diff --git a/client/src/components/layouts/global.css b/client/src/components/layouts/global.css
index 2463f2e8bc2..8c8b7fd5427 100644
--- a/client/src/components/layouts/global.css
+++ b/client/src/components/layouts/global.css
@@ -469,6 +469,19 @@ form {
 input:focus {
   border-color: var(--tertiary-color);
 }
+
+/*
+ * Text within backticks in en-US, es, and zh-CN challenge files
+ * is parsed into spans with this class.
+ */
+.highlighted-text {
+  padding: 1px 4px;
+  background-color: var(--tertiary-background);
+  color: var(--tertiary-color);
+  border: 1px solid var(--gray-45);
+  font-size: 90%;
+}
+
 code {
   padding: 1px 4px;
   background-color: var(--tertiary-background);
diff --git a/tools/challenge-parser/parser/__fixtures__/with-en-us-mcq.md b/tools/challenge-parser/parser/__fixtures__/with-en-us-mcq.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1f21d51dd5c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/challenge-parser/parser/__fixtures__/with-en-us-mcq.md
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+---
+id: with-en-us-mcq
+title: en-US MCQ
+challengeType: 19
+lang: en-US
+---
+
+# --instructions--
+
+Instructions containing `some code`.
+
+# --questions--
+
+## --text--
+
+Question text containing `highlighted text`.
+
+## --answers--
+
+`correct answer`
+
+---
+
+`wrong answer`
+
+### --feedback--
+
+Feedback text containing `highlighted text`.
+
+## --video-solution--
+
+1
+
+# --explanation--
+
+Explanation text containing `highlighted text`.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tools/challenge-parser/parser/__fixtures__/with-es-mcq.md b/tools/challenge-parser/parser/__fixtures__/with-es-mcq.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c44e8ad07c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/challenge-parser/parser/__fixtures__/with-es-mcq.md
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+---
+id: with-es-mcq
+title: Spanish MCQ
+challengeType: 19
+lang: es
+---
+
+# --instructions--
+
+Instructions containing `texto resaltado`.
+
+# --questions--
+
+## --text--
+
+Question text containing `texto resaltado`.
+
+## --answers--
+
+`correct answer`
+
+---
+
+`wrong answer`
+
+### --feedback--
+
+Feedback text containing `texto resaltado`.
+
+## --video-solution--
+
+1
+
+# --explanation--
+
+Explanation text containing `texto resaltado`.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tools/challenge-parser/parser/plugins/add-quizzes.test.js b/tools/challenge-parser/parser/plugins/add-quizzes.test.js
index a3564099a46..e722bd0924d 100644
--- a/tools/challenge-parser/parser/plugins/add-quizzes.test.js
+++ b/tools/challenge-parser/parser/plugins/add-quizzes.test.js
@@ -103,36 +103,36 @@ describe('add-quizzes plugin', () => {
 
     // Quiz 1, Question 2
     expect(secondQuestion.text).toBe(
-      '<p>Quiz 1, question 2 with <code>中文</code></p>'
+      '<p>Quiz 1, question 2 with <span class="highlighted-text">中文</span></p>'
     );
     expect(secondQuestion.distractors[0]).toBe(
-      '<p>Quiz 1, question 2, distractor 1 with <code>中文</code></p>'
+      '<p>Quiz 1, question 2, distractor 1 with <span class="highlighted-text">中文</span></p>'
     );
     expect(secondQuestion.distractors[1]).toBe(
-      '<p>Quiz 1, question 2, distractor 2 with <code>中文</code></p>'
+      '<p>Quiz 1, question 2, distractor 2 with <span class="highlighted-text">中文</span></p>'
     );
     expect(secondQuestion.distractors[2]).toBe(
-      '<p>Quiz 1, question 2, distractor 3 with <code>中文</code></p>'
+      '<p>Quiz 1, question 2, distractor 3 with <span class="highlighted-text">中文</span></p>'
     );
     expect(secondQuestion.answer).toBe(
-      '<p>Quiz 1, question 2, answer with <code>中文</code></p>'
+      '<p>Quiz 1, question 2, answer with <span class="highlighted-text">中文</span></p>'
     );
 
