Ben Van Der Kar
¿Qué pasa?
Me llamo Ben Van Der Kar and this is my portfolio which serves to electronically demonstrate my involvement as a Spanish major in the World Languages and Cultures department here at CSU Monterey Bay. Within this portfolio can be found a description of the Major Learning Outcomes of being a Spanish major with explanations as to how I have satisfied these MLOs as well as which courses and coursework have helped me to do so. Other contents include: a narrative on my decision to major in Spanish and my experience having done so, a description of my study abroad experience, and a summary of my service learning experience.
Integrative Personal Narrative
For me, the decision to go for a major in Spanish came for several primary reasons. Firstly, having grown up amidst avocado, lemon, and cherimoya orchards, I have been assisting my uncle, the ranch manager of the family orchards, for the past few summers. Often times my duties involve working amongst and overseeing the work of the dozen or so full-time helpers employed by the family business. Being that most of these ranch-hands were born in the Guanajuato region of Mexico, none of them speak much English. From the first time I started going out into the orchards to help with their tasks, I disliked the language barrier for how it made me feel awkward and prevented me from communicating as freely as I would’ve liked to. It was through such times that I came to realize the personal importance of overcoming the language barrier so as to enable a more level playing field between myself and those with whom I work.
Secondly, because during the fall semester of 2011, I studied abroad in Argentina and Chile with high hopes of returning nearly fluent in the Spanish language. While my comprehension and comfort with the language did increase exponentially through this experience, I did not come home satisfied with my level of fluency. This served as the catalyst to solidify the decision to major in Spanish, as a way to ensure that I would not leave behind the skills gained from my experiences in studying the Spanish language.
Through this major, I have gained an appreciation for the Spanish language and the cultures that practice it, but furthermore have I gained a deeper understanding and appreciation for languages of every sort across the globe. Through the different courses in this major, whether they emphasized Hispanic culture, literature, or linguistics, I have become more aware of the complexities and countless happenings over time that have shaped the languages that we learn and study in the present. It is all too easy to take for granted the words that we use and the way that we use them. Thanks to the professors I have had and the things they have taught, my perception of the Spanish language is much more well-rounded and inclusive of the historical importances that have taken place to bring the language to its current state.
Just as traveling or studying abroad offers a view of a whole new world, my experience as a Spanish major here at CSUMB has allowed me glimpses through windows of many different cultures, ideas, and perspectives. In SBS 343, a class on the culture and civilization of the Mayan people, I was excited to learn about the agricultural practices utilized as well as the importance of maíz and cacao in the culture. In SPAN 313, an introductory course to Spanish linguistics, I came to a much more full understanding of the intricacies of the Spanish language and its many variations. And in SPAN 304, an introduction to Hispanic literature, I was taught, by a true Spaniard, much about the origins of the Spanish language.
For my investment in this program and all that I gained because of it, I am proud. For all of the professors, advisors, and peers who have contributed to the well-being of my experience as a Spanish major at CSUMB, I am filled with gratitude.
Me llamo Ben Van Der Kar and this is my portfolio which serves to electronically demonstrate my involvement as a Spanish major in the World Languages and Cultures department here at CSU Monterey Bay. Within this portfolio can be found a description of the Major Learning Outcomes of being a Spanish major with explanations as to how I have satisfied these MLOs as well as which courses and coursework have helped me to do so. Other contents include: a narrative on my decision to major in Spanish and my experience having done so, a description of my study abroad experience, and a summary of my service learning experience.
Integrative Personal Narrative
For me, the decision to go for a major in Spanish came for several primary reasons. Firstly, having grown up amidst avocado, lemon, and cherimoya orchards, I have been assisting my uncle, the ranch manager of the family orchards, for the past few summers. Often times my duties involve working amongst and overseeing the work of the dozen or so full-time helpers employed by the family business. Being that most of these ranch-hands were born in the Guanajuato region of Mexico, none of them speak much English. From the first time I started going out into the orchards to help with their tasks, I disliked the language barrier for how it made me feel awkward and prevented me from communicating as freely as I would’ve liked to. It was through such times that I came to realize the personal importance of overcoming the language barrier so as to enable a more level playing field between myself and those with whom I work.
Secondly, because during the fall semester of 2011, I studied abroad in Argentina and Chile with high hopes of returning nearly fluent in the Spanish language. While my comprehension and comfort with the language did increase exponentially through this experience, I did not come home satisfied with my level of fluency. This served as the catalyst to solidify the decision to major in Spanish, as a way to ensure that I would not leave behind the skills gained from my experiences in studying the Spanish language.
Through this major, I have gained an appreciation for the Spanish language and the cultures that practice it, but furthermore have I gained a deeper understanding and appreciation for languages of every sort across the globe. Through the different courses in this major, whether they emphasized Hispanic culture, literature, or linguistics, I have become more aware of the complexities and countless happenings over time that have shaped the languages that we learn and study in the present. It is all too easy to take for granted the words that we use and the way that we use them. Thanks to the professors I have had and the things they have taught, my perception of the Spanish language is much more well-rounded and inclusive of the historical importances that have taken place to bring the language to its current state.
Just as traveling or studying abroad offers a view of a whole new world, my experience as a Spanish major here at CSUMB has allowed me glimpses through windows of many different cultures, ideas, and perspectives. In SBS 343, a class on the culture and civilization of the Mayan people, I was excited to learn about the agricultural practices utilized as well as the importance of maíz and cacao in the culture. In SPAN 313, an introductory course to Spanish linguistics, I came to a much more full understanding of the intricacies of the Spanish language and its many variations. And in SPAN 304, an introduction to Hispanic literature, I was taught, by a true Spaniard, much about the origins of the Spanish language.
For my investment in this program and all that I gained because of it, I am proud. For all of the professors, advisors, and peers who have contributed to the well-being of my experience as a Spanish major at CSUMB, I am filled with gratitude.
