Learning Context Matters: Communication Strategy Development through Spanish Interaction

University studies in the Spanish language are often times confined to the classroom. However, more and more programs have been implementing civic engagement in the Hispanic community into the curriculum to create a service-learning experience. This study sought to determine the effectiveness of service-learning in enhancing communication techniques. Twenty undergraduate students at the University of Kentucky were surveyed at the onset and the conclusion of one semester while simultaneously serving the Hispanic community. The students, on average, increased the frequency of communication techniques after a semester of service-learning. Students who participate in a service-learning program often times see a result of more natural conversations due to these communication techniques. Therefore, programs, such as the one implemented, are very important in the curriculum of Spanish language studies to improve students’ overall communication with native speakers