Learning to Connect by Kaylin

Learning to Connect by Kaylin - August 2024 Scholarship Essay

Likely taking years to fully achieve, my next big educational goal is not transitory. Nor is it particularly rare considering about 20% of the US population has already achieved this feat. However, I believe that it is a worthwhile ambition both educationally and because of its social and pragmatic application. My next big educational objective is to become bilingual, particularly by furthering my Spanish.
There are multiple factors that play into my motivation to go beyond the compulsory foreign language courses in high school. First of all, I am a second generation American, meaning that my grandparents aren’t native English speakers. Learning the basics of my familial language gave me a greater understanding of the culture and background my grandparents come from, which influences the unique ways in which our family functions, not to mention giving me a specific connection to them that I could not experience any other way. While Spanish is not the language of my heritage, this encounter with foreign languages is a fundamental part of why I value this skill and why I enjoy it. Additionally, another piece of context as to the why of my goal is that I live in California, where Spanish is very commonplace and practical to learn. I have already experienced many situations where my limited conversational Spanish was advantageous and this skill will likely increase in its usefulness and demand. Therefore, because of the value I put on language acquisition and the usefulness of Spanish I am motivated to become fluent.
Now that I have established a what and a why the only, and maybe most challenging part left is the how. While I am currently listening to Spanish music, a somewhat valuable endeavor for language acquisition, only music will not get me to fluency. My plan is to use a combination of input and output to accomplish this goal. For example, starting my study off with a quick writing exercise followed by either reading or watching a video in Spanish, as well as conversing with some like minded peers in our target language and regularly listening to Spanish music or documentaries throughout the day would ensure that I am practicing all skills I need to improve. Making a daily habit out of exposure to and use of Spanish will develop my ability over time eventually leaving me a useful skill I enjoy and can use to connect with others.