Spanish Individualized Minor

Drake University
Greg Biagi

OBJECTIVES FOR MINOR

 To grow as a Spanish speaker and listener
 To further my understanding of Latin American and Hispanic cultures
 To be exposed to and immersed in a Spanish-speaking culture
 To grow in understanding the grammar and more vocab + speaking mechanics in
Spanish

COURSES
SPAN 140: Practical Speaking and Writing Seminar
EDUC 199: Cuba: Stewardship + Socialism
SPAN 150: Creative Writing
HIST 125: Colonial Latin America
(SPAN 150: Contemporary Latin American Culture)
SPAN 150: Latin American Women of Influence
WLC 148: Intercultural Communication
SPAN 152: Spanish Language and Culture Through Film

STATEMENT
Throughout my time here at Drake I think I have certainly grown in understanding the Spanish
language, and have met each of my desired goals. Although I had a large hiatus in taking
Spanish classes due to allocating my attention class-wise elsewhere, I think in the end I
formulated a genuine grasp of the language. Taking AP Spanish in high school, all classes
continued my growth as a speaker and listener. In particular, the class I took abroad in Cuba
really helped how I used the language as well as hearing native speakers speak helped how I
absorbed information from my surroundings. The history class I took helped in understanding
Central America, and the historical foundations of its peoples. This class assisted in some other
classes that I took at Drake, in particular SPAN 150: Latin American Women of Influence and
SPAN 150: Cont. Latin American Culture. The latter, however, I ended up needing to drop due
to time constraints, anxiety, and a difference in understanding regarding teaching style
between the professor and I. The class Intercultural Communication assisted in understanding
how cultures may interact, which applies also to Spanish speaking cultures and peoples. This
especially applies in the context of indigenous peoples, where this semester I researched
indigenous women in Ecuador as well as women leaders. Regardless, the classes I took at Drake
assisted incredibly in how I attained all my goals for Spanish, and I am still excited for what may
be to come. Lastly, I would highlight once again the January term I studied abroad in Cuba,
which reawakened my passion in the language, and made me want to achieve this minor.

Based off of the above analysis, I would say I have certainly grown as a Spanish speaker, reader,
writer, and listener. For speaking, the real way to grow stems from practice. Having taken so
many classes and being immersed in a Spanish speaking culture, I would say I have adequately
grown. Now I am able to retrieve words and produce them better than I ever have before,
especially looking back to before my arrival at Drake. With speaking, it goes hand in hand with
listening. Majority of the way by which we speak depends on responding to another person,
and that entails listening. Since I began my search of a Spanish minor, I have certainly become
more relaxed in understanding my professors and peers. As for reading and writing, they also
go hand in hand. It’s intriguing as well since I believe I am a good reader but a very poor writer.
Writing is quite difficult for many Spanish students, but after the repetition of Spanish
assignments I find that I have certainly gotten better. With a high school Spanish reading and
writing level I think Drake helped immensely in formulating a structure for reading and writing
Spanish.