     // Quiz 1, Question 3
     expect(thirdQuestion.text).toBe(
-      '<p>Quiz 1, question 3 with <code>zhōng wén</code></p>'
+      '<p>Quiz 1, question 3 with <span class="highlighted-text">zhōng wén</span></p>'
     );
     expect(thirdQuestion.distractors[0]).toBe(
-      '<p>Quiz 1, question 3, distractor 1 with <code>zhōng wén</code></p>'
+      '<p>Quiz 1, question 3, distractor 1 with <span class="highlighted-text">zhōng wén</span></p>'
     );
     expect(thirdQuestion.distractors[1]).toBe(
-      '<p>Quiz 1, question 3, distractor 2 with <code>zhōng wén</code></p>'
+      '<p>Quiz 1, question 3, distractor 2 with <span class="highlighted-text">zhōng wén</span></p>'
     );
     expect(thirdQuestion.distractors[2]).toBe(
-      '<p>Quiz 1, question 3, distractor 3 with <code>zhōng wén</code></p>'
+      '<p>Quiz 1, question 3, distractor 3 with <span class="highlighted-text">zhōng wén</span></p>'
     );
     expect(thirdQuestion.answer).toBe(
-      '<p>Quiz 1, question 3, answer with <code>zhōng wén</code></p>'
+      '<p>Quiz 1, question 3, answer with <span class="highlighted-text">zhōng wén</span></p>'
     );
   });
 });
diff --git a/tools/challenge-parser/parser/plugins/add-text.test.js b/tools/challenge-parser/parser/plugins/add-text.test.js
index 9bb839d7351..0d3961a724c 100644
--- a/tools/challenge-parser/parser/plugins/add-text.test.js
+++ b/tools/challenge-parser/parser/plugins/add-text.test.js
@@ -7,7 +7,9 @@ describe('add-text', () => {
     mockAST,
     withSubSectionAST,
     withNestedInstructionsAST,
-    withChineseAST;
+    withChineseAST,
+    withEnUsAST,
+    withEsAST;
   const descriptionId = 'description';
   const instructionsId = 'instructions';
   const missingId = 'missing';
@@ -21,6 +23,8 @@ describe('add-text', () => {
       'with-nested-instructions.md'
     );
     withChineseAST = await parseFixture('with-chinese-mcq.md');
+    withEnUsAST = await parseFixture('with-en-us-mcq.md');
+    withEsAST = await parseFixture('with-es-mcq.md');
   });
 
   beforeEach(() => {
@@ -162,6 +166,20 @@ describe('add-text', () => {
     expect(file.data).toMatchSnapshot();
   });
 
+  it('should render inline code as code elements when lang is undefined', () => {
+    const plugin = addText(['instructions', 'explanation']);
+
+    const defaultFile = { data: {} };
+    plugin(withChineseAST, defaultFile);
+
+    expect(defaultFile.data.instructions).toBe(
+      '<section id="instructions">\n<p>Instructions containing <code>汉字 (hàn zì)</code>.</p>\n</section>'
+    );
+    expect(defaultFile.data.explanation).toBe(
+      '<section id="explanation">\n<p><code>我是 (wǒ shì) Web 开发者 (kāi fā zhě)。</code> – I am a web developer.</p>\n<p><code>你好 (nǐ hǎo)，我是王华 (wǒ shì Wang Hua)，请问你叫什么名字 (qǐng wèn nǐ jiào shén me míng zi)？</code> – Hello, I am Wang Hua, may I ask what your name is?</p>\n</section>'
+    );
+  });
+
   it('should render Chinese inline code as ruby when lang is zh-CN', () => {
     const plugin = addText(['instructions', 'explanation']);
 
