SPAN 301s: Service Learning in the Latino Community
Course descriptionThis course is part of your Spanish language learning experience, and offers you the opportunity to interact in a personal way with members of the local Latino community, thereby enriching your understanding of Hispanic cultures and the Spanish language. As a community-based learning experience, the course provides students with career-related experience working collaboratively with community agencies to address community concerns / issues.
Service Learning in the Latino Community is a requirement to complete my basic requirement. I have taken this class with Dr. Orioste in Fall 2017. In class, I had learned about Chicano literature and I had analyzed some poems where it helped me to understand what the authors wanted to say in their Chicano literature. Also, I was connected with the class because I could identify with some poems and short stories. On the other hand, In the service-learning class, I had to do 30 community hours where I had to develop my Spanish skills. I had done my community hours in Soledad High School, and my Adviser was Manuela Jimenez. I was helping students whose were newcomers in English, history, math classes; I was translating to the students and explain them what they did not understand. I was so happy to help them because years on the back I was like them. This class helps me a lot because I had to take responsibilities like to be on time, be respectful, be professional in the place when I was doing my service. Also, I have learned more about different ethnic groups and everyone have different ideas, beliefs, and culture that should be respected. To conclude, the community service helped me a lot to relate more to the students community. It also helped me look at a perspective for professional work.