DESCRIPTION

This was the third out of four classes at the Spanish University for non-native Spanish speakers. We worked on all forms of the langauge: writing, reading, listening and speaking.

REFLECTION

Course Content- This was the third class for non-native Spanish speakers out of a four-class progression.  We practiced many forms of the language: writing, listening, speaking and reading.  It was more productive to learn the Spanish language in a class of students from various countries because when we didn’t understand a word, we had to explain it in Spanish.  The only common language among the students in this class was Spanish.  We also had interesting discussions about the roots of words because as a class we knew many different languages. 

            In this class we learned a lot of colloquialisms and vocabulary.  We focused on the types of vocabulary that Spaniards might have developed more than other countries.  I realized how challenging it is to translate a word in your native language when the other language specifies the concept more than your own language does.  For example, in Spanish, the words for rob (asaltar, robar and atracar) might be translated to the same word one word in English.  This class helped me make distinctions in Spanish that I wouldn’t necessarily make in English. 

Classmates- I audited this class because I wanted to meet European students who were also studying abroad.  I expected to make friends that didn’t speak any English so that I would have to speak Spanish with them.   I ended up making friends from all over Europe and I have kept in touch with my Brazilian friend Gabriel, who indeed does not speak any English.