SPAN 102

Interpretive, Interpersonal, and Presentational Modes of Communication

Exploring Culture

I grew up around Hispanic communities and have already developed an understanding of other cultures from my personal life via friends, family, and environment. What helped me to better understand the values and attitudes was keeping an open mind to why they believe, act, and eat the way they do. I listen to the music of other cultures and try their food, however not everything I can stomach (beans), and some music may have romanticized of unhealthy behaviors that I hear in “love” music. However, I understand that even in my own culture, there are many things that I am not interested in and keep the same attitude towards.

Engaging in Communities

I believe that there is great value and importance in engaging in communities because humans are social creatures. There is so many beautiful aspects of different cultures and places in the world that can incorporate in other places. I am a fan of Japanese entertainment and have met many in the Hispanic community that have the same appreciation to the art and I would not have known that without engaging with others.

Interpersonal Communication

I have made two conversations this semester, via TalkAbroad, with Spanish-speaking people from other countries. The first conversation was about our family. I spoke with a woman who was much older than me from Ecuador and had a great opportunity to talk about myself and my family in her native language. I was able to learn about her family as well through the process. My second conversation was with a man who was around my age from Nicaragua about health and food. I learned that he enjoys Japanese animation and that football (soccer) is his life. I believe that I excelled more when speaking about my family over health, sports, and food because I have more passion when speaking on my loved ones. I definitely want to have conversations like the ones I have with these people and I know I will in the future.

Presentational Speaking

Besides me presenting my communication skills with my teacher in class, I asked my classmates questions at the end of the video. I thought I made two good questions for them to answer. I have the habit of saying “umm” whenever I am nervous and thinking, so I wish to overcome this habit of mine one day.

Presentational Writing

I have not made an entire written presentation in Spanish, however I wrote a bit about my immediate family that I grew up with to my class in one of our discussion boards. I explained how my family relates to how many families are in Hispanic culture.

Interpretive Listening

In my TalkAbroad session with my friend from Nicaragua, he told me where he was from, and I asked him how is his country. I could understand everything he said besides him talking about trees until I relistened to our conversation. This activity was challenging because I had to listen to my partner and continue our conversation without much time to gather my thoughts to respond to most of them. This activity has boosted my conversation to seek out conversations with Spanish-speakers further.

I also watched Finding Nemo in Spanish, which I found very entertaining and something I never thought I would do. I am not a big fan of watching movies by myself that I have already saw again, but I did this to challenge myself and see if I am able to pick up on conversations that the characters have with each other. I did this with no aid of English subtitle, and turned on and off subtitles in Spanish throughout the movie during some parts. I still watch Spanish movies and shows sometimes, however, I hope to not have to rely on subtitles in the future.