Club de Espanol offers students valuable language practice
Posted by The Skyliner on October 7th, 2009Rachel Ham
Staff Writer
The many clubs on the campus of North Greenville offer diversity and a chance for students to gain experience in the fields that they are diligently studying.
The Club de Español is no different. The club offers students a chance to practice their Spanish conversation skills and have fun learning more of the language with other students.
But students do not have to be Spanish majors to join the club. Students studying anything from business to mass communication are welcome to join.
This semester, Christina Bradford, senior history, is the president and Joanna Searcy, junior interdisciplinary studies, is the vice-president.
The Club de Español, which started in 2006, typically meets in the Averyt-Wood building in room 103. The club members plan to meet on the third Tuesday of each month from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Their first meeting was on Sept. 21 with meetings on Oct. 20 and Nov. 17 to follow.
At the Oct. 20 meeting, the club will be laying out plans for a Hispanic meal that will be served at the following meeting in November.
There are many ministry opportunities available to students who can speak Spanish. Taylors First Baptist Church in nearby Taylors holds a free clinic and needs assistance from Spanish speakers to help interpret for local Hispanic people when they come for medical attention.
Cherrydale Baptist Church in Greenville is also requesting the help of those who can converse in Spanish to help with its food ministry. The church holds its food ministry on Wednesday evenings.
Club members also have an additional opportunity to practice their Spanish by participating in the Tertulia at Einstein’s Bros. Bagels on Thursdays at 7 p.m. At the Tertulia, students have the chance to converse in Spanish at length.
In past semesters, international students and students whose families are missionaries in Spanish-speaking countries have participated in the club through panels. Club members were able to ask the panelists questions about growing up in various Hispanic cultures.
The club has also had the opportunity in the past to volunteer by tutoring Hispanic children in the community.
As of now, the club is small, but with more publicity, the members hope that the club will grow and be able to gain more participation from the student body.
Professors Diaz and Deal are the primary faculty advisors for the club. Professors Prieto, Walker and Warren have also attended and assisted in the past.
This Club de Español is an excellent way for students that can speak any level of Spanish to come and practice with fellow students and faculty. Even though the club has already starting meeting this semester, anyone is still welcome to come and join.
Tags: Fall 2009, Vol. 109 - Issue 5