@@ -175,4 +193,32 @@ describe('add-text', () => {
       '<section id="explanation">\n<p><ruby>我是<rp>(</rp><rt>wǒ shì</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby> Web <ruby>开发者<rp>(</rp><rt>kāi fā zhě</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>。 – I am a web developer.</p>\n<p><ruby>你好<rp>(</rp><rt>nǐ hǎo</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>，<ruby>我是王华<rp>(</rp><rt>wǒ shì Wang Hua</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>，<ruby>请问你叫什么名字<rp>(</rp><rt>qǐng wèn nǐ jiào shén me míng zi</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>？ – Hello, I am Wang Hua, may I ask what your name is?</p>\n</section>'
     );
   });
+
+  it('should render inline code as span elements when lang is en-US', () => {
+    const plugin = addText(['instructions', 'explanation']);
+
+    const enUsFile = { data: { lang: 'en-US' } };
+    plugin(withEnUsAST, enUsFile);
+
+    expect(enUsFile.data.instructions).toBe(
+      '<section id="instructions">\n<p>Instructions containing <span class="highlighted-text">some code</span>.</p>\n</section>'
+    );
+    expect(enUsFile.data.explanation).toBe(
+      '<section id="explanation">\n<p>Explanation text containing <span class="highlighted-text">highlighted text</span>.</p>\n</section>'
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('should render inline code as span elements when lang is es', () => {
+    const plugin = addText(['instructions', 'explanation']);
+
+    const esFile = { data: { lang: 'es' } };
+    plugin(withEsAST, esFile);
+
+    expect(esFile.data.instructions).toBe(
+      '<section id="instructions">\n<p>Instructions containing <span class="highlighted-text">texto resaltado</span>.</p>\n</section>'
+    );
+    expect(esFile.data.explanation).toBe(
+      '<section id="explanation">\n<p>Explanation text containing <span class="highlighted-text">texto resaltado</span>.</p>\n</section>'
+    );
+  });
 });
diff --git a/tools/challenge-parser/parser/plugins/add-video-question.test.js b/tools/challenge-parser/parser/plugins/add-video-question.test.js
index 9a2ac598001..f817232fdfc 100644
--- a/tools/challenge-parser/parser/plugins/add-video-question.test.js
+++ b/tools/challenge-parser/parser/plugins/add-video-question.test.js
@@ -8,10 +8,12 @@ describe('add-video-question plugin', () => {
     multipleQuestionAST,
     videoOutOfOrderAST,
     videoWithAudioAST,
+    chineseVideoAST,
+    enUsVideoAST,
+    esVideoAST,
     videoWithSolutionAboveNumberOfAnswersAST,
     videoWithFeedbackTwiceInARow,
-    videoWithCorrectAnswerWithFeedback,
-    chineseVideoAST;
+    videoWithCorrectAnswerWithFeedback;
   const plugin = addVideoQuestion();
   let file = { data: {} };
 
@@ -35,6 +37,8 @@ describe('add-video-question plugin', () => {
       'with-video-question-correct-answer-with-feedback.md'
     );
     chineseVideoAST = await parseFixture('with-chinese-mcq.md');
+    enUsVideoAST = await parseFixture('with-en-us-mcq.md');
+    esVideoAST = await parseFixture('with-es-mcq.md');
   });
 
   beforeEach(() => {
@@ -211,4 +215,54 @@ describe('add-video-question plugin', () => {
       '<ruby>问<rp>(</rp><rt>wèn</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>'
     );
   });
+
+  it('should render inline code as spans in question text, answers, and feedback for en-US', async () => {
+    const enUsFile = { data: { lang: 'en-US' } };
+
+    plugin(enUsVideoAST, enUsFile);
+
+    const question = enUsFile.data.questions[0];
+
+    expect(question.text).toBe(
+      '<p>Question text containing <span class="highlighted-text">highlighted text</span>.</p>'
+    );
+
+    const answer1 = question.answers[0];
+    expect(answer1.answer).toBe(
+      '<p><span class="highlighted-text">correct answer</span></p>'
+    );
+
+    const answer2 = question.answers[1];
+    expect(answer2.answer).toBe(
+      '<p><span class="highlighted-text">wrong answer</span></p>'
+    );
+    expect(answer2.feedback).toBe(
+      '<p>Feedback text containing <span class="highlighted-text">highlighted text</span>.</p>'
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('should render inline code as spans in question text, answers, and feedback for es', async () => {
+    const esFile = { data: { lang: 'es' } };
+
+    plugin(esVideoAST, esFile);
+
+    const question = esFile.data.questions[0];
+
+    expect(question.text).toBe(
+      '<p>Question text containing <span class="highlighted-text">texto resaltado</span>.</p>'
+    );
+
+    const answer1 = question.answers[0];
+    expect(answer1.answer).toBe(
+      '<p><span class="highlighted-text">correct answer</span></p>'
+    );
+
+    const answer2 = question.answers[1];
+    expect(answer2.answer).toBe(
+      '<p><span class="highlighted-text">wrong answer</span></p>'
+    );
+    expect(answer2.feedback).toBe(
+      '<p>Feedback text containing <span class="highlighted-text">texto resaltado</span>.</p>'
+    );
+  });
 });
diff --git a/tools/challenge-parser/parser/plugins/utils/i18n-stringify.js b/tools/challenge-parser/parser/plugins/utils/i18n-stringify.js
index 8f4ab2bcfc5..103f422f9f1 100644
--- a/tools/challenge-parser/parser/plugins/utils/i18n-stringify.js
+++ b/tools/challenge-parser/parser/plugins/utils/i18n-stringify.js
@@ -91,22 +91,48 @@ function chineseInlineCodeHandler(state, node) {
   // If static text, return code
   return {
     type: 'element',
-    // TODO: change this to span
-    // https://github.com/freeCodeCamp/language-curricula/issues/22
-    tagName: 'code',
-    properties: {},
+    tagName: 'span',
+    properties: { className: 'highlighted-text' },
     children: [{ type: 'text', value: node.value }]
   };
 }
 
