In conclusion...

I am incredibly happy to have taken this class because it has challenged my thought process in a very important way. I've always been of the opinion that in any human relationship, all parties bear equal responsibility for the remedy of conflicts that may arise in that relationship. After reading the barrage of articles concerning the relationship that Spanish speakers have had with the American Academy, I was/am convinced that there are certainly a number of conflicts that exist between this demographic and the Academy. Some are particular to Spanish speakers and some of those dynamics are farther reaching, affecting multiple demographics. The common theme that we see in the published literature is a proposed change in the policy at a given university, or in the methodology of a certain discipline. What I would invite us all to do as both Spanish speakers and, as grad students, full fledged members of the academic world is to consider what both parties to this conflict can do to aid its resolution. How can we work together in cooperation with the academy to effect some of the positive changes we would like to see. As I read for this class, I was overcome by the realization that these articles aren't news stories about things that happened beyond my control. They can be that, but they are also documentation of real life phonomena that are occurring at this university and at others around the country. They are each a call to action, to some degree. This class, at least the prescribed readings, challenged me to critically approach my experience at the University both as teacher and student, and to see the conflicts that are pointed out to me from an empowered perspective that gives me both the ability and the responsibility to do something about them.

Buena suerte con lo que resta del semestre.