Exploring Cultures in Spanish

A captivating aspect of Spanish culture that has truly captured my attention is the art of greetings. Within Spanish greetings lies an exquisite and warm encounter. The custom of exchanging two kisses on the cheek serves as a captivating and cordial manner of social interaction. This cultural tradition has provided me with an insightful glimpse into the Spanish way of life, characterized by its amiable and hospitable nature.

Challenges.

The practice of this cultural greeting has illuminated the Hispanic culture for me, revealing its inherent friendliness in contrast to my own. In America, bestowing a kiss on the cheek to a stranger might evoke discomfort, and such a beautiful gesture could even be misconstrued as a form of sexual harassment, particularly in cases without mutual consent. This cultural custom has challenged my worldview, providing me with an opportunity to grasp alternative socializing norms and preventing me from sweeping my own cultural practices into a universal category. It has unveiled a myriad of delightful and congenial gestures embedded within the Hispanic culture, prompting me to reevaluate my misconceptions about cheek kisses and realize their significance as a simple mode of greeting in other societies.

This experience has fostered a more inclusive perspective, eradicating judgments and promoting cultural understanding. What may be regarded as taboo in one culture might manifest as a beautiful form of expression or gesture in another. For instance, prior to my awareness of the Spanish greeting tradition, my perception of cheek kisses was confined to a single peck reserved for family members like my mother. Extending this gesture to acquaintances or friends seemed peculiar and disconcerting. However, upon discovering that cheek kisses constitute a friendly and comfortable manner of greeting within the Spanish culture, my outlook transformed. I realized that these kisses foster a welcoming atmosphere rather than harboring any negative connotations.

This transformative realization has broadened my worldview, enabling me to embrace diverse cultures without prejudice. It has also equipped me to comprehend foreign customs without imposing judgment.

Engaging in Communities

Being an active participant in a local community is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it allows us to directly contribute to positive changes in our neighborhood, town, or city. This can lead to improvements in local infrastructure, services, and the quality of life for us. Additionally, involvement in also fosters a sense of belonging and builds connection. Building relationships with neighbors and local organizations can create a support system that enhances your well-being and social connections. Engaging in the local community, I can also address specific local challenges and concerns, such as participating in neighborhood clean-ups, advocating for safer streets, or supporting local businesses to boost the local economy. Active participation in the community can also help build trust among community members, which contributes to a more resilient and vibrant community. Furthermore, local engagement often provides opportunities to develop valuable skills, whether through volunteering, leadership roles in community organizations, or participation in local events. These skills can enhance one personal and professional growth.

Begginer Spanish Community/ Groups

Reflection

One community that holds a special place for me is the class community. The dynamic of sharing academic insights within the class setting imparts a profound sense of being an integral part of a vibrant learning collective. In our Spanish class, we’ve collectively mastered the art of engaging in conversation through a multitude of questions, enabling rich discussions that showcase diverse perspectives from each individual.

Being an active participant in this community has not only fostered a profound sense of belonging but has also facilitated meaningful connections with fellow students, particularly in learning. This camaraderie has acted as a powerful antidote against feelings of isolation that can sometimes accompany the learning process.

Moreover, the utilization of tools like Flipgrid has been instrumental. Engaging with videos and exchanging comments, whether by offering input or addressing queries, has significantly contributed to my linguistic prowess in Spanish. These interactions serve a dual purpose, both amplifying my language skills and instilling a heightened sense of responsibility to remain dedicated to my learning journey, ensuring I strive toward my language goals.

Interpersonal Communication.

I spontaneously spoke with a native Spanish speaker (Professor Gomez) about our classes this semester in college. We asked and answered questions about our classes, discussing our favorite and least favorite ones. We also exchanged tips on resources needed to succeed in our preferred courses. We both inquired about staying on campus, and she invited me to study with her in the library. The conversation flow allowed me to be confident in my ability to communicate in Spanish.

Reflection

This classroom conversation has been instrumental in fostering substantial growth for me. It has empowered me to expand my horizons by mastering the art of attentive listening and skillfully responding to fundamental Spanish inquiries related to college matters while also enabling me to pose questions. Through the assignments, I have learned to hone my proficiency in formulating responses and posing straightforward queries.

Prior to this assignment, I held reservations about my potential to comprehend and engage in Spanish dialogue. However, I have achieved the unexpected feat of holding a meaningful Spanish conversation within a relatively short span of time. The most challenging aspect of this assignment was deciphering spoken words and articulating Spanish pronunciations flawlessly to ensure effective communication. It demanded a considerable investment of time to grasp the questions and respond coherently.

This experience has significantly enriched my skillset, equipping me with the competence to communicate in Spanish and pose basic academic inquiries to navigate the academic landscape. My main challenge pertains to the brisk pace of the class and the intricacies of pronunciation for certain words.

My strongest suit in this assignment lies in my capacity to furnish thoughtful responses to the queries posed. While not without room for improvement, the ability to converse in a foreign language and address rudimentary questions is an accomplishment of which I am proud. My success in this conversation is attributed to my tenacious patience, unyielding diligence in striving for improvement in the course, and the invaluable resources provided by Contraseña. The segmented video lessons facilitated a rapid grasp of the language within a condensed timeframe.

