Interpretive, Interpersonal, and Presentational Modes of Communication

MODULE 5: Proyecto: ¿Quién es mi familia?

The task of describing my family in Spanish posed the most significant challenge for me in this project. However, I approached the challenge with determination and perseverance, working hard to perfect my pronunciation and fluency in the language. Despite the difficulties I encountered, I found this project to be particularly enjoyable, as it provided me with the opportunity to showcase my family through the use of endearing photographs. Successfully communicating the unique qualities and characteristics of my family in Spanish filled me with a sense of accomplishment that I will cherish for a long time.

Project 7: 1 Un club deportivo estudiantil

Working on the fitness ad for this project was a particularly enjoyable experience for me. I appreciated the opportunity to infuse my own unique style and personality into the project by incorporating personal photos. In particular, I was thrilled to include an image of myself and a friend engaging in yoga, which perfectly encapsulated my passion for the practice. That being said, it was not all smooth sailing – adhering to the rubric and creating an engaging, informative ad that would motivate others to learn yoga presented a significant challenge. However, I persevered through my difficulties, and the final product was a testament to my commitment to excellence.

Mod-7-project

Project 8: 1 #AyerComí

For this assignment, I had the opportunity to make spaghetti. However, the task was not an easy one as I faced a number of challenges. Firstly, I had to learn numerous new culinary terms and how to properly pronounce them. Secondly, creating the perfect video required multiple attempts, which involved getting the preparation and presentation of the dish just right. Through hard work and persistence, I was eventually able to overcome these challenges and produce a final product that accurately conveyed the essence of this popular dish.

Exploring Culture

I have gained a deeper understanding of cultural perspectives through various products and practices. For instance, I have found documentaries and books to be valuable resources in exploring different cultures. These experiences have enabled me to learn about different customs, traditions, and beliefs without making value judgments or comparisons.

Reflecting on these experiences, I have come to appreciate the value of cultural exchange and understanding. I have learned to approach different cultures with an open mind, seeking to understand rather than to judge. This has challenged my worldview, revealing biases and misconceptions that I was previously unaware of. For instance, I used to view certain cultural practices as strange or even wrong, but through my experiences, I have come to understand the underlying values and attitudes that inform these practices. This has enabled me to appreciate and respect the diversity of human experience and to view the world from a more nuanced perspective.

Engaging in Communities

Participating in both the immediate and global communities is crucially important for individuals. Involvement in one’s local community can foster strong connections with neighbors and organizations, and promote a sense of collaboration towards common goals that can improve lives. This can include volunteering, attending community events, and supporting local initiatives. Engaging with the global community can expose individuals to diverse perspectives and worldviews, broadening their understanding of the world and inspiring compassion for those facing unique struggles. Contributing to international aid organizations, participating in global initiatives, and seeking opportunities for cross-cultural communication and learning can all make a meaningful impact in promoting a more equitable and just society for all.

Interpersonal Communication

This semester, I completed a variety of interpersonal communication activities in my Spanish class, including TalkAbroad telecollaborative conversations and discussion board posts. These activities helped me practice speaking and listening in Spanish, as well as reading and writing in the language. Additionally, I engaged with Spanish media such as articles, videos, and news reports to improve my comprehension and cultural understanding.

Through these activities, I have grown in my Spanish language skills and confidence. The TalkAbroad conversations were initially challenging due to the spontaneous nature of the conversations, but with practice, I improved my ability to express myself in Spanish and respond to questions from my conversation partner. Writing discussion board posts helped me to develop my writing skills and think critically about Spanish-language topics. I also learned a lot from engaging with Spanish media, which helped me to broaden my cultural knowledge and understanding of the language.

Moving forward, I would like to continue to engage with Spanish media and practice my language skills with native speakers. I also hope to challenge myself to speak more spontaneously and confidently in future interpersonal communication activities.

Presentational Speaking

I completed several presentational speaking activities in my Spanish class this semester, including oral presentations on various topics. Here is a recording of one of my presentations where me and the Talkboard speaker spoke to each other about our favorite foods, places we like to eat, and foods we didn’t like.

TalkAbroad Conversation 2

Reflecting on these presentations, I found them challenging because I had to speak for a longer period of time in Spanish and make sure I was using correct grammar and pronunciation. However, with practice and preparation, I was able to overcome these challenges and feel more confident in my speaking abilities. I think I excelled at organizing my ideas and delivering the content in a clear and engaging way. In the future, I would like to work on incorporating more advanced vocabulary and sentence structures to improve my fluency.

Presentational Writing

Throughout this semester, I completed various written presentation activities in my Spanish class such as composing sort essays, stories, videos, and flyers. Here is an example of one of the presentational writing projects I have done this semester:

Project 9: ¿Cómo te cuidas?

Project-9-edit

The project proved to be my greatest challenge as I grappled with the complexities of using formal commands and reflexive verbs. Determined to achieve mastery, I invested countless hours practicing and refining my writing skills, repeatedly revisiting the relevant chapter materials to deepen my understanding. Through unwavering dedication and persistent effort, I ultimately succeeded in crafting a project that met the highest standards of excellence.

Interpretive Listening

To aid my learning and retention of class material, I incorporated watching Netflix in Spanish with English subtitles or in English with Spanish subtitles. Additionally, my homework included modules that required me to listen to a speaker and respond to questions based on what I heard. Below is an example of one of the activities we did this semester. This example in particular helped me correctly pronounce certain words in Spanish.

Although I cannot recall what I found most interesting or compelling, I remember finding activities that helped me improve my pronunciation and listening comprehension skills more engaging and rewarding. My takeaway from the listening experience was that interpretive listening activities were an effective way to learn and retain new language skills, and with each activity, I was able to grow and improve my language skills.

Interpretive Reading

Throughout the semester, I engaged in various interpretive communication activities to improve my reading skills in and out of class. I read articles on current events, short stories, and websites related to specific topics or fields. I found some of the reading materials to be challenging, but I overcame these difficulties by utilizing tools such as dictionaries or online resources.

I found certain topics to be more interesting than others, which motivated me to read more extensively. With each assignment, I grew and developed my abilities to analyze, interpret, and understand different types of written texts. My takeaway from the reading experience was that reading Spanish regularly is essential to improving my Spanish vocabulary, reading comprehension, and critical thinking skills.