Interpretive, Interpersonal, and Presentational Modes of Communication 

Exploring Culture

Some products and practices that helped me gain an understanding of cultural perspectives came from the videos and text about the open air markets and what people sold there versus chain stores and mass produced items here. Uniqueness, the ability to bargain, and hard work are all involved in these markets.

In the United States I have grown so accustomed to going to the mall or a chain store to buy my clothing and household items. The items at these stores are just mass produced and any one can purchase the exact same item. In countries such as Mexico, these open air markets are full of various items that are made through hard work and dedication by the vendors. Although there may be more than one of a certain item, they will be unique in their own way. The fact that you are purchasing straight from the source also allows for the bartering system that is used. With bartering the vendor is able to treat each situation differently and do what he/she feels is best for the sale. This is similar to farmer’s markets and flea markets here in the U.S. but we do not depend on them for a majority of our items like those in other countries. It really makes me appreciate the work that people put in to their products and the appreciation of the customer to want to purchase the product for themselves. It is a more, for the people by the people, philosophy than what others have.

Kazemi, E. (n.d.). La Cuidadela [Photograph]. Culture Trip. https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/mexico/articles/the-best-markets-in-mexico-city/

Engaging in Communities

Being a part of your community helps build relationships with the people around you. It also helps the people to come together to work for better things for their community and their families in it. This also goes to global communities. When we can learn from each other and help each other we are better all around for it.

The value of and importance of engaging with your immediate community can help in many different aspects of what the environment has to offer. In my community there are strong beliefs, work ethics between community members. This can help strengthen and bond relationships among its community members and I am glad to be a part of that.
The value of learning from different global cultures strengthens my overall knowledge about those around me. I can use this to help not only my immediate community but anybody else from anywhere else. It is important to be involved in the happenings around you and try to keep others engaged as well. We can help each other out in different situations and be there for each other.

Annasunny. (2015). [Set of international people in traditional costumes around the world] [Photograph]. iStock. https://www.istockphoto.com/vector/vector-illustration-of-multicultural-national-children-people-on-planet-earth-gm490099884-75032777

Interpersonal Communication

I have practiced my Spanish speaking skills in various ways throughout this course. I have completed various presentation assignments with my Spanish partner, I have done two TalkAbroad sessions in which I was able to conversate with someone from Costa Rica over video call, and I was able to practice speaking with family members that are fluent in Spanish.

In my TalkAbroad sessions I was able to have a interactive conversation with someone from Costa Rica. This was challenging because the person who I spoke with did not speak very much English so it was important that I spoke Spanish to the best of my abilities so that she could understand me. Although her daily schedule was much like mine, it was interesting to hear what the weather and environment is like over there. Especially compared to where I live. Working with my Spanish partner was great because we worked together well and we could talk out our assignment in both english and spanish. This was different than my TalkAbroad sessions.

I recently travelled back home to visit family and was able to practice my Spanish speaking abilities with family members that are fluent in the language. It was helpful because they were able to understand what I was at least trying to say and were able to guide me in the right direction with certain words and phrases. The biggest difficulty for me is being confident when I speak Spanish. Speaking however is easier for me than the technical grammar part of the language.

11-19-Entrevista

Script from one of my partner and I’s Entrevistas

Presentational Speaking

Presentational speaking activities that I have done this semester are assignments in which I had to record myself answering questions and also ones in which I had to describe what each person was doing in a picture. These included different tenses, grammar, pronouns, etc.

In each presentation I was able to say the words that I needed to correctly for the most part, but it was in using the proper tenses that sometimes confused me. In some instances it was difficult for me to stay in the same tense throughout the work and I would change it at different points.

In the first “Prueba” that we did, we were suppose to make up a sentence using the eight verbs given. In “Voice Thread V” we were to listen to questions in five different slides and provide the answers in Spanish. In another “Voice Thread” we had to answer the questions on slides using the proper format of subject + verb + compliment. For me, as someone who has heard Spanish speaking in my life as a child it is sometimes difficult to put proper names to things because I have heard different ways of saying them. An example is that I always thought traje was a woman’s dress but it is actually a man’s suit. Voice Thread VII also involved responding to questions about clothing and daily activities through video recording. As mentioned before, it was important for me to remember what specific words and phrases meant. These activities remind me that people from different countries may speak differently and have different words for the same things.