-const rubyOptions = {
+/**
+ * Custom handler for inline code to render as span elements
+ * @param {object} state - The state object from mdast-util-to-hast
+ * @param {object} node - The inlineCode node
+ * @returns {object} Hast element node
+ */
+function spanInlineCodeHandler(state, node) {
+  return {
+    type: 'element',
+    tagName: 'span',
+    properties: { className: 'highlighted-text' },
+    children: [{ type: 'text', value: node.value }]
+  };
+}
+
+const spanOrRubyOptions = {
   handlers: {
     inlineCode: chineseInlineCodeHandler
   }
 };
 
-const createMdastToHtml = lang =>
-  lang == 'zh-CN' ? x => mdastToHTML(x, rubyOptions) : mdastToHTML;
+const spanOptions = {
+  handlers: {
+    inlineCode: spanInlineCodeHandler
+  }
+};
+
+const createMdastToHtml = lang => {
+  if (lang === 'zh-CN') {
+    return x => mdastToHTML(x, spanOrRubyOptions);
+  } else if (lang === 'en-US' || lang === 'es') {
+    return x => mdastToHTML(x, spanOptions);
+  } else {
+    return mdastToHTML;
+  }
+};
 
 module.exports = {
   parseHanziPinyinPairs,
diff --git a/tools/challenge-parser/parser/plugins/utils/i18n-stringify.test.js b/tools/challenge-parser/parser/plugins/utils/i18n-stringify.test.js
index aff2e3b9110..9b043bd0f60 100644
--- a/tools/challenge-parser/parser/plugins/utils/i18n-stringify.test.js
+++ b/tools/challenge-parser/parser/plugins/utils/i18n-stringify.test.js
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ describe('createMdastToHtml', () => {
     );
   });
 
-  it('should fallback to code element if pattern does not match', () => {
+  it('should fallback to span element if pattern does not match', () => {
     const toHtml = createMdastToHtml('zh-CN');
     const nodes = [
       {
@@ -210,11 +210,49 @@ describe('createMdastToHtml', () => {
         ]
       }
     ];
-    const actual = toHtml(nodes, { lang: 'zh-CN' });
-    expect(actual).toBe('<p><code>你好</code> and <code>nǐ hǎo</code></p>');
+    const actual = toHtml(nodes);
+    expect(actual).toBe(
+      '<p><span class="highlighted-text">你好</span> and <span class="highlighted-text">nǐ hǎo</span></p>'
+    );
   });
 
-  it('should render as regular code when lang is not zh-CN', () => {
+  it('should render inline code as span when lang is en-US', () => {
+    const toHtml = createMdastToHtml('en-US');
+    const nodes = [
+      {
+        type: 'paragraph',
+        children: [
+          { type: 'text', value: 'This is ' },
+          { type: 'inlineCode', value: 'highlighted text' },
+          { type: 'text', value: '.' }
+        ]
+      }
+    ];
+    const actual = toHtml(nodes);
+    expect(actual).toBe(
+      '<p>This is <span class="highlighted-text">highlighted text</span>.</p>'
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('should render inline code as span when lang is es', () => {
+    const toHtml = createMdastToHtml('es');
+    const nodes = [
+      {
+        type: 'paragraph',
+        children: [
+          { type: 'text', value: 'Esto texto ' },
+          { type: 'inlineCode', value: 'está resaltado' },
+          { type: 'text', value: '.' }
+        ]
+      }
+    ];
+    const actual = toHtml(nodes);
+    expect(actual).toBe(
+      '<p>Esto texto <span class="highlighted-text">está resaltado</span>.</p>'
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('should render as regular code when lang is not zh-CN, en-US, or es', () => {
     const toHtml = createMdastToHtml('zh');
     const nodes = [
       {