The semester is almost over, and I am happy with the progress I have made over these past few months. I have decided not to continue with the SDLAP program next semester. The reason for this is because I started really looking into study abroad programs and I don’t think I will be going to Spain. My heart is set on a program in Argentina, so I can still use some of the skills I learned in 105 to help me with the different sounds and accents of Argentinian Spanish.
I think that meeting with my language partner did not work well for me. She unfortunately had some personal conflicts, and I did not think we mixed super well. I was much more comfortable using Italki and also practicing on my own.
For my final cultural presentation I decided to present on the different Catalan dialects. There are 6 different dialects as Catalan is spoken in 6 different regions. I focused on the differences between vocabulary, pronunciation, verb conjugation, and vowels. I hope my classmates learned something insightful; I know I enjoyed listening to my classmates' cultural presentations.
I think what has been the most helpful has been my journal. Whenever I had time I tried to write something in there. I didn’t even write formally, sometimes I just went on tangents and said whatever came to my mind– though I think that this is a useful method of practicing. I think that a textbook would have been helpful, or something like that for beginners.
The scholarship department reached out to me about the Borner Scholarship which selects students studying a critical language and grants them money to study abroad in select locations. The super awesome part is if you are selected, you get to work in the government for a year after graduation, in the department of your choice. Unfortunately once we met and looked into it more, Catalan is not on the list. However, the scholarship sends students to places in the middle east so perhaps down the line I may do the SDLAP program again and study Arabic or Turkish or Farsi. We also looked into the Critical Language Scholarship, though the deadline passed and Catalan is also not on their list. Though, these are things to think about for next year once I return from abroad.
I learned a lot on my own this semester and I surprised myself by how on top of my independent learning I was. I connected with several people, whether it was Professor Feldman, or Estevam, or even the girls in my 105 class. I think this program is a great opportunity that Richmond has to offer that not many people may know about. It is definitely what you make of it, as it is an independent study. Though concurrently taking 105 was a good idea– one I would recommend to people considering taking SDLAP.
Replies
Wow it seems like you accomplished so much this semester! I know the self-directed part of this program can be tough, but you handled everything like a pro. While it’s unfortunate that the chemistry between you and your language partner wasn’t the greatest, you still kept on with your goals of writing in your journal and connecting with others frequently.
Learning about different Catalan dialects seems a fascinating choice for a final cultural presentation and something that could teach fellow students a lot about something that isn't widely known. Having an informal journal seems extremely helpful, and definitely something I would try to do as well. Being on top of learning your language independently is a really important thing to accomplish. Good work!