|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conference Summary
XXI Conference in Spanish in the U.S.
March 15-18, 2007, Arlington, VA
Kelly Lowther
PhD Candidate
Second Language Acquisition and Teaching GIDP
I would like to begin by first thanking the Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs Advisory Council for awarding me the Herbert E. Carter Travel Award so that I could attend the XXI Spanish in the U.S. Conference this March at George Mason University. Without this financial support, I would not have been able to attend the conference and, thus, I would not have been able to present my paper titled “Language Socialization Practices: Transmitting Values and Building a Bond in a Mexican American Family” or attend the interesting talks and presentations of papers presented by other graduate students and faculty in my field. I am very appreciative of having been given the opportunity to gain from all this valuable experience had to offer.
Overall, my experience at the Spanish in the U.S. Conference has positively contributed to my academic and future professional career in a variety of ways. First, from a practical perspective, by attending this conference I was able to practice and improve my presentation skills. Being able to give a successful presentation before colleagues in my field is an important skill that will serve me for the duration of my career as a scholar. From the initial steps in preparing my presentation to delivering the final product and responding to comments and questions about my research from my colleagues in the audience, I feel I have learned a great deal. And, on a personal level, I have gained more confidence that will assist me in giving future presentations on my research.
Most importantly, this experience has allowed me to receive invaluable feedback and obtain important insights about my research from those in my field. From the comments and questions I received after giving my presentation, I learned the strengths and weaknesses of my project and also was given direction on how I can further develop my research on this topic. It was very reassuring to know how important my colleagues think my research is, a fact that will inspire me to continue work on this critical issue of language development.
Finally, the Herbert E. Carter Travel Award enabled me to learn more about research on Spanish in the U.S., an increasingly important facet of language research in general as the U.S. experiences critical demographic and political changes that directly impact language ideologies and use of Spanish. At this conference, I heard talks about studies that I could relate to my own, such as Dr. Luis Moll’s ethnographic research on a bilingual school in Tucson, in which I could compare and contrast my own research questions, methodology and findings. Listening to the various talks has increased my knowledge of Spanish language use and will greatly assist me in my dissertation research.
The new perspectives I have gained on my field as well as the practical experience I have obtained from my attendance to the XXI Spanish in the U. S. Conference together make this experience an unforgettable one that will continue to influence my research and professional career. I cannot express the extent of my gratitude for having been given this wonderful opportunity and having gained further knowledge and insight into my research field and the situation and characteristics of Spanish in the U.S.
|
|
