Right now, I’m in the heart of the mountainous cloud forest of the Tropical Andes in a small ecotourism town called Mindo, Ecuador. What’s crazy is that if you had told freshly graduated-from-high-school Kaitlin that I would be working a five-week internship fully in Spanish in Ecuador, I would have probably said, “A, I can’t speak Spanish, and B, where exactly is Ecuador on a map?”
When I started at The University of Texas at Austin, I thought nothing of the language requirement held by the College of Liberal Arts. I’d finish the Spanish sequence and move on — simple. What actually happened was that I became hooked. I loved the puzzle-like thrill of figuring out grammar, learning new vocabulary, and the excitement of saying something in another language and another person understanding me.
Language learning has been an integral part of my academic journey at UT, pushing me to switch majors to international relations, pick up the Spanish minor and Spanish business certificate, study abroad in Spain last summer, and now to intern in Ecuador.
While I was initially a little nervous about applying to the Global Career Launch internship program in Mindo due to the “proficient” Spanish requirement, I wanted to take the leap from classes to real-world application. I’m thankful I did, and this experience on my Spanish journey has illuminated four impactful lessons that might resonate with you on your own language journey.
Deeper Connections
Communication is such a key element of connection. During my time here in Mindo, I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know my host family better, and it has added a whole new level to my experience abroad.
Because I can speak decent Spanish, I’ve been able to have real conversations at the dinner table, asking my host parents their opinions on tourism in the area or asking about what their dream jobs were as children. I’ve been taught to sew a scrunchie by their younger daughter and helped out at a food truck owned by their older daughter.
On the academic front, a big part of my internship with ACUS Choco Andino Sur — Mindo, a conservation organization, has been conducting interviews with key actors in the town on the topic of water contamination. I’ve gotten to chat with really intelligent, knowledgeable people from the tourism, government, and business sides of Mindo.
Of course, my understanding skills aren’t always perfect, but Spanish helped me see past the idea that Mindo was solely a paradise of ecotourism; it has real issues that need help solving.
Estoy embarazada… I mean, avergonzada!
One of the scariest things, especially if you’re someone who likes to write, speak, or joke around like me, is not being able to express yourself smoothly. With a new language, you’re going to stumble, forget words, and mix up sentence structure. What Spanish has taught me is that messing up is not that serious.
There is nothing wrong with asking for a word or clarification, and nobody is just waiting to point out that you used the preterite tense instead of the imperfect. A humble attitude and the ability to laugh off mistakes have truly helped me, even in other parts of life. Let the uncomfortable feeling of expressing yourself imperfectly encourage you that you are growing!
Patiently Watching Your Skills Grow
And grow you will! The amazing thing about studying abroad is that you’re in the perfect setting for your skills to really thrive. Chances are you’re surrounded by the language and will actually be somewhat expected to attempt it. By the end of your stay, you may not be fluent, but little things will add up.
Maybe you pick up on some phrases that sound more natural, like “Me pone…” in place of “Puedo tener…” when you’re ordering food, or new slang in the area you’re in. For me, being able to tell stories in Spanish that make my host family laugh at dinner has been a treat, and I’ve learned some Ecuadorian/Quichua words like “ñaña/ñaño” and “la yapa.”
Keeping a mini vlog account has also been fun for me, as it has allowed me to continue developing my storytelling skills while simultaneously compiling a memory log of my travels.
A Whole New Set of Adventures
You can just explore so much when you can speak the language, to any capacity. I was able to haggle with merchants (well… more like they haggled with me because I’m a softie) in the city of Otavalo, where there’s a market for artisanal Indigenous goods.
I’ve gotten to learn about Historic Quito through multiple tours. It has warmed my heart to see the other girls in my group of interns, all of whom are of Mexican descent, share their favorite songs and humor in Spanish when they might typically use English. It’s not that I couldn’t have done these things without Spanish, but the added nuance of being an active participant has added an incredible level of significance.
All this to say, my Spanish skills aren’t at the level of a World Cup commentator, but I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity UT Austin has given me to be able to explore a world that was outside of my bubble. Whether in classes on campus or opportunities abroad, an immensely meaningful skill has been fostered, and its effects have introduced me to new ways of life, ideas, and memories.
So, as you head to your study abroad and feel inclined to learn a different language, I hope you realize that your efforts to learn have truly opened a wonderful door of self-exploration and community.
This blog was contributed by Kaitlin Hicks, Global Ambassador for Summer 2026. Kaitlin is a College of Liberal Arts senior participating in a Global Career Launch internship with Asociación Biodiversidad Ecuador, ACUS Chocó Andino Sur, and Mindo Ananaw Nature Hostel in Mindo, Ecuador.
