In Spanish 101, we participated in a variety of activities that tested a variety of language skills. During lesson reviews and chapter introductions, students would engage their listening skills as the professor would repeat new words and phrases. After listening to the professor, students would be immediately volunteered to repeat the vocabulary lists and conjugations of verbs. The frequent practice of listening to both the professor and fellow students, alongside the constant volunteering, enhances pronunciation and memory skills.
To further communication and comprehension skills, students completed two student-student interviews. Speaking only in Spanish, students would record a conversation with a classmate; they would take turns asking each other questions that tested skills like introductions, time telling, descriptions, locations, and so on.
Student 1: ¿A que hora empieza la clase de español?
Student 2: La clase de español empieza las once de la mañana.
Out of the classroom, students would be assigned textbook sections to read; these sections would sometimes be about cultural differences between North America and Latin America. Here, we’d learn about how the education system in Spanish countries would be more focused on career paths since high school, since tests would determine their career options and paths early on. Despite this lack of freedom in choice, higher education would be free, unlike here in the United States. The readings also talked about how personal space is nearly non-existent in most Spanish countries, and some would greet each other with small kisses on the cheek. These cultural lessons would then be discussed further in class, and some information would appear on chapter tests later on.
Beyond this, we had homework assignments often assigned on VHL, the Vista Higher Learning Supersite. These assignments would combine listening, speaking, reading, and overall comprehension skills. Students would read paragraphs and collect information from them, record themselves answering questions in Spanish, and watch episodes of a Spanish “reality show” that mixes culture and vocabulary. Quizzes on VHL would follow these in-depth lessons, testing vocabulary by asking students to fill in the blank. There would be audio clips detailing conversations or information completely in Spanish; the following questions would prompt the student to synthesize the content of the audio.
Audio:
“José, quieres ir al parque con mi prima y yo este fin de semana?”
“Lo siento, Esmeralda, pero yo tengo un partido de béisbol el sábado.”
Question:
Cierto o falso: José va a pasar tiempo con Esmeralda este fin de semana.
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Personally, I would still practice my Spanish outside of the classroom and homework. My parents communicate at home mainly in Spanish, so my listening and comprehension skills are frequently being used and tested. I don’t often speak Spanish at home, which is why my pronunciation and accent need some work. This is why I also practice Spanish with my boyfriend on my free time, as we both love the culture and want to expertise our knowledge and conversational skills. I often teach him new words and phrases, explaining grammar and colloquialisms. This proves to be great practice for the both of us, and it has made me more comfortable in my own abilities, encouraging me to engage in Spanish conversation with coworkers and customers who need help with translation.