Kalyssa Nelson, a student from Fargo, North Dakota, shared her experiences and aspirations as a Spanish Education major at Valley City State University in an April 8 profile. Nelson is set to graduate in 2029 and is currently involved with the university’s Spanish club.
Nelson said she was drawn to study Spanish because it was her favorite subject in high school and came naturally to her. She explained that teaching offers an opportunity to share not only the language but also the cultures of those who speak it. “I decided to go into education because I think the best thing you can do with a language is teach it to other people, so that they too can learn both the language and the cultures of the people who speak it,” Nelson said.
She chose Valley City State University for its smaller campus size and unique architectural character. “I really liked the smaller campus and class sizes. I also think the area is beautiful and some of the older buildings on campus have a lot of character and beautiful design,” she said.
Nelson credited her Spanish grammar and composition class for shaping her perspective as a future teacher, saying that larger writing assignments helped deepen her understanding of language development beyond everyday conversation. She emphasized how giving students opportunities to express their passions can enhance their learning experience: “I think that people inherently like to have their opinions heard, and by giving them an opportunity to express something that they are passionate about can really help them in their language development.”
Looking ahead, Nelson plans to become a Spanish teacher in North Dakota or possibly teach English abroad in Latin America before returning home. She offered advice for incoming majors: “Try to get the most out of every experience… The best thing you can do is not be ashamed to put in the effort to improve.”
