Interpretive, Interpersonal, and Presentational Modes of Communication

Exploring Culture

During my Spanish course, I was able to gain a deeper understanding of cultural perspectives through various products and practices. One of the most impactful was learning about the significance of family structure and the importance of extended family in Hispanic culture. Through readings and discussions, I learned about the close-knit relationships that exist within Hispanic families and the emphasis on maintaining these relationships. I also gained a greater appreciation for the different holidays celebrated in Hispanic culture and how they are often centered around family and community. Additionally, I was able to challenge my own worldview by learning about the different perspectives and challenges faced by the LGBT community in Hispanic culture.

Engaging in Communities

Engaging with the Spanish-speaking community is an essential part of any language learning experience. It provides opportunities to practice and improve language skills, but also to learn about the diverse cultures and perspectives of Spanish-speaking people around the world. Whether through conversation exchanges with native speakers or following news in specific Spanish speaking regions in the world, there is a deeper understanding of the complexity of the Spanish language and culture.

Interpersonal Communication

A talk abroad session is a valuable opportunity for language learners to engage in conversation with a native speaker of their target language. During these sessions, students are given specific topics to discuss and have the chance to immerse themselves in a new language while learning about different cultures and experiences.

While I found my first talk abroad session to be challenging, it was ultimately a rewarding experience. One of the biggest hurdles was not knowing what to expect from the conversation, which made it difficult to prepare in advance. However, after completing the first session, I was able to better anticipate unexpected turns in the conversation and learn how to respond on the spot. As a result, my second session went more smoothly, and I was able to engage in more meaningful dialogue with my partner. Overall, talk abroad sessions provide an excellent opportunity for language learners to improve their language skills and cultural awareness.

Presentational Speaking

I did not have the opportunity to engage in any presentational speaking activities in Spanish this semester, but I did participate in two talkabroads. During my second talkabroad, I noticed significant improvement in my ability to communicate effectively. Compared to my previous speaking experiences, I was able to formulate my sentences more coherently and confidently, and I could express myself using specific phrases and sentences more fluently. In the past, I struggled with being unable to connect words together when I was unsure of a keyword, causing me to freeze up. However, I felt that I was able to overcome this obstacle in my second talkabroad, which was a great accomplishment for me.

Presentational Writing

While I don’t have any writing samples to share, I’ve found that writing in Spanish is incredibly enjoyable. The language has numerous grammatical rules, including accent marks, formalities, and articles, which can be challenging to master. I’ve approached every writing assignment as a puzzle to solve, working through the layers of complexity to create grammatically correct sentences. Asking questions, using infinitives, and knowing when to use certain verbs can still be a struggle for me, but I appreciate the challenge and am eager to continue learning.

Interpretive Listening

While the previous Spanish course had some useful listening activities, such as FlipGrids and conversations with the instructor, they lacked the opportunity to practice listening to fluent Spanish speakers in authentic conversations. Completing Talkabroads has helped me develop my listening skills significantly. I noticed a significant improvement from my first to my second conversation, as I became more confident in asking for repetition or clarification when I didn’t understand something. Overall, participating in Talkabroads has been a valuable experience that has helped me improve my Spanish listening skills in real-life situations.

Interpretive Reading

Throughout this course, I found that a majority of the learning material was centered around reading in Spanish. While this proved to be a challenge at first, as my reading comprehension and vocabulary improved over time, I found myself seeking out other forms of media to further immerse myself in the language. I started reading Spanish news reports, which was a completely different experience altogether. The speed and complexity of the language used in news sources made it difficult to keep up at first, but as I continued to read and practice, I began to understand more and more.