So Far…

Exploring Culture

The website/textbook that implemented culture most was Contrasena. On this application, I have completed activities regarding people from different Spanish speaking countries and how they live different lives in their cultures. There were also prompts that asked me to google topics in Spanish.

Exploring culture helped me have a better outlook on the culture. For instance, I realized how the United State’s colleges are set up and how different the process is in other countries. Also, it helps when talking in Spanish to understand the culture. Knowing that those that speak Spanish speak to authority, professionals, and older people using a different conjugate (Usted) can help be as polite and formal as possible.

Engaging in Communities

In my free time, I have found myself able to communicate to those that speak Spanish. I am a server at Waffle House and the amount of Spanish speakers that come in astounds me. When I feel that I can comfortably speak to them in Spanish, I do so. As for in class, I have done interviews with a friend that speaks Spanish and my teacher who is from Spain.

Interpersonal Communication

Again, I speak Spanish when I can outside of class, but in class we have had several interviews whether with friends or with the professor. I feel that the more I do them, the more comfortable I get and I am able to talk efficiently on the spot. I typically only read over the prompted questions a couple of times and do not prepare my exact responses. Instead, I find it more typical and normal to come up with a response when asked a question. I may stumble, but I can effectively speak.

C:\Users\kaywa\Downloads\47944_2022-02-16-134812_418 (1).mp4

This is a link to my conversation with a Spanish speaking friend.

Presentational Speaking

For one assignment in class, we had to give a tour of the campus. We described places, what we do in each place, and what our favorite aspects of campus are. It was a great activity that helped me generate ideas in Spanish while filming. It also made me more comfortable speaking Spanish outside of the classroom.

 C:\Users\kaywa\Videos\Captures\Movies & TV 2022-04-22 15-10-50.mp4

This is a link to my presentation regarding Old Dominion University. I discuss three of my favorite places on campus and what I do in each place!

Presentational Writing

As for writing, we are always writing sentences in class on different subjects, but there was a bigger project that involved making a schedule. The schedule included what classes I take, my studying hours, when I work, and what I do in my free time. In addition to the schedule, I wrote a paragraph about what I do on a daily basis. This assignment helped me feel organized and understand how to talk about myself and relate to others.

Spanish-Schedule

Interpretive Listening

While completing Contrasena assignments, there were sections that involved listening to clips of people talking and either selecting the answer that best relates to what was said or speak back.

These activities helped actively engage in Spanish. You listen to a native speaker with proper Spanish and have to decipher and translate what was said. It truly takes your developing skills to the next level and gets you prepared for real life conversation.

Interpretive Reading

Everyday, I was given paragraphs or sentences in Spanish and was expected to complete activities after reading the text. Additionally, there were times where the professor would ask us to read a paragraph in Spanish out loud to the class. Sometimes the paragraphs were about culture and other times it was discussing people’s lives.

Reading in Spanish helps practice pronunciation which gets you prepared for proper and formal speaking of the language.