Exploring Culture

Generally just asking about someone else’s culture in a polite fashion is a great way to learn more about other cultures and their perspectives. Also online research is great, and it never hurts to try to do your own learning.

These practices help me to understand what might be valued in Hispanic culture. They also help to highlight what in their culture might align with my own. I don’t think these activities necessarily changed my worldview, since I try to avoid having a narrow worldview regardless. It does help me keep my perspective on things, such as making sure I don’t look at these topics from a westerner’s perspective.

Engaging in Communities

I think it’s important that we reach out and try to learn from those closest around us. Community is integral and it’s one of the things I value in my own life.

Below is a letter I wrote in Spanish that reflects some of my own concerns for my community.

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Interpersonal Communication

TalkAbroad was great, I was honestly very surprised. I thought I would be looked as some fool that couldn’t speak Spanish well, but by the end of it, I was carrying a normal conversation. It helps to know there are people that would be that positive.

I participated in discussion board posts, TalkAbroad, and other activities with my fellow students in Spanish this year. With each assignment I feel like I’ve learned a bit more about a certain section of Spanish, whether I can now talk about a new subject or with a new tense, it feels like my vocabulary is expanding. I did struggle at first with conjugation, but now its own of my strengths. It took a lot of practice, and a lot of memorization of irregular verbs. I’m not sure if I could’ve done anything differently to instantly grasp conjugation, so I wouldn’t do anything differently besides study more perhaps.

Presentational Speaking

I didn’t give any sort of formal oral presentation in Spanish this semester.

Presentational Writing

I wrote a few compositions, and also did some writing activities. The writing entailed felt similar in structure and planning as it would if you were to write in English.

Over time when writing in Spanish, a few things changed. Notably, my ability to transition and have structure in my writing started to evolve. Remembering accent marks still is very difficult to this day, but remembering the pronunciation of words can help you to remember to include an accent mark.

(Note that this composition is a rough draft, and was shown to represent something I could write without editing.)

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Interpretive Listening

There were various times we would listen to the Instructor for an activity. There were also listening activities in the homework, and videos to listen and gather information from.

Many of the things we’ve listened to over this semester usually have to do with the culture of Spanish-speaking people. The key to listening for me was to look out for key words, so that I could get an understanding of what they were saying. However, if they conjugated in a way that was unfamiliar to me, I would have a hard time trying to understand what they’re saying. Re-listening is one of the methods I used to try to better understand what they’re saying, so that the next time I listen I can get it the first time.

Interpretive Reading

Lecturas end up being the main thing I read in Spanish. They are usually quite interesting, and can offer cultural insight.

Trying to figure out new vocabulary words that were unrelated to what we were learning was quite difficult. Also just being able to retain information from Spanish can be challenging. After familiarizing yourself with the new words however, it becomes much easier. Being able to read and respond was a great way to reflect on the reading.