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Last term in Spanish - language B - we learnt about the theme of Experiences, which allowed our class to immerse ourselves in Spanish-speaking cultures and see how travel and tourism can impact these countries. This unit was very engaging and diverse from learning about niche but beautiful destinations like La Isla de Taquile (Island of Taquile) in Peru to researching turismofobia (anti tourism) in popular Spanish-speaking tourist destinations.
One of the most enjoyable aspects for me was discovering how diverse the cultures are among Spanish-speaking countries. For example, when learning about the Island of Taquile, I was educated massively on their gastronomy, peaceful community, and how welcoming they are to tourists. Did you know that their island has no police and only 3 laws: don’t lie, don’t steal, and don’t be idle? Moreover, it taught me how tourism can affect local communities both negatively and positively, which transitioned nicely into our learning about Anti Tourism (residents’ fear or rejection of tourists as a result of the impacts of tourism) in mainstream Spanish-speaking destinations like Madrid, the Canary Islands, Barcelona, and many more. This was thought-provoking because I could reflect on how we can make tourism more sustainable, especially with growing populations and the increasing impact of climate change globally.
Another entertaining aspect about last term was when my group had the opportunity to create a vlog about a very sustainable eco-tourism destination: Las Islas Galapagos. The experience was thrilling because we got to practice our Spanish speaking skills, learn more about improving travel sustainability, and spend time with friends simultaneously. It was an enjoyable learning experience and showed how much you can gain from learning and speaking Spanish.
This topic helped us develop essential language skills by not just improving our vocabulary but also our ability to recognise real-world issues, in Spanish, that go beyond the classroom. Through our fun debates in class, researching different articles and even making vlogs, my confidence in expressing opinions and comparing Spanish-speaking cultures has become much more enhanced.
Overall, in Language B Spanish, the idea of learning Spanish is beyond just learning the language alone. It allows you to become educated about different global perspectives and important issues, and this knowledge can be transferable across all of your subjects or even outside of school. Additionally, knowing Spanish is a useful, and fun, skill because you can use it to open new doors, communicate and form new connections around the world. It would also make travelling much more enjoyable! By learning about the theme of ‘Experiences’ last term, we saw how learning a language isn’t just about the grammar but also how it enables us to engage with the world meaningfully.
Anyssia Da Conceicao Abdula - Year 12 MFL Prefect
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