Presentational Writing

Throughout this course I have completed four discussion boards. In these I have researched and discussed different foods, locations, and music. I found a Merengue song that I thought was interesting, I shared about the typical Peruvian food Ceviche, and how I would love to visit Machu Picchu in Cuzco, Peru.

In these assignments I have researched and learned about different aspects of Peru. In one discussion board we were asked to find and write about a typical dish to Peru. I chose Ceviche as I have had it before. I love the dish but never knew it’s origins or how exactly it is made. I came to understand why it is typical to that area: the resources of the ingredients available in that area. It is great to learn about new foods and be able to experience them as well. There are so many different things you can do with simple ingredients and this is one dish that showcases that.

I was able to hear a bunch of good songs by the artist Juan Luis Guerra in my search for the one that I liked the most. It was actually difficult because he has a lot of great songs. I chose “La Bilirrubina” because it was very catchy with a funny play on words about being “love sick”. Latin American music also includes salsa, bachata, reggaetón, to name a few. There are so many different genres of music. It is wonderful to experience the different beats and rhythms that make up the music that different places listen to.

One of the most interesting researches I did was about the ruins in Cuzco, Peru. It is incredible learning about the different ruins available and what they believe that they were used for. I chose Machu Picchu because it is one of the seven wonders of the modern world! Not only does it look like an adventurous hike to get to, there is so much to see when you arrive. There are so many things to explore such as its tunnels, and structures. There are many ruins to visit that each have different reasons that make it incredibly interesting. It was hard to choose just one.

DB-Compilation

Interpretive Listening

Interpretive Listening Activities I have completed this semester include the work in our VHL/Supersite program in which I had to watch videos of dialogues between people and answer questions based on the videos and also videos of different places such as the open air market, Machu Picchu, eating at a restaurant, and different places to eat tapas in Spain.

The dialogues were great listening tools because the people in the videos spoke clearly and at a pace that made it easier to understand. In these videos I learned about different places and what they were about. In a video that involved a group of friends checking in to a hotel. I thought it was very educational because many of us like to travel to different places and can use the basic skills to check in to our hotel rooms. We could also use the information on how to order food at a restaurant as well. I also enjoyed learning about the open air markets and how people are accustomed to bartering there. There were so many beautiful, unique things that people made themselves. It is certainly different from purchasing the same things at a chain store with mass produced items.

One of the videos included stopping at different restaurants in Spain and learning about Tapas. The buildings were beautiful there. It was interesting learning about tapas and how they came to be. Also the way the restaurants served them was really different. The way that they speak was also super intriguing. I liked hearing the way the peoplefrom that area spoke in the video.

Each video taught me different things. Some taught me how to manage different situations while some taught me about different places. Each was interesting in their own right. I loved seeing the different people in different situations and locations.

[World in Spanish (Lessons on Zoom)]. (2020, January 21). Fotonovela II 05 Vamos a la Playa [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSbJqGnYQVk&t=225s

Interpretive Reading

An article that I read and used for an assignment as well as for one of my discussion boards is about Machu Picchu. In this article it explains about Machu Picchu including what it entails and history behind it.

The article that I used for my research on the ruins of Machu Picchu is from the History Channel’s website. In this article, I learned about its discovery in 1911. It is believed to have been made during the Incan Empire and inhabited by the people there for about a hundred years. It was most interesting to me how they were able to build these structures with just the resources and the land that was available to them at this time. These ruins are special to the people of Peru who try to care for the many exotic animals that inhabit the area and also the ruins themselves after so many tourists. The people from the area help to guide the tours that involve strenous hikes to get there and teach people about the ruins and its history.

https://www.history.com/topics/south-america/machu-picchu

History.com Editors (2011, June 13). Machu Picchu. History. https://www.history.com/topics/south-america/machu-picchu

Each assignment has made me look deeper in to the the Spanish language and the people and countries that speak it. It is intriguing the similarities yet also the differences between each place. My ability to properly speak the language has also improved drastically from before. My knowledge on the grammar and proper structure of writing has grown immensely as well.