Kristin Hargrove

Intermediate Spanish 1
Reflection
12/08/2015

Portfolio Reflection

The intermediate Spanish course at Salt Lake Community College requires a thesis and
presentation on a cultural aspect in Hispanic heritage. The assignment challenges a student in
many ways. For me, it was a personal testament to the progress I have made over the semester.
I chose to do my project on Antoni Gaudi, a Spanish architect most famous for his
magnum opus, La Sagrada Familia. My objective was to demonstrate the connections of nature
and the Christian message Gaudi was famous for delivering through his architecture. The essay
helped me further develop my writing skills in Spanish. I constructively used notes from the
book to have an array of different tenses. The writing of the paper made me very conscious of
gender and plural agreement. I also challenged myself to write the first draft on my own before
it was edited by a tutor. Writing it alone was a sign of growth, it was having the trust and
confidence that I understand what I am doing. And it was a pleasant surprise when the draft was
edited by a tutor. There were a few mistakes, but I know I have progressed because I understood
why they were corrected without needing an explanation.
The oral presentation was a verbal affirmation of my progression in the course. Writing
formally in Spanish and speaking it are separate. The oral part helped me craft my presenting
skills. I created a dialogue that was congruent and easy to follow for the audience. I feel my
performance showcased the annunciation and animation I have achieved. Presenting in Spanish
is important to me because it helps presenting seem less daunting. If I can do it Spanish, I can
certainly do it in English.
This assignment has pushed me closer to academic achievement at SLCC. I have
developed other skills that can be applied to other classes. It has refined my skills to gather and
organize information into a logical thesis. It has taught me to use the resources around me more
efficiently. I am more comfortable with using PowerPoint for visual presentations. It is a
program I am still learning to maximize and incorporating it with my project helped this. All
these experiences are applicable to other classes and situations. I have grown more confident,
proficient, and overall advanced as a student throughout the semester.