"The Spanish courses I took were different than the general courses because they were hands-on. The professors paid attention to you and they would know you by your name. I was not just a number."
Major(s) and Certificate(s):Human Development and Family Studies, Spanish Language
Language(s): Spanish
Graduation Year: 2019
What motivated you to study this/these languages?
I grew up learning and speaking Spanish because my mom was born and raised in Mexico. However, I decided to study Spanish as an Undergraduate because I wanted to learn how to improve my Spanish skills grammatically. In addition, improve my writing skills in Spanish. I wanted to sharpen my Spanish skills for future job positions.
What do you remember about your UW language classes? How were they different from other classes you took?
When I attended my Spanish literature courses and Spanish language courses, I remember the classes being small but engaging. All of my professors loved teaching their courses. In my literature courses, I was introduced to several Spanish writers that I hold dear to my heart now. I got to take a Spanish Theater class with Professor Paola Hernandez and this class opened my eyes to the world of Theater. It was one of the best classes I took as an Undergraduate student. The Spanish courses I took were different than the general courses because they were hands-on. The professors paid attention to you and they would know you by your name. I was not just a number.
What have you done in a professional capacity since graduating from UW-Madison?
After I graduated from UW-Madison, I got a job working as a Support Specialist with i3 Education. They are an education payment processor software in the Education sector. I interact with school districts and parents all around the U.S. in English and in Spanish.
What are ways, either expected or unexpected, that your language study has benefited you in your career?
Within my job position, I interact with parents in school districts that do not speak English. I help communicate with parents who don’t know English, and help them create accounts with my company. Sometimes I reach out to school staff on their behalf so the parents can be assisted. The Spanish language plays an important role in my job and I feel honored that I can be helpful to parents.
How have you maintained or improved your language(s) since graduation?
Since graduation, I have maintained my language. I help parents and school districts on a day to day basis in Spanish at my job.
What advice do you have for students who are studying language(s) about how to incorporate their interests and skills into their future goals?
When I first started as an Undergraduate, I didn’t know what type of jobs I could obtain. I thought the only job I could apply for was to be a teacher or professor. But this is not true. You can apply to several jobs as a Spanish/language major. I work for a company in the technology field that focuses on helping families and school districts process online payments. My Spanish skills are needed in this type of job field. My advice would be to keep your job options open. Many companies are eager to hire people who know more than one language. Your language skills are always needed in any job field!