Integrative Narrative
Upon completion of all Major Learning Outcome’s I would like to reflect on my experience. Major Learning Outcome 1: Language Proficiency and Knowledge, I believe started the very first day I chose to enroll in the school of World Languages and Cultures. I feel this way because; the goal of this Learning Outcome is to help students acquire high Proficiency and Knowledge of the Spanish Language. This was achieved through an immersion in a Spanish taught classroom, in which students were required to communicate in the target language helping them refine their communicating abilities. Major Learning Outcome 2: Language and Linguistic Knowledge, was instrumental in understanding the development of the Spanish language throughout the years. This MLO also helped students with understanding the importance of the phonetic structure and its role in spoken language. Upon fulfillment of this MLO I believe students had a better understanding for how the language works and how it is a living language in that it is an evolving language always subject to change. Major Learning Outcome 3: Literary and Cultural Knowledge, the importance of this Outcome was great throughout my studies; in several of the courses that I took I was exposed to information that I wouldn’t have had the privilege to have been exposed to if not for the courses that this MLO required. This MLO stressed the importance of understanding the cultures behind the Spanish language; it also immersed students in learning about the importance of literature in the history of Spanish speaking countries. Major Learning Outcome 4: Secondary Cultural Knowledge was an important MLO when it comes to diversifying and broadening a student’s horizons. This MLO required students to broaden their field of study by requiring them to take a completely foreign secondary culture course, which allowed them to understand other cultures other than a Spanish speaking culture. Major Learning Outcome 5: Cultural Praxis (Cultural Internalization and Language Immersion), this MLO required that the student further immerse themselves into the culture, either by studying abroad or immersing themselves into a Spanish speaking environment for an elongated time span. I feel like I have completed this MLO throughout the entirety of my life, and have placed a great deal of emphasis on further immersing myself into the culture and language through my completion of all the MLO’s mentioned. Major Learning Outcome 6: Information Technology Literacy has allowed me to refine my research abilities contributing to my success on my Capstone project. This MLO placed an emphasis on research and information which contributed heavily to the understanding of proper research techniques. After completion of the Major Learning Outcome’s mentioned above, I feel like I have achieved a greater understanding for written and oral communications in the Spanish language. I first chose this Major because I felt like I needed to learn more about my heritage. After graduating High School I realized that I knew very little about the Spanish culture, all I really knew was how to speak the language. After this realization I decided I wanted to properly learn of the history and how to properly write in Spanish, this is why I chose Culture as my emphasis. I feel like my Service Learning Course provided me with useful information for understanding how to deal with Spanish speaking people. It also allowed me to interact with people from the community, allowing me to build long lasting relationships. My senior Capstone Project has been a pleasant experience and has allowed me to grow intellectually and personably. Through successful completion of the project I have learned to adapt and become efficient, although a difficult task, the project has taught me the importance of information and research. Throughout this major I have learned an array of useful information that has allowed me to understand many of the rituals and practices that the Spanish speaking culture has. My initial goal was to learn proper language and writing skills which I believe I have achieved through successful completion of this Major. I would like to further develop my skills in communication and writing, although I am extremely satisfied with the knowledge I have gained these last two years. The skills gained during my stay at CSUMB will definitely be of assistance to my in the future, for I endeavor a career in law enforcement. I believe that my abilities to communicate effectively in two languages will behoove the trajectory of my future endeavors.