Exploring Culture

In lingro learning There was a video that talked about the different belfies on this a particular subject.

Engaging with cultural content like the video on Lingro Learning discussing varying perspectives on homosexuality within Spanish culture significantly contributed to my understanding of diverse cultural values and attitudes. Through this exposure, I gained insights into the nuances and complexities surrounding societal beliefs and norms in the Hispanic community. Rather than making value judgments, I focused on comprehending the different perspectives presented without imposing my own biases. This experience challenged my worldview by revealing the multifaceted nature of cultural beliefs and how they differ from my own preconceptions. It prompted me to confront and work through misconceptions or stereotypes I might have held, fostering a more nuanced and empathetic view of cultural differences. For instance, it made me reconsider assumptions about the homogeneity of opinions within a cultural group and emphasized the importance of understanding the individuality of perspectives within any cultural context.

Engaging in Communities

Engaging in both local and global communities fosters connection, empathy, and understanding. In our immediate community, we build relationships, create support networks, and address local issues. This involvement cultivates a sense of belonging and strengthens the community fabric.

Engaging in the global community exposes us to diverse perspectives, encourages collaboration across borders, and allows us to tackle global challenges collectively. It broadens our understanding of different cultures, promotes global citizenship, and enables us to contribute to positive change on a larger scale.

My personal engagement in these communities has allowed me to witness firsthand the power of collective action, fostering relationships, and making a tangible impact both locally and globally. These experiences have enriched my perspective, encouraged me to be more empathetic, and reinforced the significance of active participation in communities, big and small.

Interpersonal Communication

This semester, I engaged in Talk Abroad sessions to practice oral communication in Spanish, conversing with native speakers in real-time. Additionally I also practiced speaking Spanish one on one to some of my Spanish speaking friends’ participated in enhancing my written communication skills by exchanging ideas and opinions with peers in Spanish. 

Engaging in telecollaborative conversations through Talk Abroad was initially daunting, navigating spontaneous discussions in Spanish with native speakers challenged my fluency and confidence. Overcoming this difficulty required patience and persistence; I began by jotting down key phrases beforehand to ease into conversations and gradually relied less on prepared notes, allowing for more natural interactions. Through these sessions, I developed greater spontaneity in my speech and gained cultural insights from diverse conversations.

One aspect I excelled at during these sessions was adapting to different conversation topics and contexts. I found that actively listening and responding to the native speakers’ cues allowed for smoother exchanges. Moreover, each conversation offered unique cultural insights, broadening my understanding of various Hispanic cultures and dialects.

Presentational Speaking

This semester, I undertook a presentational speaking video activity in Spanish where I delivered a speech on a chosen topic. This topic was about my family. I gave descriptions of how my family looked and their personalities.  

Although presenting a speech in Spanish about my family seemed familiar, articulating descriptions of their appearances and personalities presented unforeseen challenges. Initially, I struggled with vocabulary recall and fluency, which impeded the flow of my speech. However, through diligent preparation and practice, I gradually overcame these hurdles by creating flashcards with key vocabulary and rehearsing extensively. Flash cards were a very good help they helped me remember so much of the vocab I even had my friends hold the flash cards and test me. Having other people be there to quiz me and help me and not just studying the material on my own made a big difference.

Presentational Writing

This semester I made a flyer and wrote in Spanish trying to convince people to join the club my favorite activity which is tennis. and I also talked about where the tennis court was and I talked about when we meet as a team.

Engaging in diverse activities this semester, including creating a Spanish flyer promoting the tennis club, has been a rewarding learning experience. Initially, articulating persuasive content in Spanish posed a challenge. I struggled with vocabulary selection and structuring sentences effectively to convey the club’s appeal. To overcome this, I researched persuasive language used in promotional materials, expanding my vocabulary and adopting compelling phrases. I excelled at highlighting the club’s benefits. However, I realized I could have included more details about specific activities or events to further entice potential members. Moving forward, I aim to enhance my descriptive skills and incorporate more engaging elements into future flyers, ensuring a more comprehensive representation of the club’s offerings to attract a wider audience effectively.

Interpretive Listening

This semester, I engaged in various interpretive listening activities for Spanish learning, including listening to podcasts, audio recordings, and watching Spanish-language videos or films. These activities aimed to improve my comprehension skills by exposing me to different accents, speeds of speech, and various topics discussed in the Spanish language.

Outside of class, I dedicated time to listening to the “Learning Spanish for Beginners Podcast.” This podcast became a valuable resource for improving my pronunciation, as it focused on teaching the correct enunciation of specific words. With consistent listening, I noticed a significant improvement in my ability to mimic the pronunciation accurately. Moreover, the podcast delved into various essential phrases and frequently used grammar points, providing a comprehensive learning experience beyond just vocabulary. This resource not only enhanced my language skills but also contributed to a deeper understanding of Spanish grammar and common conversational phrases. Although it was hard sometimes following and repeating the more i did it the better I got.

Interpretive Reading

This semester, I engaged in various interpretive communication activities for Spanish learning, including reading articles, short stories, and online resources. These materials aimed to improve comprehension and language skills by exposing me to diverse vocabulary, grammar structures, and cultural contexts in the Spanish language.

This semester, I delved into the book “Short Stories in Spanish” by Olly Richards, which significantly aided my Spanish learning journey, especially as a beginner. This book served as a valuable resource, offering accessible content tailored for beginners, thereby facilitating the expansion of my vocabulary and comprehension skills. Reading short stories not only made the learning process more engaging but also provided exposure to various sentence structures and idiomatic expressions commonly used in everyday conversations. Overall, this book proved instrumental in reinforcing foundational Spanish skills and fostering a deeper understanding of the language.

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