05.08.11
Teaching others about learning
It’s just around the corner. Only a couple of weeks, a few days even. Right after we come back from the Adventure Trip, as soon as we’ve come down a bit from that energy high of being away from home for five days with Talons, it’ll be there. In Depth is over, and it’s time to celebrate!
The In Depth celebration night marks the end of our study. But not the end of our learning. Many of us will continue to pursue hobbies and activities long after our five month project is over. I still sit on my couch and play my guitar, even if it doesn’t “count” for anything. It might not be a school assignment, but it’s something that I am passionate about, and something I will continue for my entire life. I hope that Spanish can be the same.
On In Depth night, it’s not about putting hours and hours of work into display boards and speeches, like with some other projects. In Depth night is about showing your progress. It’s about the process, not the product. Some students perform and present on the stage, others make learning centres and displays to show some of the work that they have been doing over the past five months. Of course, being a Talons event, the entire night is organized by students, so we are also in charge of the food, decorations, layout, entertainment, pictures, invitations, greeting guests, etc. My task this year was phoning program alumni to invite them to the event, so I am already done in that aspect.
For my learning centre though, I will need some way of presenting and displaying what I have been doing for In Depth. Although my In Depth study was learning a language, I want as little text as possible. I plan on having a display board, just a traditional three-fold science-fair-style board, but with lots and lots of pictures. I have hundreds of pictures from Cuba (and I’ll certainly be stealing some from some friends), as well as lots of souvenirs and suck for people to see. Everything from musical instruments to jewellery to artwork to toys, all a reflection of Cuban and Spanish culture. I will also have a couple of work samples and writing in Spanish from my course, but not too much, because although it is relevant, no one really has time to read everything you have written.
Also on my display board, I had thought of having a world map, with coloured pins indicating countries and area where Spanish is either commonly spoken, a primary national language, or a secondary national language, as one of the reasons learning Spanish was important to me is that I enjoy traveling, and it is an extremely common and versatile language.
Finally, I will be at my display, speaking and interacting with guests, explaining what I have been working on, and maybe even teaching a bit of Spanish.
I can’t wait for In Depth night! 
~Rebecca
