With a large percentage of United States citizens coming from Spanish speaking countries, I decided a long time ago that I would dedicate myself to this language. Every time I have learned more Spanish, I have been able to speak to more people, in different situations.
Humble Beginnings
I first studied the language in high school, and after four years of language learning, I learned some extensive vocabulary, Spanish grammar, and proper pronunciation of the language. In the more recent past I have been given opportunities to use the language in both a business and volunteer type setting.
Spanish Doesn't Grow on Trees
The first opportunity I had to use Spanish outside of the classroom was while working for the Dollar Tree. It was one way that I decided to "exceed the customer's expectations". I had built upon the knowledge I gained through academic study, and was able to use some of that vocabulary to talk about the store. Over time I began to figure out words and phrases that I often said in English, but didn't know the Spanish translation. I researched these translations, and used a website called Quizlet to study them on my own time. Gradually I had learned to speak the language well within that particular retail setting.
For the Greater Good
While working at the Dollar Tree I was also an Ordinance Worker for the Draper Utah Latter Day Saint Temple. At this building, special activities, or "ordinances", are performed for patrons and a lot of it includes memorized dialogue. After memorizing two of these ordinances in English for the majority of patrons, I was asked to memorize one of them in Spanish. Unlike in the past, when I would learn the English to Spanish translation, I memorized the exact words and phrases, as if I were memorizing lines to a play. After several weeks of coming into my shift early and working with another temple worker to practice memorization, and proper pronunciation, I was finally able to perform this ordinance in Spanish and provide meaningful experience to temple patrons, who were more comfortable speaking Spanish than they were speaking English.
Free Samples
In my last job position, I used Spanish about once or twice a shift as a Sales Advisor at Club Demonstration Services. In order to improve my Spanish speaking abilities for this job, I first went back to my Quizlet page from when I worked at the Dollar Tree. Words and phrases such as aisle, to pay in cash, and return policy were a good start to remembering important Spanish phrases. Selling food items as a product demonstrator though, required an even greater ability on my part to communicate in Spanish. That's why I decided to save my product information sheets. These sheets, which are easy to throw away, contain a treasure trove of information about each product I sold, and formed a jumping off point for vocabulary that I need to know as a Product Demonstrator.
I have used Spanish many times in my life, and will continue to do so when given the chance. It's opened up opportunities to speak more clearly to some who don't understand English as well as others do. In the process, I make sure people can understand what needs to be understood, form stronger bonds with customers who know I can relate to them in this way, and make people smile even more.
I first studied the language in high school, and after four years of language learning, I learned some extensive vocabulary, Spanish grammar, and proper pronunciation of the language. In the more recent past I have been given opportunities to use the language in both a business and volunteer type setting.
Spanish Doesn't Grow on Trees
The first opportunity I had to use Spanish outside of the classroom was while working for the Dollar Tree. It was one way that I decided to "exceed the customer's expectations". I had built upon the knowledge I gained through academic study, and was able to use some of that vocabulary to talk about the store. Over time I began to figure out words and phrases that I often said in English, but didn't know the Spanish translation. I researched these translations, and used a website called Quizlet to study them on my own time. Gradually I had learned to speak the language well within that particular retail setting.
For the Greater Good
While working at the Dollar Tree I was also an Ordinance Worker for the Draper Utah Latter Day Saint Temple. At this building, special activities, or "ordinances", are performed for patrons and a lot of it includes memorized dialogue. After memorizing two of these ordinances in English for the majority of patrons, I was asked to memorize one of them in Spanish. Unlike in the past, when I would learn the English to Spanish translation, I memorized the exact words and phrases, as if I were memorizing lines to a play. After several weeks of coming into my shift early and working with another temple worker to practice memorization, and proper pronunciation, I was finally able to perform this ordinance in Spanish and provide meaningful experience to temple patrons, who were more comfortable speaking Spanish than they were speaking English.
Free Samples
In my last job position, I used Spanish about once or twice a shift as a Sales Advisor at Club Demonstration Services. In order to improve my Spanish speaking abilities for this job, I first went back to my Quizlet page from when I worked at the Dollar Tree. Words and phrases such as aisle, to pay in cash, and return policy were a good start to remembering important Spanish phrases. Selling food items as a product demonstrator though, required an even greater ability on my part to communicate in Spanish. That's why I decided to save my product information sheets. These sheets, which are easy to throw away, contain a treasure trove of information about each product I sold, and formed a jumping off point for vocabulary that I need to know as a Product Demonstrator.
I have used Spanish many times in my life, and will continue to do so when given the chance. It's opened up opportunities to speak more clearly to some who don't understand English as well as others do. In the process, I make sure people can understand what needs to be understood, form stronger bonds with customers who know I can relate to them in this way, and make people smile even more.