I am currently attending the University of Alaska, Fairbanks and with spanish as one of my many classes I have become very annoyed. In highschool I took french, as well as in grade school and Kingergarden. I love languages because they are fun, learning new food, and culture.Even though many also have a downside to learning the cultures. In my spanish class we read, sing, chant espanol for three hours a week with hours of outside study work.
We recent had a retired UAF professor come to our class and talk about El Salvador and this village that he basically has kept alive with the help of the fairbanks community. Note that this man will not ask for donations but will break a heart with his stories and slideshow of the last 10 years in this little village of about 110 people. This is just the final straw for my espanol however, because I do not like the doomsday approach to anything. I even avoid news shows unless its the ones on Comedy Central because our country and other around us are suffering whether its self inflicted or government, poverty. Its everywhere and I understand this and I still donate a dollar or two when I can and at church on Sundays. I don't feel like my teacher was forcing it into my face but no more poor spanish children.
I am going to continue my education in language on French because instead of learning about the poverty stricken mountain people of El Salvador I will learn about different breads, win's, and art of paris, France.
I hope I am no offending anyone but we all know how many problems the world faces in the food department, standard living, or education. I do not like to feel like I have to learn more about it when it makes me never want to visit anywhere in mexico or el salvador because of the poverty stores I have heard, If you are learning the language wouldn't you want to teach about the good things that these countries have to offer, beautiful scenery, maybe local foodmarkets, art.
What do you think?
I don't think it's right that your Spanish teacher use his time in class to satisfy his own agenda at all.
There are several different Spanish-speaking countries, more than any other in the world. Each with avery rich and unique culture that I think you might enjoy.
Like it or not, Spanish is a widely used and understood language; many businesses are beginning to implement Spanish-speaking skills and courtesies (if they haven't already), so from a professional standpoint, I think it would be beneficial to learn at least the basics of the language.
However, you have to go with what you're comfortable. I had a very hard time learning French after learning Spanish (I could never get that "lazy tongue" quite right).
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"Dream as though you'll live forever, but live as though there's no tomorrow" --James Dean
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/fanaile-essence
Your commentary should be directed at the teacher of this class and not the Spanish language, or Hispanic culture.
Latin America has a rich history of art and delicious examples of cuisine.
It was the fault of your professor not to emphasize these aspects of Hispanic culture and is not related to a lacking of such characteristics.
Spanish culture DOES have a lot of cuisine and exquisities. That being said, there IS a lof of poverty in a lot of spanish speaking countries. There are many different types of spanish cultures because there are so many different spanish speaking countries. Studying wines is great and all but all that is really going to do is make a bunch of upperclass vinyard owners sit back in more expensive suits.
The first issue here is that it was NOT your teacher that was telling you these stories, it was a guest speaker who was telling of HIS experiences. In my opinion, this is a learning tool. Having someone come in who has experienced different types of spanish culture helps students learn just what is happening in ALL types of culture. He didn't ask for donations because he probably wasn't looking for money. Not ever sob story is bait to get money. It was most likely to raise awareness of the things that are happening around the world. Military especially, sees things that the general public doesn't normally see, and it is important in any situation to have people aware of what is going on. That's what people are supposed to do, help each other. If you're not aware of what's going on than you can't do anything to help and this doesn't necessarily mean giving money to them. Raising awareness is a way to get donations but there are also other benefits such as getting the government involved, or prayer for those of us that are religious. People who tell these stories in schools know that they won't get donations, at least not directly, because its not legal to get money during school.
It is GREAT and very important to learn about the good things that spanish culture has to offer but it is also important to learn about the problems. This is true with any culture and the reason why American History shows us our sometimes huge mistakes as well as our accomplishments.
All that being said, the "it's going to happen everywhere no matter what" kind of attitude is something that really needs to change in the world. If we were having a heart attack we wouldn't tell our doctor's not to worry about us because it's a common problem in America. We would want them to help us, to save our lives. That's the same thing that these "poor" spanish kids want (I say "poor" loosely because many of them live much richer and exquisite lives with nothing than we do with everything). They want our concern, they want our help. They want people to care about them and to help keep them alive.
And now these three remain: Faith, Hope and Love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13
so is poverty an element of hispanic culture that should be taught in a class, i assume, is about the spanish language?
I hate to break it to you put the world isn't all roses and fairytales. They have poverty everywhere. They have poverty in Africa, but I'd still like to vist someday to...I don't know help people. if you want to read about their food and attractions buy a tourbook.
My point it everyday I have to deal with drunk people, and cold long winters and depressing pissed off town. I have no friends here I don't want to get even more depressed listening to this guy about someone else's depressing life. I would like to see some of the better things in life. the happy things take away from all the crap going on in the world
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I just took a placement test for french and qualified for 16 credits of classes I don't have to take!! yay!! I think I'll be going on a trip one semester.. if I can save enough for it
:O)
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It is good to tame the mind, which is difficult to hold in and flighty, rushing wherever it wishes; a tamed mind brings happiness-Buddha