Interpretive, Interpersonal, and Presentational Modes of Communication
Exploring Culture
The Cultural Exploration sections of this Spanish 201 course in LingroLearning helped me gain understanding of cultural perspectives. These products and practices consisted of readings, maps, research conductions, and more to assist the student (me) in gaining an understanding and appreciation of culture in the Spanish-speaking world.
Reflecting on these products and practices, they helped me gain knowledge concerning the customs, beliefs, and values held in Hispanic culture. My worldview was challenged as I came to understand in-depth the reason for certain practices and how they are different than what I originally believed. I was able to grow in my appreciation for Spanish culture and see the beauty in it through the various activities. In the image below is presented a written summary I composed discussing an environmental problem in Costa Rica. This was an assignment from one of the Cultural Exploration sections, as mentioned above, that demonstrates my development in the area of cultural exploration.
Engaging in Communities
Engaging in both the immediate and global communities is extremely valuable and important. Engaging in our immediate community allows us to support local businesses, create relationships, and help maintain a positive environment where we live. Engaging in the global community creates opportunity to build connections with a diverse group of individuals, support the global economy, and expand our worldview.
I have experienced participation in these communities as a dance teacher and supporter of Operation Christmas Child. In my immediate community, I have worked at a local dance studio that practices community outreach. This has allowed me to engage with many individuals in my area and provide guidance to the youth. In the global community, I have supported Operation Christmas Child which supplies underprivileged children in other countries with Christmas gifts from volunteers. Reflecting on my experience and participation in these communities, my interpersonal skills have been strengthened, and I have become a more valuable and contributing member of society. Below are some photo examples of how I engage in these communities.
Picture reference: nhchurch.com/event/operation-christmas-child-6/
Interpersonal Communication
In this course I participated in TalkAbroad, Flipgrid, and discussion board posts, to give examples, to practice interpersonal communication. These activities involved conversing with other individuals through video or written communication to develop knowledge of the Spanish language and improve the ability to hold a conversation with a Spanish-speaker.
Reflecting on these experiences, TalkAbroad helped me see exponential growth in my ability to navigate a conversation in Spanish and to understand almost all of what is being said to me by a native Spanish-speaker. Flipgrid helped me create community with my peers and allowed a class of learners to support one another’s development. Filming myself speak in Spanish allowed me to listen to myself and make corrections where necessary. Discussion board posts helped me grow in my ability to write in Spanish and to transfer my thoughts into proper paragraphs. In all of these activities, I had difficulty with conjugating correctly, but through continual practice and studying, I was able to overcome this. I exceled in my ability to discuss more difficult concepts as I was given more opportunity to do so as well. Next time, I would practice and review vocabulary even more to further expand my communication abilities. Overall, I have made a great deal of improvement in the area of interpersonal communication. Below is an example of my work in Flipgrid to give a demonstration of my skill.
Presentational Speaking
This semester I practiced presentational speaking in the Apply Expansion sections of LingroLearning. These activities consisted of being given a topic to answer questions or explain my opinions about in a recorded presentation. A recording of one of these activities is below to demonstrate my skill in the area of presentational speaking.
Giving these recorded presentations challenged me to articulate well and express my ideas logically in Spanish. I grew as these skills were heavily practiced over the semester and as I became more and more comfortable creating these recordings while using new, more complex vocabulary. I overcame challenges concerning proper pronunciation of more challenging words as I practiced speaking aloud in these presentations. I exceled in my growth and learned that to further improve my presentational speaking, next time, I can rehearse a multitude of times before making my presentation.
Presentational Writing.
This semester I practiced presentational writing in the Apply Expansion sections of LingroLearning. Here I expounded my Spanish skills by writing compositions and articles about given topics. I have included a copy of a written presentational activity that I completed below.
Reflecting on these activities, they helped me practice my Spanish writing skills and my ability to produce Spanish documents about topics I am given. I grew each time I completed another of these activities because the more one writes in Spanish and learns new vocabulary, the more talented of a writer they become. The more I wrote, the easier translating my thoughts into Spanish became. I overcame challenges here and exceled in my ability to understand Spanish writing prompts. To do even better next time, I can continue practicing writing about complex topics in Spanish.
Interpretive Listening
I practiced interpretive listening this semester as I listened to Spanish recordings and videos in LingroLearning, discussion boards, and Canvas module explanations. These activities involved listening to a Spanish speaker and answering questions or writing opinions about what was heard. An example of a video I practiced interpretive listening with is below.
Listening to these videos and audio recordings was extremely helpful in my Spanish skill development. I was challenged to interpret the language when it was spoken quickly but overcame this as I listened to what was being spoken several times and learned vocabulary as the semester progressed. It was interesting to hear the Spanish dialect and emphasis of accented sounds as I practiced interpretive listening. I took away a greater appreciation for the beauty of Spanish sounds as well as a better idea of what I am working toward in terms of what I desire my Spanish speaking to sound like. I grew with each activity as I had the opportunity to experience the language again.
Interpretive Reading
This semester I practiced interpretive reading in LingroLearning activities and discussion boards. These activities involved reading articles, stories, and websites followed by answering questions or giving opinions about what was read. I have included an example of an activity where I practiced interpretive reading and elaborated upon it below.
These activities helped me grow in my ability to fluently read in Spanish. It was challenging to navigate complex and lengthy sections of reading at first, but as I practiced throughout the semester this became much less intimidating. It was most interesting to learn about the Spanish world through reading and to feel more immersed in Spanish culture. The reading helped me to takeaway a love and interest in Spanish stories. I grew with each reading assignment as they helped me practice putting the grammar and vocabular skills that I learned together.
Link to site that was interpretively read for above assignment: https://www.museoreinasofia.es/