Exploring Culture

One of my favorite flash cultures is illustrated below because it involves food! We are taken on an adventure through several Spanish-speaking countries and compare cuisines.

One of the more amazing foods was tacos because I have never been to any of the countries mentioned, but I loved seeing the different ways they were prepared. I have had several kinds, and it was awesome seeing similarities between the video and my own life. It made me realize how we are not that different after all.

Here are some of the more challenging questions about where the various markets were loacted.

Engaging in Communities

It is vital to engage in my immediate community because without engagement; there is no community! Something as simple as striking up a casual conversation while grocery shopping can help us be better human beings. Stepping outside of ourselves increases our empathy and understanding of someone else. By engaging an immediate community, we are also engaging in a global society. There is always a more significant part of a whole than what we experience in our small daily grind. It is vital to share all of the above to step outside of ourselves and see a bigger picture.

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Interpersonal Communication

Both examples below are my talk-abroad conversations for this semester. Overall this was the most challenging portion of the semester but just as rewarding. Being able to conversate with someone halfway around the world in their native tongue opened my mind to how people use language to engage in the world. I learned the most from my second conversation because I was more prepared and less nervous. I could tell my partner was very understanding when I needed more time to get my point across in Spanish rather than English. More often than not, I struggle with saying so much in English but not being able to speak it in Spanish.

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Presentational Writing

Both examples below are my composition assignments. I had a blast creating them and brainstorming in class with other students. Being able to use the correct syntax and grammar is challenging. I have a new appreciation for people who write mainly in Spanish because it is such a beautifully written language. I love the way it sounds and the way the words are imagined in my head while writing.

Interpretive Listening

Spring 2021 included lots of opportunities to practice my interpretive listening skills. More often than not, the activities provided on the VHL website were perfect. A brief example below:

The main takeaway from all of the interpretive listening opportunities this semester is Spanish comes in many different dialects. I also found a new sense of confidence within myself after listening to music in Spanish. I am primarily an extrovert but also enjoy time in solace. The best part about music and listening to others learn Spanish is being submerged in an entirely new train of thought. Everyone thinks differently, and I quite enjoy expanding my own set of beliefs this way.

Interpretive Reading

The above example is where the class needed to create our own interview with another student. These are always my favorite type of activities because another person can correct my mistakes and help me along the way. I also enjoy reading how other people put their sentences together.

The above example is where the class had to read the questions and then play 20 questions. We not only had to read and comprehend the questions but also answer questions from other students. Overall we all made mistakes, and we’re a little confused, but helping each other to guess the correct type of food was very fun. It is always rewarding to read and hear how other people would describe a particular food.