Exploring Culture

There is a common practice called a siesta, prominent in the Mediterranean and Latin American countries, which is taking a rest or nap during the hottest hours of the day. Countries close to the equator reach record-high temperatures every year, and siestas are a guaranteed way to beat the heat. People who have lived in these countries make siestas a part of their daily routine, it gives them thirty minutes to an hour to eat, rest, or just stay out of the heat. A siesta may just look like a nap to those outside of Latin cultures, but it is an integral part of many people’s lives. Learning that siestas were foremost in countries near the equator, this led me to wonder what other experiences these areas encounter. It broadened my perspective on how much I want to learn about the countries outside of North America. It starts from something small like a daily nap and expands to Dia De Los Muertos and other traditions these cultures share that I consider very valuable.

Engaging in Communities

We may feel small compared to the nationwide population in regards to decision making and power, but every community in every state makes up all of that power. Volunteering and engaging in your local communities makes such a difference, it’s what puts out messages to the national names and voices. Voting in local elections, setting up a farmer’s market, providing food for the homeless, or even creating small support groups builds a stronger community with strong values. Protecting the environment and commonwealth starts where you have access to it. I have volunteered for elementary school students in my local district. What I’ve gained from those experiences is how grateful and supportive the people around me are just for helping them with something small. Doing deeds for those around me has always ensured me that I am doing the right thing for my community.

Presentational Speaking

For SPAN 101, I had to speak about my room and places at Old Dominion University. I spoke about my house, the library, and the cafeteria in a two-minute-long video.

This project was the most challenging for me. I have difficulty memorizing sentences, so trying to remember terms and come up with sentences on the spot was difficult. However, this project also brought my weaknesses to my attention. Since then, I have studied my sentence structure, vocabulary, and terms more. I will continue to study as I go into SPAN 102.

Presentational Writing

For SPAN 101, I had to write about myself in my Lingro profile. I had to give basic information and status updates. Additionally, I had to write about my schedule and daily activities with times.

I think I excel in my writing abilities more due to the amount of practice I have had on Lingro. I enjoyed creating my schedule because it allowed me to practice times, activities, and family terms. Having this memorized helped me throughout SPAN 101, and I plan on utilizing them in SPAN 102 extensively.

Interpretive Listening

Throughout this semester, I have used Lingro to listen to Spanish conversations to respond to them. Lingro has been an amazing tool for listening to informal and formal conversations in Spanish. Using them to dissect vocabulary, grammar, and conjugations has benefited my learning.

These activities were very challenging for me. I always had a hard time translating conversations in real-time and responding. Listening to how people responded to questions was helpful because I could memorize them and mimic the emotion in their voices for practice. The more I practiced, the better I could pick up on what was being said and the appropriate response to questions. In between SPAN 101 and SPAN 102, I will continue to practice speaking since it is my greatest weakness with language.

Interpretive Reading

To learn about the culture, universities, and celebrities of different Spanish-speaking countries, I have read various websites to further my understanding. For example, I had to research the University of Chile through its website and learn about its majors and campus life. https://www.uchile.cl/english I also had the chance to read about daily life in Peru. https://www.britannica.com/place/Peru/Daily-life-and-social-customs

I have gained a lot of knowledge of Spanish-speaking countries from these readings. I enjoyed learning about their colleges and universities to see how much they differed from the ones in the US. Some majors are unavailable at Old Dominion University due to the culture in countries like Peru. Peru is a very hardworking country and has more labor-heavy jobs. Social Studies has always been my favorite subject, so I am excited to learn even more as I head into SPAN 102 next semester.