Interpretive, Interpersonal, and Presentational Modes of Communication

Exploring Culture

Learning about a new culture is extremely difficult in a class that does not focus on it. I have not learned much, but the biggest proponent to learning has been Google. Google allows for a view into places that could never be reached otherwise.

Engaging in Communities

Allowing oneself to participate in other cultures is what has allowed cultural change over time. The United States would not exist in its current form if not for mixing of cultures. Speaking with people of other cultures also allows for different perspectives to be seen.

Interpersonal Communication

TalkAbroad 1:

TalkAbroad 2:

TalkAbroad can be a very useful tool for forcing you to think on your feet, if you’re in the right mindset. If one is unprepared, they can flounder, like I did in the first TalkAbroad. My second one went far more smoothly because I was prepared for the conversation. TalkAbroad was a powerful tool to helping me learn conversation.

Conversation in Spanish has always been difficult for me because I think in English. This makes it difficult to respond to questions, because I attempt to translate my thoughts, and the majority of the time I don’t know a word or two. I need to work on trying to think in Spanish more in conversations. The TalkAbroad conversations have increased my speed at answering questions, and they, especially the second one, have increased my confidence that in speaking.

Presentational Speaking

Unit 12 Project

Being in this class and a public speaking class, I have presented in speaking many times this semester. Having an audience makes speaking much more difficult.

In the presentation above, I ran out of time and rushed, which lowered how good it could have been. Writing my script on paper or reading it out a few times would have helped immensely. Talking about a true to life experience would have as well, but my life is boring. I have improved in speaking for an audience, however.

Presentational Writing

Unit 11 Project:

Una camiseta blanca

Unos pantalones negros

Una chaqueta vaquera

Unas gafas de sol

Unos zapatos de estampado moderno

Un bolso rosado

¡Hola Christine Rouse! Te preparé un estilo para ti. Según tu perfil, tu estilo es informal y relajado. Me gusta tu estilo mucho. Te importa más te siento de expresíon. Esta caya incluye una camiset blanca para disimular tu escote. Los pantalones negros son holgados para destacar sus piernas. La chaqueta vaquera es muy informal. Está bien para la lluvia. La complementa sus ojos castaños. Unas gafas de sol son perfectos para el verano. Los zapatos de estampado moderno tienen un personal toche. Son muy relajado tambíen. El estilo es perfecta para ti.

Making something that is meant to impress anyone other than other teachers has never been my strong suit, so these assignments were difficult. They are a useful way of presenting information creatively. They are also useful for business.

In the assignment shown above, I had to work with creating an outfit and selling it to someone, which is certainly not within my skillset. Describing the outfit while also embellishing was not easy, especially in a different language. I don’t even know if the woman would have liked the outfit I gave her. I did find it easy, however, to create an image of the character of the outfit.

Interpretive Listening

In English, give a very brief 2-3-line description of interpretive listening activities you completed this semester for or related to your Spanish learning. (See Modes of Communication link for description and examples).

Then, write a short reflection paragraph that includes the different things you listened to/heard this semester inside and outside of class or in the Language Learning Center or its website. Find a recording and add to this section; be sure to cite it. What was unclear or challenging for you? How did you overcome this difficulty? What did you find most interesting or compelling? What was your takeaway from the listening experience? How have you grown with each activity?

Interpretive Reading

Proyecto 15

La Inundación de Utnapishtim
Un día, los Dioses decidieron mandar una inundación. Un Dios, Enki habló con Utnapishtim. Enki demandó Utnapishtim crear un barco. Utnapishtim era un rey. Utnapishtim y las personas de la ciudad crearon un barco muy grande. Tenía siete cubiertas. Utnapishtim colleccionaba muchos animales en el barco. Las personas de la ciudad salidaron en el barco. La inundación destruyó todo. Las personas vivieron en el barco por una semana. Cuando la inundación se alejado, el barco en la Montaña Nimush. Utnapishtim sacrificado una oveja por los Dioses. Enki entregaba Utnapishtim inmortalidad.

El cuento es un cuento de la inundaciónde Utnapishtim para Mesopotamia. Utnapishtim es un personaje muy similar a Noah en la Biblia. Utnapishtim es más antiguo de Noah. Es un mito muy interesante. Mi cuento ayuda a las personas a ver el cuento de Noah differente, porque Noah es muy nuevo. El cuento de Utnapishtim es en el épico de Gilgamesh.

Reading something and then using it to communicate an idea is difficult enough in my native language. It’s why I hate long papers. It is a useful tool to master for any college student, however, and should not be taken lightly.

In class, I wrote a retelling of a myth from history to show its similarities to a newer but far more well known myth. It used a lot of words that I did not know, so I had to look them up. I was shown that I am not good at thinking in Spanish, but telling a story makes it difficult.