Attached above I have a project from my Spanish 301 class. This class focused on dialects and pronunciation of Spanish around the world. In this project, my group and I needed to find background information about our region like the demographics and the geography. We then had to present information about the differences in pronunciation and dialect. We even gave examples of different slang words as well as attached a video of people from the Cuenca region speaking. I believe this experience combined with other experiences with dialects, helps me reach levels 3 and 4 of Communication. Communication level 3: “Demonstrates practice of target language competency outside of the classroom and demonstrates a deepening awareness of connections between language and culture and begins to articulate an understanding of them” and level 4: “Constructs a thoughtful summary about how learning about and analyzing connections between language and culture has informed one’s own worldview and the complicity of relationships between people from different cultures.” One of my very good friends from high school was from El Salvador. I was around her and her family speaking Spanish a lot and learned some different slang they use in El Salvador. I've realized that the use of slang in the Spanish language really helps identify where someone is from. There is some difference in the words my friend would use versus some of the slang I heard when I went to Mexico. In Mexico they use words like "güey" and in El Salvador they might use "chero" for "friend" or "mate". I think this shows how language can relate to someone’s identity because their use of words can give you an idea of where they are from. In this way, I process information differently when listening to others speak the language because sometimes certain words have different meanings depending on where the person is from. This happens in the United States as well. In certain parts of the country, people use different words for the same thing. For example, in the Midwest, many of us say “pop”, but on the east coast they say “soda” and some people in the south say “coke”. In this way, we can decipher where people are from and their culture by the words they use (Communication, level 3). While I was in Mexico, I practiced using Spanish with many of the locals. As an individual, language can help identify who you are. As I said before, different slang in either Spanish or English can help identify where you are from and what your identity is. As a group, language helps you to communicate with others and by learning a second language, it only increases the amount of people you are able to understand and communicate with. Globally, language is what helps make different places in the world different. Their languages in different countries can help us identify parts of their culture as well. For example, in Ecuador there are many different dialects depending on where you are. In Cuenca, many of the people have “sing-songy” speech whereas on the coast, many people speak very quickly and with a lot of slang. This is all because of the different indigenous groups and cultures that originated in that area. Learning about this has helped me to change my worldview into one that understands the complexity of how cultures influence the differences between not only countries but parts within countries (Communication, level 4). I hope to continue to learn the language of Spanish and the culture of Spanish speaking countries.