Interpersonal Speaking
Intermediate Spanish 2, Spring 2018
Extra credit assignment, conversation prompt from textbook
This video comes from my first Spanish class at Drake. I have included this video to demonstrate where I started in interpersonal speaking. At this time, I felt uncomfortable and lacked confidence while speaking Spanish in any situation, which is evidenced by the fact that I have clearly prepared this conversation before recording it. I also notice in these clips how there is no introduction. I jump right into the conversation, which I have since learned is not a good practice. I also feel how this conversation seems forced and unnatural, which is something that I have worked on and that has improved with experience and increased confidence in my skills.
A clear turning point for me in my speaking skills was in the difference of my speaking before and after I went to Spain. The following clip from a TalkAbroad conversation the semester after I studied in Spain shows how my confidence and fluency improved.
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Practical Speaking and Writing, Fall 2018
TalkAbroad- Conversation with Native Spanish Speaker
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This is a conversation with a woman from Nicaragua through TalkAbroad. The conversation centered around the use of social media in Nicaragua and was used to write a paper at the end off the course. Although my conjugations, subject verb agreement, etc. are not perfect in this excerpt from my TalkAbroad conversation, this clip shows growth in my comfort level speaking. I am letting myself make mistakes and just letting the conversation flow. It is clear in my tone and in my fluency that I have progressed from the last example. It is interesting to see how I was able to communicate my ideas without perfectly pronouncing every word or using the correct word in some cases.
Latin American Women of Influence, Spring 2020
TalkAbroad- Conversation with Native Spanish Speaker
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This is a conversation with a woman from Ecuador through TalkAbroad. I have included this artifact as the most recent sample of my interpersonal speaking skills. This excerpt from the conversation demonstrates improved fluency and my ability to communicate in an informal setting about a complex topic, women's rights. I think that this artifact shows significant growth from the previous clip, which has a lot to do with taking more Spanish courses and simply getting more speaking practice in class and in travel situations. In my reflection on my experience doing this TalkAbroad exercise, I realized that this was the first time I went into a TalkAbroad conversation without being nervous. This is a testament to how my courses and challenging myself to speak more have had a positive impact on my comfort and fluency in speaking.