Overall Integrative Narrative
Throughout my life, a multitude of experiences have guided me toward the path of studying language, specifically Spanish. As a member of a community that is largely comprised of Spanish speakers, I’ve experienced constant exposure to the words and ideas of the Hispanic cultures, both intentionally and in a passive manner. My parents are both Spanish speakers who have lived and studied in Mexico, and their work as landscape architects has led them to be exceedingly confident in regards to communicating with members of the Latino community. As a child, various terms from “ándale pues” and “yo te quiero tanto” were used with frequency in the household, and my verbal participation afforded me the earliest practice in pronunciation, specifically allowing me to learn the alveolar flap when pronouncing the letter ‘R’, and the soft sounding interdental ‘D’. In high school I excelled in my language classes and decided that it was time to push my knowledge to the next level of maturity. I decided to study Spanish as my major because I knew that it would bring me endless moments of intrigue, the ability to understand a vast new portion of the world, and more opportunities to be a useful and valued component of whichever career path I may pursue.
One of my initial discoveries was the fact that not everything can be translated literally, and I soon found that I was capable of letting go of the English equivalent of the words I was speaking. The departure of this reference point, which in some cases was limiting my ability to communicate, allowed me to think, dream, and feel in my newly acquired language. Many language students have attested to this glorious moment of linguistic freedom, and it was a defining moment in my course of study. Another important moment in my time as a student was being asked to help native speakers with their grammar assignments, which solidified my confidence and ability to teach concepts within my target language. It is all too easily assumed that a person who has grown up speaking almost entirely Spanish will be an expert in the language, a rather large misconception indeed. In my classroom experience, the heritage English speakers and heritage Spanish speakers have been able to assist each other in particular areas, and have furthered the comprehensive understanding of the language for everyone.
As I move forward with this degree, I hope to undertake a few exciting projects involving the language. First, I intend to build my skillset for the translation of written works. Because I have chosen to emphasize literature and culture, I’ve read and analyzed a number of masterpieces by Spanish speaking authors. My abilities to formulate interpretations, understand symbolic and philosophical meanings, and paraphrase in a manner that keeps tone and feeling intact, should help me to create unparalleled English versions of stories that have yet to be translated. I intend to start translating Agustín Espinosa’s Crimen immediately after graduation, as no formal English version currently exists. I also hope to travel extensively in Latin America, in an effort to internalize its various cultures. Because I did not participate in a study abroad program, I am compelled to thrust myself into a variety of cultural situations that will help me continue to grow. To have completed this program is only a small portion of my linguistic journey, but has provided me with a strong foundation to build my skills upon.
One of my initial discoveries was the fact that not everything can be translated literally, and I soon found that I was capable of letting go of the English equivalent of the words I was speaking. The departure of this reference point, which in some cases was limiting my ability to communicate, allowed me to think, dream, and feel in my newly acquired language. Many language students have attested to this glorious moment of linguistic freedom, and it was a defining moment in my course of study. Another important moment in my time as a student was being asked to help native speakers with their grammar assignments, which solidified my confidence and ability to teach concepts within my target language. It is all too easily assumed that a person who has grown up speaking almost entirely Spanish will be an expert in the language, a rather large misconception indeed. In my classroom experience, the heritage English speakers and heritage Spanish speakers have been able to assist each other in particular areas, and have furthered the comprehensive understanding of the language for everyone.
As I move forward with this degree, I hope to undertake a few exciting projects involving the language. First, I intend to build my skillset for the translation of written works. Because I have chosen to emphasize literature and culture, I’ve read and analyzed a number of masterpieces by Spanish speaking authors. My abilities to formulate interpretations, understand symbolic and philosophical meanings, and paraphrase in a manner that keeps tone and feeling intact, should help me to create unparalleled English versions of stories that have yet to be translated. I intend to start translating Agustín Espinosa’s Crimen immediately after graduation, as no formal English version currently exists. I also hope to travel extensively in Latin America, in an effort to internalize its various cultures. Because I did not participate in a study abroad program, I am compelled to thrust myself into a variety of cultural situations that will help me continue to grow. To have completed this program is only a small portion of my linguistic journey, but has provided me with a strong foundation to build my skills upon.