My First Exam

By Kent Truckor - Guest blogger studying in Valencia, Spain I just completed my first exam for level one at the school. I think it went fairly well. It wasn't the slam dunk that I was hoping for but none the less I am happy with the performance. What I was most happy with was the conversation section. This makes me happy because this is why I have come here - top be able to converse with people who speak Spanish. Granted it was not on the level of how conversations go outside of school - a little slower speaking and more topics that are general. However, I understood everything that she was saying to me and was able to converse with her for 10 minutes or so fluidly. I am very happy with this. The other parts of the test included: reading, listening, grammar, and writing. I am pretty happy with how these parts went as well however, grammar through me a couple curve balls that I wasn't expecting. Either way, one hurdle down and on to the next. If all goes to plan I should have the ability to complete four levels of classes while I am here. That would put me at the conclusion of B2, a very good place to be. The levels that proceed from what I have heard are for mastery of the language and I figure I have the rest of my life to do that - of which I am pretty confident it will take :) It is interesting for me now to think about where I am now and where I was when I first came here. My first day here I did not understand much at all and now I feel like I have made great leaps forward. There are times when I am listening to Pepe that I don't feel as if he is speaking a foreign language anymore which is a cool feeling. Then there are times when I don't know what the heck he is saying, haha. I am happy with the progress made so far and look forward to learning more tools to use with the language so that I am able to converse more effectively with others. This weekend, which is almost here - the weeks are cruising at this point we might try to hit a festival in a small pueblo near Valencia. Many pueblos this time of year are holding festivals and I hope to make a few before the summer is over. One festival that I don't want to miss is the tomato fight held at the end of august. I have yet to figure out where it is, but I want to partake in this event with a passion. I figure it is something I can tell my grandkids :)