Category Archives: Language

My Major and Me

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My Experience with the Spanish Major

As a freshman at UMass Amherst, I did not have plans of using Spanish as a big part of my life moving forward. I knew Spanish, with two grandparents from the Basque Country in the north of Spain and a number of aunts, uncles, and cousins still living there and keeping in touch, I had heard the language a lot growing up and had a sufficient enough grasp on it to take honors and AP classes throughout high school. It was a language that I like to pull out when around my friends, mostly white and middle class like me, to show off the fact that I was in some way more “cultured” than them, whatever that means. But my plans at UMass were not dependent on in, and certainly not my plans afterwards. I figured I could take classes, minor in it, and have it as a bonus on my resume, sure, but Political Science was really interested me, and whatever I could use that for later.

Sophomore year was when I actually switched my primary major to Spanish, and put Political Science as my secondary. Honestly, though, even at this point it wasn’t because I fully understood or appreciated the major for what it was, it was for reasons of convenience. Continue reading →

Why Spanish?

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“You’re a Spanish major. You must be fluent, right?”

 I receive this question a lot nowadays, when I explain to loving family members or friends what my course of study at UMass has been. How I am a primary Spanish major. And how, no, contrary to popular belief, I am not fluent. Far from it.

There is something incredibly disheartening about admitting that to oneself. That no matter how much you have studied, or the time that you have poured into the major, or the number of literature reviews turned in, that you are simply not fluent and perhaps never will be. And what is profoundly strange about studying a language is that there are millions, hundreds of millions of people across the planet who are infinitely more skilled in the Spanish language because it is their heritage language—these skills they honed on the playgrounds and in school rooms and in thousands of bedtime stories con sus padres. By age 10, barely anyone knows about the realist theory of international relations or how to properly run gel electrophoresis—those things you learn when you study for a Political Science or Biology degree. But there are millions of ten year olds who can speak effortless Spanish, whose tongues don’t tap against their teeth in that oh-so-gringo way and who don’t mix up feminine and masculine pronouns of a score of household items. Continue reading →

Reflections on travel, study, and self

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I arrived in Valparaíso in July of 2012 for my third year of university.  Within a month I was in love: new friends, new house, new city, I felt unbelievably lucky to have settled where and how I did.  I feel powerfully influenced by the culture and people I met there; this is not to say that I now feel Chilean, but rather that I am more reflective and analytical about my assumed (American) culture, beliefs and practices.  Acknowledging that self-reflection as an ongoing process, throughout my time in Chile and since returning I am recognizing in new ways the greater implications of growing up as a white female in Boston in the United States.

In Valpo I lived in a house with people of many different nationalities: Chilean, Spanish, French, German, Australian, Italian, American, and Canadian.  There was constant intercultural interpretation and explanation in addition to the various language barriers. This was an enriching and exciting (and sometimes tiring) environment that allowed me to examine what it meant to me to be an American from the United States. Ongoing reflections on how I approach and interpret cross-cultural experiences, whether in a classroom, kitchen, or bar, or at student protest, has allowed me to better understand the particular influences in my life and how they are similar or different from those around me. Continue reading →

Reflecting on the reflection: a personal reaction to student experience and writing

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[My friend Nicholas Belardes encouraged me to reflect and write about my teaching experiences at UMass. My first post on this subject was inspired by the reflections of this year’s Integrative Experience students. I repost here what I wrote for the Nicholas Belardes site. As students’ understanding of themselves changes through experience, so does faculty’s; and as we ask students to reflect, so should we. Here is my own personal reflection.]

THE ASSIGNMENT WAS SIMPLE – a reflection about our seniors’ changing relationship with the Spanish major -, but it made for one of my best weeks as a teacher. Not necessarily because of my own classroom performance, but because of what the students’ writing revealed about their development. I spent a couple of days checking my computer every ten minutes, expecting to receive their texts. Continue reading →

Reflection/ Evolution of the Spanish Major

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When I first started applying to colleges I’d originally declared myself as a music major. But half way through the applications I stopped; something just didn’t feel right about it. As passionate as I was about singing and dancing, I felt that maybe I should embark on a path that was a bit more academically oriented. In my heart I knew that I would always be able to pursue my love for the performing arts on the side no matter what. And so, I dove into my freshman year head first as a declared Spanish Major. However, my perception of what that meant then and what it means now has transformed dramatically.

At 18 years old I was fresh out of high school. Quite frankly, I didn’t even want to be at UMASS to begin with, so needless to say I was somewhat of a miserable person. When people asked me ‘Why Spanish?’ I would say “because it’s the only other thing I’m good at.” I was more than bitter about not pursuing my musical aspirations and felt that I’d made a huge mistake. I even spent a great deal of time after first semester sophomore year considering switching my major over to vocal performance. I hit a wall that I never imagined I’d hit; I didn’t want anything to do with Spanish anymore. Continue reading →

Reflection on my experience as a Spanish Major at UMass (thus far)

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Going into college I knew I would study something I loved. I wouldn´t be able to fathom it otherwise. I remember the time I worked at my dad´s office for 3 days filing and shredding paper—I quit after day 2. When I find something that moves me and inspires me and throws my mind through a loop, I thrive. When I am forced to complete a task which to me seems bland, mundane and without greater purpose…well, I struggle.

The idea of study abroad was a no brainer for me. It had always been a dream of mine. It excited me to think that after all those years of fantasizing, I could finally take action and do it one day, given the chance. Those days were drawing nearer as high school ended, and I was ready. After graduating high school I was finally a free(r) bird and planned on flying the coop to start seeing the world. Continue reading →

I Wish I Was an Intern in Miami

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So today David Beckham announced his plans to start an MLS franchise in Miami. I think this is great for the sport and the league but I was watching the press conference and noticed a reporter who asked a question in Spanish. This is obviously not a surprise in Miami but I wanted to point out what I saw as a mistake by the interpreter. Check out this video at around the 45:30 minute mark. The reporter asks a question about including diverse ‘American’ backgrounds in the new members of the Miami team. I believe that the reporter was more interested in the Latin American representation in the club because the Latin American people and culture are what makes Miami, Miami. Nothing huge but I found it interesting, check out the video and let me know what you think.

Chau

Here, there, in between, and off again!

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The fall semester was coming to an end and I was soon to be headed back state-side for winter break. After 3 weeks at home, I would return to Madrid, España, where I would spend the rest of my senior year. I find that many people are surprised when they hear about my decision to spend my entire senior year abroad. Some people even think I’m crazy for it, and maybe they are right (depending on what their definition of crazy is), but this was an opportunity I couldn’t possibly pass up! A chance to study, live, and dance in Madrid for an entire year, stay with a host family and travel throughout Spain as part of my academic program? Hecho. Become more independent, learn to navegar y moverme por la ciudad, and live a completely different lifestyle than ever before (i.e. Madrid, Spain and Europe)? Hecho y hecho. I could suggest that perhaps they are the crazy ones for not craving to experience the world, but hey, everyone is on their own path, and this is mine.

Rewind to pre-departure: Continue reading →

Barcelona!

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jueves, el 14 – domingo, el 17 de noviembre

Barcelona era una maravilla, como una verdadera joya encantadora. De modos tan obvios como sutiles, la ciudad disfruta de un ambiente mágico, con colores y arte por todas partes, desde la orgullosa y majestuosa Sagrada Familia hasta el anónimo grafiti que aparece en las paredes del Barri Gotic. Ver todo el poder que posee Gaudí en su arquitectura divertida y cautivadora fue impresionante e inspirador.

Lo que más me gustó fue la fuente mágica de Montjuic. Continue reading →