Reflections

By Kent Truckor – Guest blogger studying in Valencia, Spain

I have just concluded my fourth week of classes and 1/5 of my education here in Valencia Spain. I feel that I am learning more and more, or at least more and more is being thrown at me. Therefore, I figure if I can grasp a majority of what we are given, I will be doing well. I still find it difficult to comprehend what the Spanish people say. However, today I asked a woman where I could find a book for Catholic Mass in Spanish because I would like to comprehend what is going on in the mass. I am Catholic and mass has been a nice home base for me as I have settled in to Valencia. It is something from home, yet it is different because it is all in Spanish. Therefore I asked a woman from mass where I could find a missalete (the book for the mass) and I understood what she was talking about! This made me feel good about my progress because 4 weeks ago that would not have been the case.

I have been told that reading and watching movies are some of the best ways to learn a language and therefore I have been doing both in the last few weeks. I have made it a goal to read one short story a day and do the exercises that go along with it as well as watch one movie a day. So far so good, but I realize I have a long way to go when I watch the movies with Spanish subtitles, but everything takes work.

Today quite a few students from the school completed there stay here and are heading to their respective homes this weekend. It seems that many students come to the school for anywhere from 2 weeks to a month. I have found that the majority of universities in Europe require some sort of second language capability upon entering the school by examination. This is much more stringent than what we are currently doing in the United States. From my time here, I have learned that I am in the definite minority only having a single language capability. The only other students I have met who are like this are Americans.

One of the main reasons I came here was to change that very thing about me. Although I may never be fluent in the language, I am working hard to be able to effectively communicate in the language of Spanish.

Since I have been here, I have learned much about the language as well as about peoples from Spain and other parts of the world. I know that I would not have received this outlook had I stayed in the United States and entered the workforce or grad school directly. I think I have said this before, but I will say it again. I am glad that I made this journey on my own. Had I came with other people from home I would have been like the majority of people here who go to class but then speak their native language outside of class with their friends. I did not want to do that and although you can usually find an English speaking person. I think it is better that I have somewhat isolated my self from English in this regard.

I will continue to push forward and work on learning the language. It is an uphill battle, but that is ok. I like the culture and the area, as time progresses I learn more and more, whether I realize it or not. Hopefully I am learning quite a bit subconsciously . Take care and enjoy the weekend!!