of ' likes to use politics to be make themselves feel special but doesn't ever want to do anything'... itis.
- You Need a Breath Mint
Abed: Conflicts like this will ultimately bring us together as an unlikely family.
Troy: You have horrible breath right now.
