Aero: Stephanie Strassner – Costa Rica 2013 – My Expectations
Costa Rica 2013: My Expectations
Aero: Stephanie Strassner – Costa Rica 2013 – My Expectations
Stephanie Strassner
This January I am going to Costa Rica to fulfill my Spanish field period. When I came across this opportunity to study abroad, versus observing in another classroom, I jumped at it immediately. Not that I would not learn from an experience in a Spanish classroom in a school, I would. However, when I think about my past Spanish studies, where I am now and where I would like to find myself, I do not know that observing in a classroom would allow me the opportunities and experiences to really grow, learn, and expand my knowledge of Spanish culture and language.
I fell in love with all things regarding Spanish when I joined the Spanish club in third grade. When I started studying it in middle school it was one of my favorite classes. I studied it throughout high school and continued here at Keuka. I have sat in classrooms and learned about the language. I have practiced having conversations, reading, and writing. I have also taken culture classes. All of these components compile into an important knowledge base for someone who is passionate and seeks to become fluent in both the Spanish language and culture. However, there is only so much learning and experiencing that can take place in a classroom. The next step is having the opportunity to fully immerse oneself in a Spanish environment, to have the ability to explore the lifestyle, the language and cultural happenings.
This is what Costa Rica is to me, an amazing opportunity to fully immerse myself and finally take everything I have been learning and practicing for so many years and apply it in real life. It is one thing to study about the typical Spanish lifestyle and compare it to your own, it is another to actually live it and have that first-hand experience. By staying with a host family I will be able to truly immerse myself in their life style and grow from it. It is one thing to have a conversation in Spanish with classmates, it is another to trust your knowledge and have a conversation with a native Spanish speaker.
Having the opportunity to go to Costa Rica will allow me to expand my knowledge about both the Spanish language and culture. I hope to make connections that will last beyond just this experience that I can look to as both friends and teachers in the future. This journey is allowing me to step outside my comfort zone and perhaps learn things about myself that I did not know. I hope to return from my trip with the ability to be more fluent in the language and bring home the culture and lifestyle to share with others.
I am beyond excited for this experience and fully intend to make the most of it and take in as much as I can; the food, culture, environment, language, people, and all that Costa Rica has to offer!
– Stephanie Strassner
The LEAF Project
www.leaflanguages.org
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