Project Title: Learning Spanish in Buenos Aires
Project Author: Debbie Anderson (Estrella Mountain)
Abstract: Write a concise summary with descriptive information about your project, location, time span, your relationship to it, etc. Include specific information-- since you have completed your project, your knowledge is valuable and can be shared with your colleagues.
Living three weeks in Buenos Aires Argentina helped me learn Spanish and learn how it feels to be a stranger in a foreign country where you do not speak the language or know the culture. This experience was invaluable to me as a librarian and an educator because we have many students that speak Spanish and are challenged to communicate and achieve at the Community College. I was hoping to learn more Spanish. I learned so much more. I learned how it feels to try and explain something in a different language. I learned that how it feels not to be the ‘mainstream’ or dominant culture. Unlike learning Spanish in the United States where you can revert to English– I learned so much more than just Spanish.
Outcomes: In a paragraph or two describe what worked well. Did you accomplish your objective(s)? Were you able to complete your summer project as written? If not, what did you modify and why? What did not go as well as expected, if anything? Were there any surprises? Note: Use the questions as guides for your outcomes. Do not include detailed list of workshops attended, speakers who presented, or a list of items you have seen, heard, or read.
I was planning on living in Buenos Aires for three weeks, taking formal language classes for two weeks and exploring the city. After one week of formal language classes, I found that I had very little time to visit the museums and get to know the culture. I was exhausted after 4 hours in class and did not have time to do much else. I changed my plans and spent time doing a variety of activities such as visiting Iguazu Falls in northern Argentina, going to a agriculture fair and talking to people from all over the country, going to museums, going to a play, listening to tango music, going to book stores and speaking Spanish to people.
The biggest surprise to me was the difficulty functioning in a country where very few people speak English. The people were kind and the culture was fascinating. I learned so much more than I ever thought I would.
Professional Growth: Your own professional growth is a large part of your project. Your professional growth is important to you, your students, your college, and possibly other colleagues. How did project affect you professionally? What skills did you learn? What environments were you working in and how might your summer project influence your teaching or other responsibilities? Did you gain a different perspective? Was it professionally valuable for you?
Professionally, I learned how difficulty it is to function in a culture where you are a stranger. I have traveled a lot – but always in areas that there is someone that can speak English. This was not so in Argentina. Very few people speak English. I gained invaluable experience that will help me work with our students that English is not their first language. I can understand the struggles that they have and hopefully, as librarian, I can make their experiences easier and more rewarding. I have already seen a difference in how I relate to students from other countries and cultures. We have a new Spanish language electronic book collection and I am hoping that I will be able to assist students with this collection more effectively.
Dissemination: How will you share this information with your colleagues, department, students, or college?
I will use the skills that I have acquuired in the library helping students. We do not have a Spanish speaking faculty member or staff member and I hope that I will be more effective in that role.
For more information about this project, check out the "package" in the Maricopa Learning eXchange:
http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/mlx/slip.php?item=01845