What is my idea of Latin America at the start of the course? What are my learning goals associated with LAS 101?
At the start of Intro to Latin American Studies my previous knowledge was that Latin American countries spoke other languages, mainly Spanish. In high school when I took Pre – AICE Spanish, my teacher taught me about Latin American countries such as Mexico along with its history, cultures, and heritage. We hosted a Hispanic Heritage Fair every year in the library to help educate other students who did not have the same cultural backgrounds. They were taught about different traditions as well as given food samples.
In addition, my family is from the Dominican Republic and I enjoyed the thought of joining Latin American Studies 101 because it would discipline me about my roots. Also, how the Dominican Republic gained its independence and how my ancestors struggled to survive. It would be a great honor to hold knowledge about Latin American countries because I continuously surround myself with Latinos, which can become a topic of conversation. To be honest, I find it disappointing on my behalf that I love talking about how beautiful my country is and always encourage others to visit it, but I have never known enough about its past. Through this course, I hope to gain more awareness and appreciation of the beauty of the Dominican Republic and other countries.
Furthermore, my learning goals associated with LAS 101 are to understand the history of distinct nations and to educate others about it. Another goal is to converse with my family about what I have learned and even inform them about facts they did not know. I would like to have the privilege of speaking to others about this course and having the confidence to teach them. Moreover, learning about the diversity within Latin American countries will help me in the future because I will connect with the people who enter my life and it will enhance my perception.
To end, I can’t wait to see what I learn in this class and how it will open my perspective on Latin America and how its past has influenced people today. It is hard to find Latinx people in a predominately white institution, therefore, being educated on this subject will help me connect with other people even if we come from different backgrounds.
Hello Vianka,
I greatly enjoyed reading about your expectations for Latin American Studies after all of our conversations in class! I have very different connections to Latin America in my own experiences, but I can relate to your focus on the Spanish speaking countries of the region. I would love to talk about your experience with the Dominican Republic one day, and I am excited that you are approaching this class with an open mind and a desire to learn about new countries! I am similarly excited to expand my knowledge. I look forward to having nice conversations as your next-seat neighbor soon.
Hey Vianka!
I thought your post was really interesting because I too grew up surrounded by the Latin community and still know little about the region. My goal is to learn more about the region as a whole, but also the Dominican Republic. I traveled to the country on a mission trip where we brought clean water and sanitation to a small village. While there, I learned so much about the culture and language. However, I think it is vital to understand the country’s history in order to form a deeper connection to it. I would love to talk to you about the Dominican Republic and the Latin American region in general!
Heyy!
Reading your post was definitely interesting as we share many of the same goals, especially when it comes to having that confidence of knowing our cultural roots and sharing it with others. We share the same experience of appreciation but not knowing enough about our past. I believe that sharing cultural information and gaining that awareness, especially when it comes to our families who may lack such knowledge, opens up an opportunity to grow our identity. I look forward to expanding our knowledge about Latin America together!