Monthly Archives: November 2014

Reflections/experiences: university, travel, UMass

I began my university experience at McGill University as an International Development Studies major. This major and the general environment of the school were not a good match for me, but before transferring I desperately wanted to travel and study abroad. I decided to do a direct enrollment at the Pontifica Universidad Catolica de Valparaíso (PUCV), in Valparaíso, Chile. This meant that instead of going to Chile with a program I went as an independent student, allowing me to set-up my own living arrangements, class schedule, and extracurricular activities (this also means I didn’t pay a program but rather just paid university tuition, which is usually much cheaper). Continue reading →

The Power of Comfort

Leave a reply

“¿Esto es punto?” Waiting for a response, I remove a mechanical pencil from my left ear, open my field notebook, and rest it firmly on my forearm to create a sturdier writing surface. The answer “sí” comes from Emiliana Cruz, a linguistic anthropologist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, who is a native of the exact place we are in. I press a button on the bright yellow Garmin GPS unit, geographically marking the newest sacred area on our trek around the mountains of “Chatinolandia” in southern Oaxaca. My ears try their hardest to decipher the tonal contours of an indigenous Oto-Manguean language called Chatino. The variety being recorded on our equipment is San Juan Quiahije Chatino, the dialect that Emiliana grew up speaking. This is a minor glimpse into my life for the month of July in 2014, where I was invited to work on Emiliana Cruz’s project on language and landscape. We would hike a total of twelve days during this month, collecting countless hours of audio and hundreds of photos of ceremonial areas, types of plants, and sacred paths. Continue reading →

La Importancia de una Práctica

Leave a reply

Me cambié universidades desde la Universidad de Vermont a UMass Amherst para perseguir una diploma del Español con las esperanzas de encontrar algunas oportunidades a dentro de las carreras con la pedagogía, los servicios de la traducción y interpretación, y con la industria del turismo y viajes educativos. No quiero elegir una carrera, quiero tener la oportunidad de participar en cualquiera industria durante capítulos diferentes de mi vida. Necesito una variedad de opciones para que no me siento atrapado por mi carrera, que es alguno miedo que tengo.

Hasta ahora estaba tratando de obtener experiencias diferentes a dentro de cada industria para asegurarme que podré encontrar éxito en cualquier caso de trabajo. Por ejemplo estoy tomando una clase de la psicología de la educación y tengo una práctica con un programa de radio a través de UMass que se llama Tan Cerca Tan Lejos, una voz de México en los Estados Unidos. Continue reading →

How the Spanish Major, for me, translates into an MSW

Leave a reply

As my time at UMass comes to a close, I have begun to ask professors for recommendation letters to send to grad schools. As a Spanish major, the professors that know me best are those who teach within the Spanish Department, and they have asked me how my major ties to my desire to earn my Master of Social Work. My goal to become a LICSW is tied in every way to the pursuit of my Spanish major over the last 6 semesters. When I first started the major, it was because I had a talent for it, and I didn’t really know where it would lead me. I grew to love it, and eventually made the goal to become a medical interpreter. It seemed like a natural choice, given my experience with the healthcare system as a result of my mother’s ALS and that, as anyone that knows me knows, I love people and interacting with those from all different backgrounds and walks of life. However, as a result of taking the first course required for the Interpreting Certificate here at UMass as well as my time studying in Buenos Aires, Argentina, I realized that medical interpreting may be too restricting of my personality. I began to consider what career I could pursue where I would have more professional freedom to exercise my compassion and investment in the well-being of others, Continue reading →

Mi vida con una carrera en español

1 Reply

Muy a menudo oigo la pregunta “¿que quieres hacer con un título en lengua española?” o, “Si ya puedes hablar [básicamente] con fluidez, ¿cómo te ayudaría un título en español?” Esta consulta típicamente viene de mis amigos que estudian varios tipos de ciencias, o de mi abuela. Otros suponen que me convertiré automáticamente en un profesor, en lo que no tengo ningún interés. La noción que es una pérdida de tiempo y dinero a dedicarse a una carrera en un idioma extranjero es completamente falso. Yo sé exactamente lo que quiero hacer con mi vida, y eso requiere un conocimiento profundo de idiomas y culturas diferentes. Continue reading →

“Not Knowing” and the Future of a Spanish Major

Leave a reply

So far in class and online and in many ways we have discussed the future. The future that we want to pursue and the ways in which we can prepare ourselves now in order to be successful in our pursuits. For the most part our discussions have begun the same, “what do you want to do with your major?” or “what do you want to be when you grow up?”, questions we have all heard and been asked a million times. Questions that as a Spanish major are maybe just a little more open ended than for someone studying say Engineering. Ever since probably junior year of High School people have been asking me what I want to do with my life and although I have tried many times to give answers that will satisfy whoever is asking me, now I realize that one of the bravest answers you can give is “I honestly don’t know, and I am okay with not knowing right now.” Continue reading →

The North American Language and Culture Assistants Program in Madrid – Auxiliares de Conversación 2014-2015 MADRID

2 Replies

¡Hola a todos! My name is Siobhan Elvin and I am a recent UMass graduate (’14) and former student of Professor Marentes. Today I am blogging to inform current UMass senior/junior Spanish majors about what I have been up since graduation so as to hopefully motivate any of you thinking of moving abroad to a Spanish speaking country to have no fear and just GO!!!!! :)

During my last semester as a senior Spanish major at UMass, I was 180% unsure of exactly what I wanted to do after graduation. Seniors especially, welcome to the dreaded quarter life crisis that is the next 9 months of your life. I personally was terrified of the thought that May 10, 2014, meant I would no longer be a Minuteman, and that I needed a plan for postgrad life. So I did what I recommend others follow suit of: I applied to a variety of things to keep my options open and prolong my ultimate decision until the very last possible moment. I knew that I wanted to continue improving and practicing my Spanish, so I applied to UMass’ Graduate Program in Hispanic Literature and Cultures, as well as I applied to the Spanish Ministry of Education’s “Language and Culture Assistants” Program Teaching English in Spain. I was accepted to both which made me even more unsure of what I wanted to do, but after lots of thinking and tough decision making, I chose the latter, to try out new surroundings away from UMass and to return to the Spanish paradise that I had left in Salamanca just a year before. Continue reading →

Annalise Frottier- Los pensamientos acerca de estudiar en España

Leave a reply

For my integrative experience, I have chosen to study abroad in Granada, Spain next fall. I was originally going to study abroad next spring semester, but after discussing it with my family I have decided to defer my application for the Fall 2015 semester instead.

I am studying abroad through API. A friend of mine went to Barcelona through the API program and had a great time. He was very happy to have been able to experience the country and all that came with it. In order to apply, I had to make an online account through the API website. I had to fill out online forms, get a letter of recommendation, and send in my transcript. I was informed shortly after that I had been accepted into the Hispanic Studies Program. Continue reading →

Revisiting why Spanish is my major after a few eye-opening experiences

Leave a reply

When I first heard to the question, “Why is Spanish your major?” my response was that I enjoy speaking and learning the language, and would like to eventually be a Spanish teacher. I’m not really sure what my motives were for being a Spanish teacher, other than the fact that my mom is a Spanish teacher, so I’ve been exposed to the career my whole life. I envisioned my self teaching in a normal, middle-class, nearby town. Both my parents work in wealthy towns, which comes with its fair share of downsides, but after a few eye opening experiences, I realized that I am more drawn to working with a different kind of population. When I look back at my first news forum post about my major choice, it seems vague and unsure to me, but I think I have a little more direction now after some of my experiences this semester. Continue reading →