Global Citizenship/Intercultural Engagement Development: Elementary Spanish 2
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During my 2020 fall semester at Minnesota State University, Mankato, I took SPAN 102 – Elementary Spanish II. In addition to developing my Spanish speaking skills, I also had the opportunity to learn about Mexican culture. My professor, Mr. Daniel Tames Garza, grew up in Mexico and therefore is very familiar with the culture. He made sure to not just assist us with the language, but he also taught us about Mexican foods, history, and more. Learning about cultures different than one’s own is incredibly important to understanding and accepting cultural differences. Culture is a part of one’s identity, and it influences the choices we make, the values we hold, and our relationships with others. Those who only hold knowledge about their own culture may find it difficult to relate to others that are different from them. They may not be able to empathize with others and understand their perspectives. Now that I have learned about Mexican culture, I can better relate to those with Mexican backgrounds. This means that deeper relationships can be developed with understanding and acceptance from both parties.
One of the best parts of the class was the Virtual Dual Immersion Project. In this project, MNSU students and students from a Mexican college met over zoom to have conversation in both Spanish and English. Not only do students from both colleges get to practice their foreign language in real life, but we also get to explore each other’s cultures. This experience further expanded my knowledge of the Mexican culture, but it also allowed me to evaluate my own. Often, aspects of one’s own culture are viewed as a fact rather than a cultural characteristic. By recognizing the similarities and differences between one’s culture and another, those “facts” can be seen as the true cultural components that they are. Through this engagement, I was able to recognize that the foods I eat are a part of my culture. My family dynamic is a part of my culture. The activities that I enjoy every day are a part of my culture. Beforehand, I would not know how to describe what my culture is at all. Now, I know that my culture is unique in how early children leave their parents’ home and how we have sports associated with school, for example. Now that I have been able to talk to those who are not a part of my culture, I can acknowledge the cultural characteristics in my life and understand them better.
Now, I use both my knowledge of the Mexican culture and my ability to relate to other cultures in everyday life. When I worked at Walmart, I was able to speak with customers in Spanish. For example, once I was able to help a customer find the tomatillos and discuss their price. This improved the customer’s experience at the store, and I also got to hear some interesting stories that I wouldn’t have been able to understand otherwise. Because I also developed my ability to understand other cultures, I can still interact with cultures that I did not study. I now know how to set aside my cultural ideas in favor of learning more about other’s cultures. I will use this in my human resources career, as I can guarantee that I will need to interact with so many cultures that do not reflect my own. This will make me a more useful employee and a better person overall.