Experiencing Spanish Culture

Experiencing Spanish Culture

Throughout the first semester of learning a new language, I have learned a lot about how to appreciate a new culture. In my Spanish class, we have watched Hispanic movies, tried cultural foods, and listened to Spanish music. By doing so, I  have learned how vibrant, energetic and fun, the culture of Latin American countries are. "Hispanic culture is bright, cheery, and full of life!" (Boyles 2).  I have loved learning about Hispanic culture and I am eager to learn. In class, we watched a movie called Selena, about a girl and her Spanish singing career. In this movie,  we experienced food culture, dance culture, clothing culture, and most importantly, music culture of Hispanics.  "Music is one of the best ways to look into a culture. By listening to the local music of Mexico, Spain and Puerto Rico, you can learn much about what each country has to offer" (Boyles 2).

Lately, I have been listening to Hispanic music during class. Everyday I have understood more and more of the Spanish language, which is something I'm very proud of. And you can do it too!

Boyles, Peggy Palo. Prentice Hall Realidades 1. Pearson Education, 2011. 

Spanish Oral Presentations

Oral Presentations and Speaking

Oral presentations are very important when learning Spanish. The whole point of learning a language is being able to communicate with others. "Speaking Spanish and being able to comprehend and vocalize new words, is key to learning any language. If you aren't speaking the language, then there would never be any communication" (Boyles 3).

For oral presentations and speaking in general, it is important to not rush when presenting. This leads to errors in simple things such as grammar and any need for conjugating. It is also important to practice all of your slides and give a mini presentation, beforehand, to someone close to you. Also, if you are one who gets nervous when speaking in front of a class, try not to look down, move a lot or stare off. Make sure when presenting, you are confident and focused throughout. 

When speaking to other Spanish speakers, remember to think of accent marks, pronunciation and not speaking to fast. Little differences in pronunciation  or accent marks can lead to completely different words and topics.  For example, "Make sure to check for accent marks!" (Boyles 58). In class when we studied family names, we learned that 'Papá' means Dad, whereas 'papa' means potato. As you can see here, a simple mistake in punctuation can lead to a whole new subject.

Boyles, Peggy Palo. Prentice Hall Realidades 1. Pearson Education, 2011. 

Important Study Tips for Spanish

Important Study Tips for Studying Spanish

When studying a language you must primarily understand that it will take time. You cannot learn all of a language just in class. If you truly want to learn Spanish, here are some tips to make your learning more organized and helpful!

When just starting to learn a language it is important to think of what you already know, even if it is as simple as saying hello or goodbye. Also you must think of what you know in English. It is easy to make connections through certain languages. For example, "...words such as comunicación, deliscioso, limón, and oficina. You'll find Spanish easier if you use what you already know" (Boyles XXXI). These are called conjugations. Words in English and Spanish, although very different, are regularly similar and therefore easier to learn/understand.



Another important strategy for learning Spanish would be the use of tangible things. Make flashcards! Make graphic organizers! Use songs and mnemonic devices! Have fun with Spanish and it will be easier to learn! When it comes to making charts and other graphic organizers, it is important that you make it easy for you to remember (for example, make a key). Drawing and writing diagrams can help you with the connections and meanings of other words. Flash cards are really easy to make too! and for how helpful they are, its definitely worth the time! An easy way to make them is to create a picture on one side of a flashcard, and the Spanish word on the other. You can use the picture to memorize the word and you can use the word to think of the picture that goes with it (Boyles XXXI).

All in all, there are many creative ways to use materials for studying. And certain ones work better than others, but it all depends on how you like to study. Once you know how to do that, everything else should be very simple.

Boyles, Peggy Palo. Prentice Hall Realidades 1. Pearson Education, 2011.

Why Study Spanish?

Why Study Spanish?

Studying a language is obviously very important and even necessary for graduating high school. Learning a new language expands all of your opportunities for success throughout life and in all aspects of communication. In my opinion, studying Spanish is something I believe every student should do. "Over 340 million people who live in Spain, 18 Latin American countries, Puerto Rico, Equatorial Guinea, the Philippines and the United States speak Spanish. It is the second most common language in the United states and 3rd most commonly spoken language in the world" (Boyles XXX). After knowing this and already being enrolled in Spanish 1-2, I realized the importance of the class I was taking. There is so much to learning Spanish besides speaking. Learning this language involves me in understanding a new culture, expanding my soon-to-be career opportunities and to all in all enjoy and experience the culture surrounded by the Spanish language.

Spanish is key for understanding its culture. Language heavily surrounds and supports a culture, giving it a way for its people to communicate and share ideas. The world of Spanish-speakers is rich in food, art, literature, history and numerous traditions based on their fascinating culture (Boyles XXX). This allows you to learn about other cultures and helps you see other perspectives. After learning parts of a new language, everything after comes naturally in their culture, especially in literature and music.

Not only is Spanish truly interesting, but from what I have read, knowing how to speak Spanish is very helpful when getting a job. Businesses now-a-days are looking for employees that speak languages other than English. When workers can communicate with others in another language it widens their incoming customers, once they know they don't have to get a translator, etc. The amount of Spanish-speaking people within business is growing, so the employees have to too!

So far, learning Spanish, has introduced me to many possible opportunities. Clubs, projects, culture, and even daily homework, has been a good effect from this class. I believe everyone should take a language and especially Spanish because of its growing importance in the world.

What more could this language do in the World?

Boyles, Peggy Palo. Prentice Hall Realidades 1. Pearson Education, 2011.