Student Testimonials

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Liam Thompson, Class of 2020

"My first semester at TCU, I was not a Spanish major, and in fact, I had not declared a Spanish minor either. However, as I began to take classes with the department of Spanish and Hispanic Studies, I was encouraged by the great professors and classes to take the plunge and become a Spanish major, and this is when I truly began learning. In class, I learned and developed my Spanish greatly, and when I studied abroad in Granada, I found I was able to communicate with Spanish speakers comfortably. In addition, the experience of learning Spanish fostered a love of languages that has grown to include Japanese and Korean with which I hope to begin working as a translator after graduation."

 

Grace Martin, Class of 2021

"I chose to major in Spanish because I believe it can allow me to be as competent and effective as possible in my future job as a Social Worker. My goal in this career is to be able to help as many people as possible, while also creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for the future population I will work with in my field. I have learned more in depth about the culture differences within each Spanish-speaking country and how it is important to recognize these differences. I was lucky enough to study abroad in Spain and live with a host family outside of Madrid. Through this experience I was truly immersed within their culture and it gave me a greater appreciation for this language and motivates me to keep expanding my knowledge of Spanish as a whole. In the future, I hope to work with the elderly population and be able to work with more people without having a language barrier. Not everyone who lives in the United States should be expected to speak English and I hope my ability to speak Spanish will allow them more comfort and ability to feel welcomed in our society. "

 

Megan Bettencourt, Class of 2021

"I decided to study Spanish because I have desired to speak another language since I was very young, and I could not imagine being more excited to study anything other than the Spanish language and culture. In this major, I have learned so much about both Spain and Latin America. I have a deeper understanding of the unique cultures of each Hispanic country and the way that they have impacted the rest of the world. I know now about Brazilian quilombos, Spanish telenovelas, Argentinian gauchos, Mexican narcocorridos, and Latin American magical realism in profond ways that have impacted my perception of the world. After graduation, I want to pursue a career as a high school Spanish teacher, and I feel that the Spanish department at TCU has equipped me well to pass on my passion for this language and my knowledge of its people and cultures to future generations."