Exploring Culture

One of my favorite parts of Spanish culture is that people live life to the fullest. But, not in a hurried way. Instead, Spanish Natives tend to take their time, they can appreciate the world and people around them. In Spain, people savor long, multi-course meals and wander vivacious villages and charming cities. When you sit down at a restaurant with your family in the evening, there is no hurry to push you out as quickly as possible. It is understood that the table is your for the rest of the night because the important things in life, like family, should not be rushed.

Engaging in Communities

By interacting in other cultures, you are educating yourself about the differences that will help you understand other perspectives within the world in which we live. It helps diffuse negative stereotypes and personal biases about different groups, and gain respect for various cultures. It is said that a person cannot truly learn a language without following in love with the culture and people the language represents.

Interpersonal Communication

When communicating with a native speaker, not only will you have the opportunity to learn how to polish your accent and improve your language skills, but you’ll also get a chance to find out more about the foreign culture. By utilizing Talk Aboard, you have the opportunity to converse with a native speaker and get an inside look into a different culture. These conversations help to bring a personal connection to the language and the culture that could only be found otherwise by international travel.

Presentational Speaking

Sample: Chapter 5 Exam

Vieques es un lugar excelente para ir de vacaciones este verano. Sus playas son bonitas y limpias. En invierno hace fresco y en verano hace mucho calor. En Vieques hay un hotel excelente. Se llama Viequemar. En Viequemar puedes montar a caballo por la playa, bucear y pescar. ¡Es un lugar fantástico!

Presentational speaking makes it easier to engage your audience on a more personal level. This level of engagement ensures that you get your message across to the audience. Giving an effective presentation means working with both the audience and the topic to have a clear interaction. Presenting a polished presentation requires the speaker to have an in-depth knowledge of the topic and the ability to answer questions far beyond surface-level interpretation on the subject.

Presentational Writing

Sample Writing:

Hola, mi nombre es Kristin, y soy estudiante de diseño de moda en la Universidad Old Dominion aquí en Norfolk, Virginia. Voy a entrevistar a una estudiante, JoAnna, sobre sus elecciones de moda y por qué elige usar crocks todos los días en el campus.

Entrevistador: Hola, JoAnna, encantado de conocerte. Gracias por tomarse el tiempo para habla conmigo hoy. Después la observar la vida en el campus durante el año pasado, noté la cantidad de estudiantes  usaban crocks. ¿Por qué crees que los crocks son grandes entre la población estudiantil aquí en ODU?

JoAnna: Los crocks son muy cómodos para caminar grand distancias a los dormitorios hasta la clase. Me gusta esa razón por la que los estudiantes de ODU usan Crocks.

Después de entrevistar a JoAnna, el consenso es que el uso de crocks en el campus se usa debido a la comodidad y no a las apariencias. ¿Tal vez debería saltar la tendencia de los crocks para ver qué tan cómodos son realmente los zapatos?

While I am continuously working on fluency and proper fluidity, my Spanish has progressed. However, with time, continued study, and repetition my language skills will continue to improve.

Interpretive Listening

Example: VHL Assignment

EVA El viernes vamos a hacer una fiesta para Sebastián. Yo le voy a preparar su comida favorita: camarones al ajo.
MARCELA ¡Qué rico! ¿Y qué puedo hacer yo? ¿Te parece bien una ensalada de verduras?
EVA A mí me parece muy bien, pero a Sebastián no le gustan las verduras. ¿Por qué no le preparas una ensalada de mariscos?
MARCELA Bueno, se la preparo. ¿Y quién compra las bebidas?
EVA Clara y Luis van a comprar algunas botellas de vino tinto y también unos refrescos.
MARCELA Parece que vamos a tener muchas bebidas.
EVA ¡Ah! Y recuerda que le tienes que comprar un regalo. Yo le compré una cartera.

Correct interpretation discloses what is being said by the speaker with validity. Listening is a skill that not only helps and serves others but also assists us in becoming more compassionate, patient, and nurturing people. For most people, the ability to listen and understand a foreign language like Spanish is the most difficult part of learning the language. The best way to do this is normally be immersing oneself self and living in the culture.

Interpretive Reading

Sample: VHL Assignments

CELIA (A Tito)  Rosalía me recomendó este restaurante.
DUEÑO  Buenas noches, señores. Les traigo unos entremeses, cortesía del restaurante.
CAMARERO  Buenas noches. ¿Quieren ver el menú?
TITO  Sí, por favor. ¿Está buena la langosta?
CAMARERO  Sí, es la especialidad del restaurante.
TITO  Entonces queremos pedir dos langostas.
CELIA  Y yo quiero una copa (glass) de vino tinto, por favor

CAMARERO  De postre (for dessert) tenemos flan y fruta.
CELIA  Perdón, ¿me lo puede repetir?
CAMARERO  Tenemos flan y fruta.
CELIA  Yo no quiero nada de postre, gracias.
DUEÑO  ¿Les gustó la cena?
TITO  Sí, nos encantó. Muchas gracias. Fue una cena deliciosa.

For most people learning a new language, it is easier to read and articulate in a foreign language because you can take your time and there is more certainty of the specific topic. Reading is a solitary task that realizes on visual recognition of vocabulary. Grammar and sentence construction are already established and do not rely on the reader to create, only to interpret. In order to speak a foreign language, not only do you need an active and fluid knowledge of words, their meaning, and pronunciation, but have to create the sentence structure and correct meaning in your mind as you are communicating. This is normally much more difficult.