Angela B.

Majors: Life Sciences Communication and Spanish (BS); Life Sciences Communication (MS)

Languages: Spanish, Portuguese

Graduation Year: 2017 (BS), 2023 (MS)

What motivated you to study these languages?

I grew up speaking Spanish with my mom and grandparents and loved furthering my cultural and historic knowledge, as well as my grammar and reading skills in Spanish. I was able to get many Spanish retro credits as a freshman and knew I wanted to continue taking Spanish classes, especially with all of the different classes that UW-Madison offered. As I kept taking classes, I realized I wanted to double major in Spanish! During my master’s studies, I studied Portuguese since it’s a Romance language with similarities to Spanish and also the second most widely spoken language in South America. I believe knowing Spanish and Portuguese will help me communicate health information to many communities and also enrich my personal life.

What do you remember about your UW language classes? How were they different from other classes you took?

They were so fun and rewarding! I would look forward to my language classes. My language classes were smaller than big lecture hall classes which allowed us to get to know each other better and have fun learning the material. My language professors were some of the best professors I had at UW-Madison. They were passionate about the course topic and wanted us all to succeed and learn. Language classes were very interactive and usually involved discussion, group projects, and papers. We would learn about past historical events, but also discuss current events and how they all intertwined.

How valuable were your out-of-class experiences? How did they add to your undergraduate experience/coursework?

My senior year, I was involved in BRIDGE (Building Relationships in Diverse Global Environments). The program matched incoming international students with U.S. students in a buddy system aimed at bridging cultures. BRIDGE was so much fun! I was able to meet friends from all over the world and help them acclimate to life in Madison, while they also shared about life in their country. They would share their food, traditions, and language with us. I was able to speak Spanish with them and talk about my classes with them. I even met my husband through BRIDGE! Some of the best college memories I have are because of the BRIDGE program.

What have you done in a professional capacity since graduating from UW-Madison?

After graduating with my BS in 2017, I interned at the Walt Disney Company and then worked at an engineering and architectural company as a Senior Marketing Coordinator focusing on marketing and communications.

In 2021, I went back to UW-Madison to complete a Master’s Degree in Life Sciences Communication with a focus on health communication. I was a Foreign Language & Area Studies (FLAS) fellow for two years studying Portuguese while completing my graduate degree. I currently work at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services as a Public Health Educator-Advanced where I provide communication and education expertise regarding communicable disease surveillance, prevention, and outbreak response for the state of Wisconsin.

What are ways, either expected or unexpected, that your language study has benefited you in your career?

I have found that languages open many doors and opportunities! I was able to obtain my master’s degree and graduate debt-free by studying Portuguese and combining it with my desire to study health communication in other countries around the world. Knowing more than one language is incredibly beneficial, especially in a professional setting. Most employers prefer a candidate who is bilingual and it often gives you a “leg up” when applying for positions. You can bring invaluable cultural and language knowledge to a role and it often helps many people as a result. Additionally, many employers may give you a higher salary for knowing a second language.

In my current position, I use my Spanish knowledge to create health communication materials for Spanish-speaking Wisconsinites and aid with media interviews conducted in Spanish. It’s so important to reduce language barriers, especially with health communication materials, to ensure Spanish speaking communities understand information related to their health and improve access to care.

How have you maintained or improved your languages since graduation?

I continue talking to my family in Spanish and using Spanish in my current job. I regularly travel to countries that speak Spanish and Portugal and use these opportunities to continue practicing my language skills. I am an avid listener of Spanish music like cumbia, salsa, and modern artists like Bad Bunny, J. Balvin, Karol G, and many others. I enjoy listening to Portuguese music as well. I try to read and listen to videos in both languages to continue that language immersion. I am raising my young children bilingual and regularly speak Spanish to them at home.

What advice do you have for students who are studying languages about how to incorporate their interests and skills into their future goals?

Find career paths that interest you and think of ways that languages can be incorporated and enhance your path. Seek opportunities to practice your skills, like attending a conversation table or joining a student org. Network and talk to professors or others who have the role that you would like- it’s a great way to figure out if you like it and how to get to where you want to be in the future.

Also, enjoy learning the language! Even if you never use the language again, learning a second (or third) language has so much personal enrichment (and cognitive and mental health benefits too) that you will enjoy for the rest of your life.