Learn Hardcore Spanish (Spain): Esta asignatura es optativa, pero me parece interesante. - This subject is optional, but it seems interesting to me.

asignatura is a feminine singular noun (you can tell from the ending -a and by the article la asignatura).
Therefore you must use the feminine singular demonstrative esta.

Forms to compare:

esta asignatura – this subject (feminine singular)
este curso – this course (masculine singular)
estas asignaturas – these subjects (feminine plural)
estos cursos – these courses (masculine plural)

What is the difference between asignatura, clase, and curso?

These words are related but not identical, especially in Spain:

asignatura – an academic subject as part of a curriculum.
- Ejemplo: La asignatura de Historia es difícil.
- Roughly: the subject of History.
clase – can mean:
- a single lesson/session: Tengo clase a las nueve. (I have class at nine.)
- the group of students: Mi clase es muy ruidosa.
- sometimes also the subject in casual speech, but more vague.
curso – several meanings:
- school year: Estoy en segundo curso. (I’m in second year.)
- a course/program: He hecho un curso de programación.

In Spain, if you want to talk about a school subject like Math, History, etc., asignatura is the most precise word.

What does optativa mean here, and how is it used in Spain?

optativa means optional or elective in the sense of a school subject you can choose.

In the Spanish education system in Spain:

asignatura optativa – an elective subject
asignatura obligatoria – a compulsory/required subject

So Esta asignatura es optativa = This subject is an elective (you don’t have to take it).

Why is it optativa and not optativo?

Adjectives in Spanish agree in gender and number with the noun they describe.

Noun: asignatura – feminine singular
Adjective: optativa – feminine singular to match asignatura

Compare:

Esta asignatura es optativa. (feminine singular)
Este curso es optativo. (masculine singular)
Estas asignaturas son optativas. (feminine plural)
Estos cursos son optativos. (masculine plural)

What is the difference between optativa and opcional?

Both can translate as optional, but:

optativa is strongly associated with school subjects / modules in an academic program.
- Ejemplo: Tengo tres asignaturas optativas este año.
opcional is more general: something that is not obligatory, in any context.
- Ejemplo: El seguro extra es opcional.

You could say asignatura opcional, and people would understand you, but in Spain asignatura optativa is the standard school term.

Why is it pero and not sino?

Both pero and sino connect contrasting ideas, but they are used differently:

pero = but, however
- Just introduces a contrast, no requirement for a negative before it.
- Esta asignatura es optativa, pero me parece interesante.
  → It is optional, but I find it interesting.
sino = but rather, but instead
- Used after a negative to correct or replace something:
- No es obligatoria, sino optativa.
  → It’s not compulsory, but rather optional.

Since the first part of the sentence is not negative, pero is the correct conjunction here.

What does me parece interesante literally mean, and how does parecer work?

Literally, me parece interesante means it seems interesting to me.

The verb parecer often works like gustar:

me parece – it seems to me
te parece – it seems to you
le parece – it seems to him/her/you (formal)
nos parece – it seems to us
os parece – it seems to you (plural, Spain)
les parece – it seems to them / to you (plural, Latin America)

Structure:

[Indirect object pronoun] + [parece] + [adjective]
- Me parece interesante. – It seems interesting to me.
- Nos parece fácil. – It seems easy to us.
- ¿Te parece bien? – Does it seem OK to you?

In this sentence, me marks the person who has the opinion.

Why do we need me in me parece interesante? Can we just say parece interesante?

me parece interesante = It seems interesting to me (my personal opinion).
parece interesante = It seems interesting (more impersonal; no specific person).

Both are grammatically correct, but:

With me, you clearly show that it’s your perception.
Without me, it sounds more like a general or objective statement.

In the original sentence, the speaker is giving a personal opinion, so me parece interesante is natural.

Can I say me interesa instead of me parece interesante? What is the difference?

You can say both, but they are not identical:

me interesa = it interests me, I’m interested in it.
- Focuses more on your feeling of interest.
me parece interesante = it seems interesting to me.
- Focuses more on your judgment/opinion about how interesting it is.

They often overlap, but:

Esta asignatura me interesa. – I’m interested in this subject.
Esta asignatura me parece interesante. – I think this subject is interesting (as an evaluation).

Both are very common and natural.

Why is interesante not changed to feminine interesanta to agree with asignatura?

Adjectives in Spanish fall into two main patterns:

Adjectives ending in -o
- Two forms: masculine and feminine
- interesado / interesada, bonito / bonita
Adjectives ending in -e, -ista, or a consonant
- Same form for masculine and feminine
- interesante, grande, triste, optimista, joven

interesante belongs to the second group, so:

masculine singular: un libro interesante
feminine singular: una asignatura interesante
plural for both: libros/asignaturas interesantes

So interesante does agree in number (interesante / interesantes), but not in gender.

Could we say Esta asignatura es optativa, pero es interesante instead? Is there any difference?

Yes, you can say:

Esta asignatura es optativa, pero es interesante.

It is correct and understandable, but there is a nuance:

pero me parece interesante – emphasizes my personal opinion; more subjective.
pero es interesante – sounds a bit more objective, as if stating a fact about the subject.

In everyday speech, me parece interesante sounds slightly more natural when you’re expressing your own view.

Is the word order me parece interesante fixed, or can I say me parece que es interesante?

Both are correct, but they are slightly different structures:

me parece interesante
- [IO pronoun] + parece + adjective
- Short, direct, very natural.
me parece que es interesante
- [IO pronoun] + parece que + clause
- Literally: it seems to me that it is interesting.

Both are common, but:

For a simple opinion with one adjective, me parece interesante is shorter and more natural.
Me parece que es interesante is fine, just a bit longer and more explicit.

How do you pronounce asignatura and parece?

Pronunciation (approximate):

asignatura: a-siɣ-na-TU-ra
- a – like a in father
- si – like see
- g before n is a soft g sound (like magnet), not silent
- stress on -TU-: a-si-gna-TU-ra
parece: pa-RE-ce
- pa – like pa in pasta
- re – rolled or tapped r, as in Spanish pero
- ce – in Spain, θe (like th in think), in Latin America, se
- stress on -RE-: pa-RE-ce