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Jenny Slepian '01

Jenny Slepian

Jenny Slepian '01

Major(s): Geology, Environmental Studies

Employer: Student at University of Otago
Country of residence: New Zealand

What was your Spanish language-based experience upon graduation from Bowdoin?
I lived in Santiago de Chile for about 7 months, teaching English at Instituto Audio Visual Sam Marsalli. I also traveled around Chile and parts of Argentina.

What was your motivation for searching out a Spanish language-based
experience upon graduation from Bowdoin?
I really enjoyed my Spanish classes at Bowdoin that focused on Latin American culture, as well as some of the Latin American Studies classes that I took. I really wanted to be immersed in Spanish to become completely fluent, and living in South America seemed to be the best way. I did not go with a programme, just got onto a plane and figured it all out when I got there. Having to deal with phone companies, landlords and bus drivers is an EXCELLENT way to learn Spanish quickly!

What previous experiences prepared you for your experience?
I spent a semester abroad in Belize, which is not Spanish speaking, but prepared me for a lot of the cultural obstacles I might face. I also did my Certification in TESOL at SIT before leaving.

What methods, contacts, etc. did you use to arrange your experience?
None, really. I looked up the names of some language institutes, and read some reviews and comments on Dave’s ESL Café website, but that was all. I highly recommend that travelers to Chile get the book “How to Survive in the Chilean Jungle”. Chilean Spanish is messy, and that book helped me a lot.

Country in which you are currently residing:
New Zealand

Organization for which you are working:
Studying at University of Otago

Are you currently using your Spanish language skills?
Yes, I meet with a Chilean friend here once a week for Spanish conversation classes, which helps me to keep up with the language.

Did your experience influence your current and/or future career choice and job skills? If so, how?
I did use Spanish quite a lot at my last job, but not really anymore. I am studying Urban Planning, and I hope to use my Spanish in the future in consultation with Spanish speaking communities. Living in Chile did teach me a lot about independence as well as make me more confident about living abroad. It sounds strange as well, but having gone through the experience of learning Spanish has made it a lot easier for me to learn Maori in New Zealand. I’m also one of the few people around here who can communicate with NZ’s growing Hispanic communities, and I consider that to be a job skill!

Are you willing to be contacted by students who are interested to learn more about your experience?
Yes.

Story posted on September 21, 2005

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