I was raised in a multicultural home where Spanish was the main language used in the house and English was reserved for the outside world. Growing up in this environment, my listening, writing, and reading skills developed rapidly. Unfortunately, because I was raised in the United States and became “Americanized”, I lost my Spanish and instead relied heavily on English, forcing my Spanish speaking abilities to become limited. I came to Fountain Valley hoping to bring back that part of myself and found this class, AP Spanish Language and Culture. By taking this class, I felt more confident in my speaking abilities and learned about the history of some truly incredible Spanish-speaking countries. This class, unlike other Spanish classes, pushes students to learn about different aspect of Hispanic culture, such as the merits of traditional medical practices, family values and traditions, and the overlap of science and technology in the Global South. Not one lick of English was spoken throughout the class, and we relied on each other and on the teacher to give us input on how to improve our Spanish and become immersed in a wonderful culture.
My world view was changed completely by this class. I became more culturally aware and learned about the astonishing history of my parent's country and others. My favorite moments in class were when we had debates in which we had to talk consistently in Spanish. We learned to embrace the Spanish language and the different cultures that come along with it. Since taking this class, I have become more interested in learning about the history of other countries, not just of the U.S. This class has not only taught me to be more open to other cultures and their accepted norms but allowed me to become better in my Spanish speaking abilities.