Keywords
Study abroad, Spanish, Personal journey, Second Language Learning
Disciplines
Spanish and Portuguese Language and Literature
Mentor
Laura Fox
Abstract
The process of learning a second language is unique for each individual. Although learning a language is often recommended as a valuable skill to increase employment opportunities, there are many other benefits to the process of learning the language as well. This essay combines a personal journey through studying Spanish at Grand Valley State University and information from scholarly research. Included are the many skills and experiences gained from learning a second language including cultural understanding, interpersonal skills, and of course, language proficiency. Many of these skills and benefits of learning the language have stemmed from a summer study abroad in Chile. Overall, there is not just one benefit to learning a second language, but many gained from the process of learning the language itself. Even though studying Spanish may not directly lead to a career path, there are many important aspects gained from the process that can be applied after graduation.
ScholarWorks Citation
Kilian, Rebecca, "“How did I get here?”: My Personal Journey Through Learning Spanish" (2018). Honors Projects. 673.
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/honorsprojects/673