Presentational Speaking

In this class, I had the opportunity to engage in a presentation focused on a person whom I deeply admire and hold affection for. During this presentation, I skillfully conveyed his remarkable attributes in Spanish, articulating what I find most commendable about him. Moreover, I effectively communicated to the class his exceptional qualities and shed light on why he garners such high regard, particularly within the professional sphere.

Reflection

Engaging in the speaking presentation was both intriguing and demanding. Crafting this presentation necessitated rigorous practice before recording the videos. Among the considerable challenges I encountered, the foremost was striving for impeccable pronunciation and articulation to ensure the utmost clarity for my audience. Achieving this clarity required a dedicated investment of time, but the results were unquestionably rewarding.

Presenting Nathan, my most admired friend to my peers, was a fulfilling experience, and it was particularly gratifying to employ a variety of adjectives to portray his attributes effectively. This exercise significantly contributed to the honing of my speaking skills in the class.

Though the process was time-intensive, the satisfaction of presenting my admired figure to the class rendered every effort worthwhile. As I reflect, I’m inclined to explore alternative approaches for future presentations, with the goal of further enhancing my delivery and ensuring an even more seamless connection with the audience.

Presentational Writing Reflection

I engaged in a noteworthy presentational writing task centered around crafting a succinct self-introduction. Through this endeavor, I showcased my ability to introduce myself in Spanish, offering key details such as my name, hometown, and the educational institution I attend. Additionally, I proficiently harnessed the “Ser” verb, effectively portraying my intrinsic qualities. Furthermore, I skillfully navigated the linguistic landscape to describe my immediate and current locations, seamlessly integrating temporal and spatial elements within my composition.

Spanish-presentation

Interpretive Listening

During the summer, I actively engaged in an interpretative listening exercise, immersing myself in a variety of Spanish music tracks. Among my preferred artists, Bad Bunny stood out as a favorite. The allure of his music made the interpretation process both enjoyable and effective. The captivating melodies and rhythms enhanced my learning experience by providing real-world context, which allowed me to sharpen my interpretation skills continuously.

REFLECTION

Engaging in these interpretative writing assignments has been instrumental in sharpening my listening skills, providing a platform for refining my ability to comprehend spoken Spanish. The practice has been invaluable, fostering a deeper understanding of the language’s nuances and nuances. Furthermore, my engagement with music, including tracks by artists like Bad Bunny, outside the classroom has contributed significantly to my auditory acumen. By applying the principles I’ve learned within the class to real-world scenarios, I’ve witnessed a marked improvement in my listening capabilities.

Within the realm of music, I find the interplay of rhythm, rhymes, and consistent repetition, exemplified in phrases like “tití me preguntó to to,” particularly captivating. This playful repetition not only adds an element of amusement but also aids in the memorization of Spanish words. It’s remarkable how music can intertwine with my classroom learning, serving as an effective tool for enhancing my listening proficiency in Spanish.

While this journey has been enriching, there were moments of challenge and uncertainty, particularly when grappling with the content of the song “Titi Me preguntó” by Bad Bunny. The intricacies of certain phrases and their contextual meaning posed difficulties. Yet, these challenges became opportunities for growth, compelling me to delve deeper into the language and its nuances, ultimately contributing to a more comprehensive grasp of Spanish.

INTERPRETATIVE READING

In the classroom, interpretive communication entails reading comprehensive short passages and demonstrating my comprehension by answering a series of questions. Outside of class, my activities involve reading online articles. One of my favorites was the article ‘¿Pasamos demasiado tiempo mirando pantallas?’ by ¿Hola Qué Pasa?, a Spanish learning website designed to help beginners improve their reading skills. The article addresses the significant concern of excessive phone usage and its impact on our social lives. Towards the end of the article, there’s a suggestion to reduce phone usage and prioritize spending time with family, providing valuable insights into mindful technology consumption.

Reflection

The most challenging aspect of the article was deciphering words like ‘constantemente’ and much more. This led me to consult a Spanish dictionary to understand specific terms. One of the difficulties I encountered while interpreting this article was identifying conjugated verbs. In the classroom, spotting verbs within a context was simpler. However, in real-world articles, it proved somewhat more challenging to pinpoint these verbs accurately.

What intrigued me in the Spanish article was the author’s ability to address significant issues. Additionally, the essay was very beginner-friendly, providing an excellent platform for honing my reading skills. Despite the accelerated pace of the course, each class assignment has contributed immensely to my progress. I can now engage in basic Spanish reading and recognize words within a text. This has aided in the development of my reading skills and my capacity to interpret vocabulary taught in class when encountering it in real-world situations. This practical approach has proven highly effective in enhancing my Spanish reading abilities.

While I still face certain challenges in the course, I am confident that consistent exposure and practice in real-life contexts will contribute to the refinement of my Spanish reading techniques.