Interpretive, Interpersonal, and Presentational Modes of Communication

Exploring Culture

I found it comforting to know learn about the various comfort foods that different countries like to partake in. I most liked how lingolearning phrased it when they said, “[The comfort foods] …also come to represent the special connection that people have with the places where they are shared and the people who accompany them.” I never really thought of comfort foods like that. Associating them with different people and experiences. It makes me wonder why my comfort foods are comforting to me. What experiences and people do I associate with a chipotle burrito for instance. Not necessarily my culture but it is something that I do enjoy when I am feeling down. I would get one after work with my best friend all the time when I was in the military and we would sit and eat and laugh about our day. This certainly helps me view the world through a different perspective, since now I am able to wonder about what memories and experiences and friends my own family and my friends’ families might associate their food with.

Engaging in Communities

If you don’t do it, it is unlikely that it is going to get done. That is a phrase that I have tried to live my life by, and it has worked out well for me so far. It is what led me to join the military and engage at animal shelters and various fun runs to volunteer and be a cheery face for the public to see. I haven’t really engaged personally in the global community, though I could argue that America is a global force for good and when I did counter terrorism efforts in the middle east, that could be engaging in the global community. So I will stick with that.

Interpersonal Communication

TalkAbroad is a communication software that connects you with someone from a country of your choosing to speak to them in their own language. I cannot for the life of me remember the name of the woman whom I spoke to, but I remember she was very kind and patient with me. She loved to travel and had a big family. She also loved penguins I remember because I too also love penguins. We didn’t really do any discussion boards or any interpersonal writing if my memory serves me right, but I might be confused as to what exactly interpersonal writing means.

As far as spontaneous and unplanned communication activities, there were not any assigned, talkAbroad was a planned activity which occurred on a specific date and time of my choosing. The only spontaneous and unplanned communication that I personally took part in was the few times I ordered food for myself at a Mexican restaurant. They were happy with my pronunciation if I remember correctly. I feel like I have grown due to both of these taking place mainly because in the past I would not be comfortable trying to converse in Spanish with another person out of fear of sounding like a fool. Now I don’t mind as much, most people are happy that you are trying at all.

Presentational Speaking

I haven’t had to do any presentational speaking relating to my spanish learning, so I have nothing to report for this segment of the eportfolio.

Presentational Writing

As far as writing goes, we have several assignments that we had to write from memory, but none of them were presentations, they were just assignments that the professor assigned and then we would complete them in class and turn them in. No presenting took place. I do have an activity I can post but it is not presentational in nature.

spanish-artifact

I think the assignments this semester were easier because we had access to the vocabulary. There was still a lot of new grammar to memorize so I had to really buckle down and study but I exceled quite a bit I think when it came time for the final interview with the professor. I didn’t stumble through my words too much. Next time I could study even more and be able to use emphasis on my words and phrases. I did not really use any this go through.

Interpretive Listening

I always have to interpretive listen for the Professor’s class, she always is speaking in spanish. A lot of the time I understand what she is saying but sometimes it is over my head! Outside of class, my tattoo artist is fluent in spanish and he got a kick out of my trying to talk to him. I did not think to take a recording of it however, my mistake. He spoke slowly so I was able to understand most of what he said.

Interpretive Reading

I had to read quite a bit this semester but all of it was in lingolearning so nothing out of the ordinary or worth mentioning I don’t think. I wasn’t aware that I needed to be doing so much in my free time to better my understanding, I apologize. Lingolearning though was a huge pain for the most part. But it was doable and I think I got most of all the assignments completed. Some not on time because I have been having some hard ships in my life this semester that I won’t get into. But I think I found the section regarding the past tense and food to be the sections that I used the most. Everyone loves food.