Mary Jessie Floor

April 26, 2017

Spanish 1020-006

Reflection Paper

The world is changing faster than ever before. It is becoming more advanced each day.

Our world is also expanding, especially in the work field. Companies are globally extending

themselves, demanding new employees to have the capability of being bilingual. Not only for

employment opportunities does learning a second language become an asset but for everyday life

as well. Research has shown that learning a second language has immense benefits on cognitive

ability but most importantly, it allows people to develop deep connections and cross-cultural

friendships.

Participating in a language course has now often become a requirement in elementary schools,

middle schools, and high schools. This prepares young students for the changing, modern world

today. It will help them succeed in their future endeavors and obtain more job opportunities.

There have been proven studies linking foreign language study to high academic performance.

Those who studied Latin, French, German, or Spanish in high school may be expected to

perform better academically in college than students of equal academic ability who would not

take a foreign language(The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages).

Finally, Learning a new language also makes you a better listener as you are used to having to

interpret meaning and judge nuances(Eton Institute). This beholds true for myself as I have

become more aware of my communication skills and more appreciative of the world.
 I initially enrolled in a Spanish language course at Salt Lake Community College to

enhance my learning skills and to make myself more versatile for preparation into the workforce.

However, with the experience I had coming to class each day, I gained so much more than I

could have ever imagined.

The most valuable and important aspect I learned from taking this course was to love

others. By learning about different cultures, I gained an appreciation for everyone in this world.

It was an incredible experience for me when I could reach out to a native-Spanish speaker and

begin a conversation with them, thanks to this course. From that conversation I had, I was able to

build a meaningful and lasting connection with them.

It took me for surprise that I could communicate with new people and it makes me more

and more excited to continue my learning of the Spanish language. That is the most important

element of learning a different language from your own. There is nothing that can compare to

meeting new people you never thought you could connect with. If everyone could learn a second

language, there would be more happiness in the world. There would be more people saved, more

people comforted, more people putting smiles on others faces, and more friendships than ever.

I am very grateful that I had the opportunity to participate in this Spanish course as it relates to

my life in its entirety. It made me realize my capabilities I never knew existed, it has helped me

educate others around me, and has shown me new perspectives of viewing the world.
 Works Cited

"ACTFL." What the Research Shows | American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.
N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2017.

Wiley, P. D. (1985). High school foreign language study and college academic performance.
Classical Outlook, 62(2), 33-36. Web. 26 Apr. 2017.

"Eton Institute Lists Top 10 Benefits Of Learning A New Language." Eton Institute. N.p., 16
Mar. 2017. Web. 26 Apr. 2017.