Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s Foreign Language program recently had a cultural project.
For the second time in the course Spanish 1114, taught by Dr. Francisco Martinez, professor of Spanish, and Dr. Claudia Young, assistant professor of Spanish, students were able to participate in the cultural project.
“The idea was to create awareness about a Spanish speaking country to celebrate Columbus Day and as a fundraiser for Dr. Dorothy Day’s Spanish Scholarship fund,” Martinez said.
Martinez explained that students were given instructions and rubrics to help their research after they picked their country.
“Along the semester, we planned to have four or five activities so that they could attend the ones according to their schedule,” Martinez said. “We have had a presenter, karaoke, a movie forum, Columbus Day and we are planning another movie before the end of the semester.”
First place and the recipients of the $20 prize for their poster design and research were juniors Brody Nichols, business accounting major from Seiling, and Abbie Haskins, psychology major from Nash. The first place duo’s country of choice was Republica de Guatemala. Second place, with a prize amount of $15, was freshman Nathan Weatherly, agriculture major from El Paso, Texas; and sophomore Matt Bickford, business major from Braintree, Massachusetts, for their country of Cuba. Third place and a $10 prize went to junior Erin Norrie from Enid, who is majoring in nursing and chose Argentina as her country.
“The Spanish students were motivated doing research about another country different from theirs,” Martinez said. “They learned about it, and they liked it a lot.”