Interpretive, Interpersonal, and Presentational Modes of Communication
Exploring Culture
In Module 13, I researched migration trends in the Spanish-speaking world. I learned that there are currently four million migrants in Latin America, that migration has a influence at the regional or global level, that number of migrants within Latin America grows each year, and that migration trends have affected Spain and Latin America historically. I specifically studied the trends of Cubans, who have been struggling with the effects of COVID-19 and increased United States sanctions.
Interpersonal Communication
I completed two TalkAbroad conversations for this course. TalkAbroad is a website where students studying a foreign language can meet with native speakers and discuss various topics, such as pastimes, history, government, or popular destinations. I had to talk about ecotourism and art history with my respective conversation partners. I had difficulty doing so for both. I have since learned that oral assignments are not my strong suit.
Presentational Speaking
I had several oral presentations to complete. In one such presentation, I pretend as if I went on an ecotourism trip to the Grand Canyon. I described the sights and the plight of the Californian condors, a critically endangered species of vulture. These assignments helped improve my pronunciation.
Presentational Writing
For presentational writing, I had to write about a specific event in history. I wrote about the Heaven’s Gate tragedy in Spanish, applying my interest in cults and the counterculture phenomenon of the 1960s to my understanding of the information shared in previous modules.
Interpretive Listening
The LingroLearning website had plenty of interpretive listening assignments. In El mochilero verde, I answered questions relating to a video blog about Mexico that detailed places such as Parque de Aventura Barrancas del Cobre and La Huasteca Potosina. This particular assignment served as a format for my own aforementioned ecotourism project about the Grand Canyon.
Interpretive Reading
I read and interpreted Finita La Gringa, a story about a young girl who migrates from Cuban with her mother. She later goes on a journey of self-discovery to find her identity and cultural heritage.
