CULTURAL INTERNALIZATION & LANGUAGE IMMERSION
Students demonstrate that they have actively immersed themselves in authentic Hispanic cultural and linguistic environments and have internalized the language and cultural experience, from which they have developed personal understanding and new perspectives of Hispanic communities.
Note: Students develop intercultural communication skills and strategies, and learn to adapt and respond in effective ways. This MLO may be fulfilled by a study abroad experience or equivalent. Courses taken in a study abroad program may count toward another MLO. Students who choose Pathway 2 will be working on a community project to fulfill this requirement.
Reflective Narrative
Under this MLO, I have completed the following courses: SPAN 495: Community Project.
Pathway 2: Community Project
In order to develop a personal understanding of Hispanic communities, I have actively immersed myself in language and cultural experiences such as completing the community project. Through SPAN 495, which I took during my last semester Spring 2022, I was able to explain and comprehend the purpose and significance of oral history and narratives and gain a deeper understanding of Hispanic cultural perspectives and experiences. For this course, I completed a written analysis and reflection of interviews, cultural narratives, and values. I selected the narratives The Memories of Ana Calderón by Graciela Limón and …And the Earth Did Not Devour Him by Tomás Rivera to analyze and interview two Hispanic women who have migrated to the USA in search of the American Dream. Common themes found were the Mexican American experience, hardships of migrant life, resilience and determination of migrant workers, and how religion and faith play important roles in family and community. The Memories of Ana Calderón is a novel that depicts the livelihood of a Mexican American immigrant who seeks self-fulfillment throughout her life journey. She is in pursuit of the American Dream, but runs into obstacles that are symbolic of the struggles many migrant families face in adjusting to a new culture. …And the Earth Did Not Devour Him is a novel of the Mexican American migrant community’s experiences with the themes of loss of innocence, questioning religious faith due to the state of the protagonist’s and family's well being, and resiliency from traumatic events. Both novels have the common theme of Latinx immigrants experiencing trauma to their psyche during and after the migration to the United States in pursuit of the American Dream. I wanted to highlight the psychological distress Latinx immigrants experience throughout their lifespan. Although these are fictional novels, they are correlated with real Latinx immigrants in our community. Hence correlating both works to the two interviews I completed. In both the interviews and the novels we see the importance of education in Latinx communities, adjusting to changes in a new generation, country, and culture, and reaching self fulfillment/ self actualization. After collecting all information, I completed a written analysis and reflection of the interviews, as well as cultural narratives and values reflected in these interviews titled “Amor, coraje y el autorrealización en narrativas culturales.”
From this experience, the most important thing I learned was how to actively listen to what was trying to be conveyed to me. I feel like my spirit is young, wild, and free and it was like the women I interviewed knew this, which is why I feel like they “spoke” to me. I learned other things too such as properly preparing for interviews, settings, and how to further expand on questions. I did not mention this on my paper but something my second interviewee said that will stay with me is “mis problemas se quedan afuera” (“my problems shall remain outside”) which I admire as I am the complete opposite. I carry my heart on my sleeve, which is not necessarily bad, but life does not wait on anyone which is why she emphasized phrases such as “seguir” (“continue”) and “adelante” (“forward”). I felt truly moved when she mentioned “Sueño Mexicano” (“Mexican Dream”) because I never really thought about the American Dream being anything else than what we are told growing up. The idea of the second interviewee’s “Sueño Mexicano” inspired me to realize my dreams too may change with time, which now moving forward I will pursue “Sueño Carolina” (Carolina’s Dream).
The community project emphasized the importance of documenting stories so we may pass on the knowledge to future generations. Not only knowledge, but also experiences throughout history. Interviews and storytelling allows us to feel and be moved by the “adventures” the storyteller may have had or even to fully understand the perspective someone came from. We may also use this to heal from generational trauma.
Assignments
SPAN 495: "Amor, coraje y el autorrealización en narrativas culturales"
Students demonstrate that they have actively immersed themselves in authentic Hispanic cultural and linguistic environments and have internalized the language and cultural experience, from which they have developed personal understanding and new perspectives of Hispanic communities.
Note: Students develop intercultural communication skills and strategies, and learn to adapt and respond in effective ways. This MLO may be fulfilled by a study abroad experience or equivalent. Courses taken in a study abroad program may count toward another MLO. Students who choose Pathway 2 will be working on a community project to fulfill this requirement.
Reflective Narrative
Under this MLO, I have completed the following courses: SPAN 495: Community Project.
Pathway 2: Community Project
In order to develop a personal understanding of Hispanic communities, I have actively immersed myself in language and cultural experiences such as completing the community project. Through SPAN 495, which I took during my last semester Spring 2022, I was able to explain and comprehend the purpose and significance of oral history and narratives and gain a deeper understanding of Hispanic cultural perspectives and experiences. For this course, I completed a written analysis and reflection of interviews, cultural narratives, and values. I selected the narratives The Memories of Ana Calderón by Graciela Limón and …And the Earth Did Not Devour Him by Tomás Rivera to analyze and interview two Hispanic women who have migrated to the USA in search of the American Dream. Common themes found were the Mexican American experience, hardships of migrant life, resilience and determination of migrant workers, and how religion and faith play important roles in family and community. The Memories of Ana Calderón is a novel that depicts the livelihood of a Mexican American immigrant who seeks self-fulfillment throughout her life journey. She is in pursuit of the American Dream, but runs into obstacles that are symbolic of the struggles many migrant families face in adjusting to a new culture. …And the Earth Did Not Devour Him is a novel of the Mexican American migrant community’s experiences with the themes of loss of innocence, questioning religious faith due to the state of the protagonist’s and family's well being, and resiliency from traumatic events. Both novels have the common theme of Latinx immigrants experiencing trauma to their psyche during and after the migration to the United States in pursuit of the American Dream. I wanted to highlight the psychological distress Latinx immigrants experience throughout their lifespan. Although these are fictional novels, they are correlated with real Latinx immigrants in our community. Hence correlating both works to the two interviews I completed. In both the interviews and the novels we see the importance of education in Latinx communities, adjusting to changes in a new generation, country, and culture, and reaching self fulfillment/ self actualization. After collecting all information, I completed a written analysis and reflection of the interviews, as well as cultural narratives and values reflected in these interviews titled “Amor, coraje y el autorrealización en narrativas culturales.”
From this experience, the most important thing I learned was how to actively listen to what was trying to be conveyed to me. I feel like my spirit is young, wild, and free and it was like the women I interviewed knew this, which is why I feel like they “spoke” to me. I learned other things too such as properly preparing for interviews, settings, and how to further expand on questions. I did not mention this on my paper but something my second interviewee said that will stay with me is “mis problemas se quedan afuera” (“my problems shall remain outside”) which I admire as I am the complete opposite. I carry my heart on my sleeve, which is not necessarily bad, but life does not wait on anyone which is why she emphasized phrases such as “seguir” (“continue”) and “adelante” (“forward”). I felt truly moved when she mentioned “Sueño Mexicano” (“Mexican Dream”) because I never really thought about the American Dream being anything else than what we are told growing up. The idea of the second interviewee’s “Sueño Mexicano” inspired me to realize my dreams too may change with time, which now moving forward I will pursue “Sueño Carolina” (Carolina’s Dream).
The community project emphasized the importance of documenting stories so we may pass on the knowledge to future generations. Not only knowledge, but also experiences throughout history. Interviews and storytelling allows us to feel and be moved by the “adventures” the storyteller may have had or even to fully understand the perspective someone came from. We may also use this to heal from generational trauma.
Assignments
SPAN 495: "Amor, coraje y el autorrealización en narrativas culturales"