Expanding My Spanish Skills by Livia

Expanding My Spanish Skills by Livia - January 2022 Scholarship Essay

Setting foot in my Spanish I class sophomore year of high school was the best decision I have ever made. Little did I know that four semesters later, I would obtain my Missouri Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish. In the beginning of 2021 I was a junior taking Spanish IV. I knew most conjugations but was too nervous to talk to my teacher and classmates in fear of making a mistake. At the end of the semester, I had completed a presentation where I had to talk for over ten minutes in Spanish. This project was terrifying for me but once I aced it, I felt ready to communicate with anyone in Spanish. After then semester ended, my Spanish teacher resigned and now my class had to welcome a new teacher who knew nothing about our abilities and skill set.
First semester of my senior year presented the challenge of the highest level Spanish class I could take in high school, with a brand new teacher that I did not know. My teacher started off the year by saying, “Comete errores, así se aprende,” which translates to, “Make mistakes, this is how you learn.” After that sentence, we blazed ahead towards our goal of becoming bilingual. The ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL) was an assessment of my language ability formatted in a four component test. Over the course of a week I took Interpretive Listening, Interpretive Reading, Interpersonal Listening and Speaking, and Presentational Writing. Once my scores were reviewed and I passed all four components, I obtained my Seal of Biliteracy as an Intermediate and Advanced Spanish speaker.
Many kids in my environment do not know how to speak Spanish and when my school admitted a Colombian exchange student who mainly spoke Spanish, I was able to help her become comfortable by talking to her in her native language. My school asked me to shadow her since I was in Spanish V and passed my Missouri Seal of Biliteracy Exam. Not only have I become proficient in Spanish but I have also used this gift to communicate with people in my community.
To close out the year of 2021, I became more confident in the language of Spanish and I was able to use my skills in my community. I also obtained the Seal of Biliteracy, which will go on my high school diploma and has helped me with applying to scholarships. I decided I want to have a career in Spanish since it has been the only class in high school that I have enjoyed taking. I am currently enrolled at the University of Missouri for the 2022-2023 academic year and I am majoring in International Business and Spanish. I hope to be able to study abroad when I become an upperclassman to a Spanish speaking country so I can learn more about the language and culture. 2021 has been a year of academic growth that strengthened my skills and love for Spanish and has aided me towards a higher education for college.