My Language Journey

Learning about Costa Rica

1994

I did a class project about Costa Rica. I fell in love with what I learned about the land and people. I decided that I must learn Spanish and go to Costa Rica!

Saludos

1995

I know three ways to greet someone. I am excited because I can greet students and community members that speak Spanish.

Some basic words

1995

I am learning how to say hello and goodbye, and food and clothing vocabulary. I also know how to say "welcome," "please," and thank you! This means I can be polite when I travel to Spanish-speaking countries!

Playing soccer and talking in Spanish

1996

i went back to Honduras and saw old friends. I understood some words when others were talking in Spanish! I played soccer and learned how to say pass and talk on the soccer field!

Honduras

1996

I decided to participate in helping make sure a nutrition center in a small town in Honduras is able to stay open. I am visiting with a group from my church to help with the center and meet new friends there!

Verbs

1996

I am learning more vocabulary. I know how to conjugate verbs, but irregular verbs are hard for me! This means I can tell a basic story. I am at an intermediate low level of Spanish. I might be here for a while.

House and chores

1996

I know the vocabulary to talk about where I live and my chores. I made a commercial for a household item. I am not sure if it was perfect, but my teacher understood me.

What I like to do and describing myself

1997

I know how to say basic words about how I am feeling. I can describe what I look like and my personality. I can also talk about my school day and things that I do.

Verb conjugation at university

2001

I learned more advanced verb conjugation in Spanish (instruction) and can better talk and write about events in the past, present, and future.

Leadership Exchange

2002

I used my Spanish to participate in a short term exchange experience at UDLA in Mexico. I participated in a bilingual conversational experience.

Studied in Alicante Spain

2003

I successfully took courses at the University of Alicante. I can write papers and understand class material in Spanish.

Novel and Paper

2004

I wrote a ten page book response in Spanish after reading a novel in Spanish.

New York Spanish Teaching Exam and Begin Teaching

2006

I took a teaching exam in Spanish and began teaching Spanish.