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College Spanish Made Easy

by Kay :: Monday December 5, 2005

I have just begun a new Spanish Literature course here at CC. About a week before the class began, I felt that I wanted to transfer out of a poetry class I had been in because I knew that I needed a challenge. (Although this seems like very poor planning on my part, I had only recently heard that the poetry class was very easy.) With very little time to decide which direction I wanted to go, I looked through the course guide and found this higher level lit class.

After taking the written Spanish placement test, I knew that I would be prepared for the course, because my Spanish grammar was good. Yet although I passed the entry test, I still needed to talk with the professor to ensure that I would be able to take the course. After we spoke he allowed me in even though he acted a bit skeptical about a freshman entering an advanced course. Granted, I was a bit unsure, too, because I although I spoke well (my Spanish speaking skills had always come easily for me at Thacher), it was my writing skills I often worked the most at.

The first day of class went well, but I still did not know how I would handle the homework. After not speaking Spanish since the last May in Ms. Perry’s Spanish Language course, I knew I had definitely lost key vocabulary that would be necessary for papers and class discussions. On top of that, my speech had become less fluid month by month. Luckily for me, the language seemed natural when the teacher spoke even if I could not yet say things the way I had once said them.

Lately, I have been thinking about the importance of my Thacher language education and how it prepared me for what I’m doing now. I remember my first day of class with Ms. Perry freshman year when she informed us that we would not hear any more English in the class again. Sometimes I was completely lost during the first few months of class, but by their not using (or allowing us to use) any English, the teachers trained me to hear, think, and speak in Spanish. Applying this to my current course makes everything much easier. I naturally can switch my mind into Spanish and communicate what I need to say. Although I still am learning much vocabulary and trying to become more fluid in my speech, I know that the strong foundation Thacher gave me allows me to do as well as I do.

In addition, the Thacher language courses opened my eyes to a new way of being educated. Besides totally immersing us in the language, teachers also did things that made the learning experience unique and special to me. For instance, Mrs. McCarren helped our Spanish II class film a movie at the barns about our favorite “Destinos” character, Raquel. Señora Ortiz showed foreign films that covered different ethical issues. Then last year, Ms. Perry provided a variety of memorable experiences, ranging from discussions about current events to classes in her living room with homemade hot chocolate. In addition to practicing my Spanish while in these classes, I also defined what a Spanish class could be: interesting, fun, exciting, sometimes frustrating but always different from other subjects.

The personal connection to the language that I gained at Thacher allowed me to speak better and encouraged me to pursue other language courses there and now, here in college. In my current class, I know that my comfort and enthusiasm comes in part from the experience Thacher and its language teachers gave me.

Thank you all!

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