I was first exposed to Spanish at a young age through my grandmother and her family, who immigrated to the United States from Venezuela when she was a child.  While it was not spoken at home, my limited exposure to the language made me curious to learn more.  I began by taking after-school classes in elementary school, followed by seven years of full-time study in middle and high school.

Continuing on with additional Spanish courses at the University of Pittsburgh,  I have come to value the knowledge of a second language and how it can help in connecting with other people.  From tutoring ESL high schoolers in both Pittsburgh and Washington, DC to being abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina, I have seen firsthand just how the acquisition of a foreign language connects all of us on both a local and global level.

Additionally, my knowledge of the language has proven beneficial in related courses studying art, politics, and culture in Latin America; I believe that knowing a foreign language makes one much more able to critically engage with cultural works.  While my years of studying Spanish have not always been easy, I cannot overstate how much learning the language has shaped both my academic and personal life.

Spanish 0020: Conversation

Spanish 0025: Grammar and Composition

Spanish 1055: Intro to Hispanic Literature 1

Spanish 1250: Hispanic Civilizations

Spanish 1404: Latin American Topics

Spanish 1439: Queer Mexico