Reflection

Thanks to my enrollment in a dual language immersion program as a youth, I have been speaking and listening to Spanish for more than a decade. Additionally, I gained a sure, foundational understanding of the mechanics of Spanish, including grammar, punctuation, syntax, etc. Later on, while serving a proselyting mission for my church, I was able to engage in the one practice that I think is most necessary to learn another language: full immersion. For two years I learned new phrases, heard new things, and developed my accent in Guatemala. My time at BYU has only served to solidify or improve upon each of these different metrics.

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I think what BYU has contributed to most in terms of my language competence has been the variety of new skills BYU classes have taught me. In grade school and the mission, my main focus was learning how to understand, speak, and write about a very narrow range of topics. With my second major, I have broadened the horizons of topics quite a bit. In my short time here, I have written papers and given presentations on a huge range of topics, such as border politics, Spanish linguistics, cooking recipes, Latin American history, Spanish literature, personal narratives, news and entertainment, and so many more.

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I’ve also been able to hone certain skills that I formerly let slip. In grade school I had done several writing assignments in Spanish, but after graduating High School I didn’t write in Spanish hardly at all. The writing classes I took for my Spanish second major greatly amplified my ability to write persuasively and powerfully. The ability to write well in Spanish will be incredibly useful in my future profession, so I am very grateful for the amazing skills I’ve learned and for the practice I’ve gotten. I also consume a lot more Spanish literature than ever before. Thanks to some great professors, I have developed a deep love and appreciation for Latin American poetry and short stories.

 

Lastly, I have to give thanks to BYU for the huge array of opportunities it has given me for expanding my awareness of the world of Spanish and the Spanish speaking world. Through forums, classes, and the people therein, I have gained insights into Latin America and Spain that I would never have had on my own. My appreciation for Spanish and Latin American culture has grown more than I ever thought possible.  

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All the skills I have developed at BYU will be incredibly useful for my future. As an immigration lawyer dealing with asylum cases, I will be much more compassionate and understanding thanks to my general understanding of the sociopolitical difficulties faced by various Latin American countries. Having learned of the historical and economic difficulties these countries face, I will be better prepared to present my clients’ cases to an immigration judge. My improved writing ability will help me reach my intended clientele and foster effective communication with them.

 

I hope to write down stories of clients whose cases I win and share those stories on my business page in both English and Spanish. That way, people in the U.S. (both members of the Latin American immigrant community and English speaking Americans) can appreciate the hardships that immigrants face. Lastly, my enhanced speaking ability will help me to speak reassuringly to my clients in moments of hardship and uncertainty. Immigrants on trial for asylum are in an incredibly stressful predicament, not knowing if they will be welcomed here or deported back to the horrors of their native country. In summary, I owe BYU a lot, and I will be sure to put these skills to good use by serving the immigrant community.