Taya Bailey '24 started learning Spanish and French at an early age and quickly became fascinated with the process of learning languages. Studying languages soon became a favorite hobby, and when it was time to select a degree program at Texas A&M University, the choice was easy: Spanish and French.
That double languages major eventually led Bailey to a community within the Department of Global Languages and Cultures in which she would also learn about new cultures and expand her worldview. For Bailey, this community began in the classroom, where she builds strong relationships with professors and other language students. Since most Spanish and French classes include fewer than 30 people, Bailey engages with her peers on a deeper level. Students support each other as they take on the task of learning a new language, which she acknowledges is not always easy.
Many students — Bailey included — struggle with fluently speaking their target language, but she finds that practicing Spanish and French with her classmates and meeting international students gives her an edge.
“I’ve forged relationships with students from France, Spain, Mexico and Colombia, all of whom have enriched my understanding of my two favorite languages,” she said. “I learn more from each person as they offer a different story about their home country.”
Besides absorbing new French and Spanish vocabulary and grammar structure, Bailey is learning the culture, history and tradition behind these languages from people who have experienced them firsthand.
She discovers community outside the classroom as well as she connects with fellow students through Aggie traditions.
“With traditions like Muster — my favorite — I am reminded of the unity and shared identity that every Aggie embodies, and that Texas A&M truly fosters a unique bond among students that is rare on other college campuses.”
Bailey’s participation in several organizations gives her the chance to practice Spanish while making a difference in the community. As a member of Spanish Improvement and Community Outreach (SICO), she attends weekly meetings during which a group reviews a topic related to the Spanish language. SICO members also participate in The Big Event and other community outreach activities, such as the Brazos Interfaith Immigration Network.
After graduation, Bailey plans to attend the Bush School of Government and Public Service to obtain a master's degree in international affairs and pursue a career as a diplomat.