¡Hola a todos!
Here at Wellesley the academic experience includes learning a foreign language. This is because of Wellesley’s dedication to preparing students to demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English. Learning a foreign language has been equally the most challenging and amazing experience as I entered into something new and learnt so much!
This year, I’m learning Spanish, and it’s been a real adventure! As part of the Spanish course, we’re required to attend three cultural or academic events hosted by the Spanish Department. I attended a Spanish lecture, exploring 1900 Spanish Literature, the Latinx Culture Show, and weekly Spanish Table on Wednesday in Tower Court cafeteria. At the Spanish Table, you sit with a peer tutor and practice having casual conversations solo en espanol. This is how I built my confidence in speaking Spanish, and it’s just a fun way to make new friends like Pilar, the Spanish peer tutor de Espana!
Picture of me and Pilar at lunch in Bates Hall
In my Spanish classes, we explore everything from Latin American traditions to social issues affecting countries. It’s more than just vocabulary—it’s learning about understanding people and their history.
Wellesley offers a wide range of languages, such as French, Korean, Russian, Arabic, and many more. Whether you’re continuing a language you studied before or starting from scratch, there’s space for you. The languages department creates an encouraging classroom environment, and there are many language immersive opportunities from movie nights to studying abroad in countries where the language is spoken with Wellesley financial aid traveling with you. I’ll dive deeper into study abroad options another time. Until then, I’ll “just keep practicing” (Dory’s voice), maybe I’ll be bilingual by the time I graduate!
Hasta luego,
Rachel Blake ‘28