Planning and Completing Immersive Language Study: Recommendations for Folklorists Based on Work in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

Abstract

This report outlines some of my suggestions for folklorists working independently to plan and complete an immersive language study. My perspective is based on a study trip I completed in March 2014 with support from the American Folklore Society Consultancy and Professional Development Program. In the first section of this report, I will summarize my activities as a Spanish language student in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. I will also discuss the relevance of these activities to my work as a public folklorist in the U.S. In the second section, I will identify some considerations that might prove significant for other folklorists planning language immersion travel. Although my experience is limited and specific, I intend for this report to be applicable for any culture worker interested in language acquisition for purposes of community outreach and collaboration.