Language Competence

When I started studying Spanish in high school, it was easily my most challenging subject. I remember how hard it was just to get through a short conversation. I often struggled to express myself, and even simple listening exams felt overwhelming. For a while, I honestly believed I would stop studying Spanish after I graduated. But something shifted. As I began to connect with Spanish speakers and learn about their cultures, I saw how much language could open doors to real relationships and experiences. That changed everything for me. I didn’t want to walk away from the language, I wanted to step deeper into it.

In college, Spanish became something very different from what it was in high school. It turned into a space of joy and curiosity for me. Instead of dreading it, I started looking forward to my Spanish classes as a kind of rest from my other coursework. There’s something about the rhythm and challenge of communicating in Spanish that just clicked. I started to love the feeling of finally finding the right word or phrasing a sentence that felt natural. Eventually, Spanish became the subject where I felt most like myself. Now I can talk for hours in Spanish with friends, and in some conversations, I even feel more articulate in Spanish than in English. People often tell me that my Spanish sounds “native”, and while I know that compliment is sometimes offered generously to anyone who makes an effort, I’ve worked hard to earn that kind of fluency, and it’s meaningful to hear.

The ACTFL tests reflect that growth. I scored Advanced Mid in both reading and writing, and Advanced Low in speaking and listening. These results mirror how I’ve developed over time. I’ve always leaned toward grammar and structure, so reading and writing came more naturally to me, especially with the foundation I built in high school. Writing in Spanish gives me the chance to slow down, organize my thoughts, and express myself with clarity. Reading, too, has become a comfortable and rewarding part of my Spanish experience. I enjoy seeing how meaning is constructed through vocabulary and syntax in ways that differ from English. Speaking and listening have taken more time. Listening, in particular, was always a challenge, and even now I have to focus more closely, especially in fast-paced or informal conversations. But I’ve come a long way. I no longer panic during listening tasks, and I can stay engaged in spontaneous conversations without losing the thread.

As I graduate, I’m very aware of how much I’m going to miss regular Spanish interaction. It’s something I’ve grown to love, and I don’t want to lose that connection. One of my main goals is to find ways to keep using Spanish meaningfully. Wherever I move for grad school, I plan to seek out local service opportunities with Spanish-speaking communities. I hope to volunteer at least three hours each week in roles that allow me to speak and listen in Spanish, whether that’s tutoring, translating, or simply being present in spaces where Spanish is spoken. I also want to build in regular listening practice. One goal I’ve set is to listen to the news in Spanish for at least an hour a week. It’s a manageable commitment, but one that will keep my ear tuned and help me maintain vocabulary depth.

More than anything, I want to keep Spanish as an active part of my life. It’s not just something I studied, it’s something that changed how I see people, how I communicate, and how I want to engage with the world moving forward. My language competence has grown immensely, and that growth has been one of the most meaningful parts of my education.