Student Reflection: Anthony Solis Introduces Himself and His Work in the Community

Anthony Solis is currently a student in "Oral Spanish." For his honors project, he is working in the community and blogging about his experiences, thoughts and learning. (My apologies to Anthony and the readers--he sent me his post with all the correct diacritical marks, and for some reason I couldn't get them on here. Sorry!)

by Anthony Solis

Me llamo Anthony Solis y esto es mi primer anyo en la universidad. He tomado clases de espanyol por cuatro anyos en la escuela secundaria. Mi concentracion es estadisticas y mis amigos me preguntan por que tomo mas clases de espanyol si no me ayudan a recibir el titulo. Primero, siempre es bueno "expandir la mente" y comunicarse con personas distintas de uno mismo. Pero, por que me sumerjo en el espanyol?

Todo empezo cuando era muy joven. Mi papa puede hablar bien el espanyol para la educacion que recibio cuando el fue estudiante en la escuela secundaria y yo siempre queria conversar con el en una "lengua secreta". No hablo' mucho espanyol en casa, pero cuando miro hacia atras, veo que hablabamos al menos un poco de espanyol en casa. Siempre he tenido ganas de hablar con fluidez pero es imposible si no tienes el entorno social. He aprendido que la lengua no es solamente una manera de hablar, pero es una manera de vivir. Los hispanohablantes con quienes he trabajado querian hablar en espanyol entre ellos pero conmigo, usualmente en ingles. Es posible que entre ellos querian guardar su cultura pero espero que solo sea mi falta de fluidez la causa de cambiar las conversaciones al ingles.

Me encanta trabajar para la comunidad. Con mi experiencia en ECIRMAC, voy a ayudar a la comunidad y tambien mejorar mis habilidades de hablar. Quiero tener oportunidades para hablar con gente que necesite que le hable en espanyol. Con la experiencia, espero tener mas confianza en empezar y continuar conversaciones en espanyol.

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