1. Have you learned more than you had expected in this course? I started the class with a solid ability to use verbs, but only in the present tense. I had already punched through the natural resistance to speaking in class and making my mistakes loudly so that I could get them corrected. I knew the course was going to be intensive, but I was astonished at the amount of material we covered. It was like trying to drink from a fire hose.
2. Did you prepare effectively for class (completed the Connect assignments, read the lesson contents before class, go to office hours)? I always reviewed the materials and did the “Connect” assignments before class. I tried going to office hours but I felt my presence was disruptive, so I didn’t go back. I felt I would be too intrusive if I tried to go to the “language tables” at the dining halls, so I visited a tutor about once every two weeks for conversation and to discuss my longer written pieces like the compositions and the carpeta virtual.
3. How did you find the exams (e.g. challenging, interesting, fair, etc.)? Exams were my weakest area of performance. They were useful for forcing me to memorize vocabulary, but I was much more comfortable with other kinds of assessments that allowed me to take more time and make corrections. The exams definitely forced me to use material we had covered recently in class. My exam grades correlated with the amount of time I spent preparing.
4. How did you find the compositions (e.g. challenging, useful, relevant, etc.)? It was a big surprise to find that a Spanish class would force me to learn WordPress. I enjoyed writing the compositions for my carpeta virtual, and found to my astonishment that I enjoyed working on the web pages. I liked the way the second written composition forced me to use past tense (a big challenge for me).
5. Did the “Connect” assignments really help you? The “Connect” assignments definitely helped me. I needed to hear the words used in context instead of just reading them in the book. There was no way for our class discussions to use all the vocabulary and grammar in each chapter, so it was useful to have the online exercises to reinforce the material.
6. Based on your performance throughout the semester and on everything that you have experienced in this course (e.g. in-class activities, homework, etc.), how much has your Spanish improved? Ironically, I was more comfortable speaking in class at the beginning of the semester, unafraid of making my mistakes loudly and getting them corrected. I became aware that I was dominating the class too much, so I tried to speak less. Then, of course, we started roaring through so much new material, I couldn’t begin to practice enough, using all the vocabulary and grammar. In terms of reading and writing, I would say that my Spanish has improved 500%.
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