"My advice is to pursue a language that speaks to you, not just because it seems trendy or strategic."
Major(s) and Certificate(s): International Studies and Communication Arts
Language(s): Spanish
Graduation Year: 2018, 2019
What motivated you to study this/these languages?
I chose Spanish because I wanted to gain fluency in the language I’ve been learning since high school. I loved how Spanish was something that would be useful to me in the US as well as abroad. I also liked that Spanish is the official language of 20 countries, which means there are plenty of places I can travel in the world and use my Spanish abilities.
What do you remember about your UW language classes? How were they different from other classes you took?
The classes were interesting because they put you in a position where bravery and vulnerability were needed in order to be successful! I feel like I got to know the students in language classes a lot better than my non-language classes just because of the way conversation and writings about ourselves and our opinions are incorporated into the experience.
There was certainly value to these courses! They were the first step in giving me confidence to do a language immersive study abroad experience in Madrid. I found my instructors to be patient and kind and helped reinforce the good feeling I had about continuing to pursue the language.
What have you done in a professional capacity since graduating from UW-Madison?
I’ve worked mostly in international education roles since graduating from UW. I currently advise students with international interests who pursue intermediate and advanced level languages, so having gone through the experience myself helps me better to relate to students going through the language learning process.
What are ways, either expected or unexpected, that your language study has benefited you in your career?
I think language study has helped me gain confidence! Language learning is a really vulnerable and sometimes even embarrassing process. You have to learn how to laugh at yourself when minor mistakes happen and keep pushing through. It also taught me a lot about perseverance and how to stick to a goal! I wanted to study abroad for a year in Madrid and I feel proud of myself looking back at the milestones I’ve accomplished while using another language!
How have you maintained or improved your language(s) since graduation?
I try to keep in touch with the native Spanish speakers I know from abroad and communicate with them as often as I can. I also am an avid film/tv show watcher and reader, so I try to seek out media in Spanish as often as I can. There’s lot of language exchange opportunities in Madison or virtually that I can tap into whenever I want a refresher!
What advice do you have for students who are studying language(s) about how to incorporate their interests and skills into their future goals?
Think hard about what your goals are for learning a language. My advice is to pursue a language that speaks to you, not just because it seems trendy or strategic. You’re going to do better in learning the language if you have a passion to learn it. Learn a language because you’re a heritage speaker or because you’re really into the films and music of that country, or because you find that country’s history interesting! If you’re only learning a language only because you think it’s what other people want from your skillset, it might not be the most satisfying experience. Also, look into the Foreign Language & Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship! It’s a great way to get federal funding for school once you’ve reached the intermediate level of a less commonly taught language.