El Eco: Student Newspaper
“El Eco” is the Spanish-language newspaper produced twice a year, in the fall and spring semesters. It is inserted into the university’s student-produced newspaper, “The Echo,” and distributed across campus.
The newspaper is the work of students in Spanish 301. In this class, students are able to:
- Choose the topics they want to write on.
- Write articles of interest to the Spanish-speaking community at Cal Lutheran.
- Expand their Spanish-language vocabulary to communicate in different industries and settings.
- Gain confidence in conducting interviews in Spanish.
- Learn about journalism directly from their peer mentors in the lab class that produces “The Echo.”
- Have a written sample of their work in Spanish for future employers and/or graduate schools.
What Students Say
This class has given me the opportunity to interview people on campus I otherwise would not have had contact with. The article I am co-writing is about the growth of Cal Lutheran as a Hispanic Serving Institution. I had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Vargas, director of HSI, and Dr. Varlotta, new president of the university as well as a first-generation student. Not only did this project increase my writing and speaking skills, but I also learned about the challenges that first-generation, DACA recipients, and Latinx students face. This article is an impressive document that I can show future employers to demonstrate my Spanish writing skills.
Julia Gallegos ‘22
The “El Eco” class piqued my interest because it develops Spanish writing and speaking skills in a creative way. Conducting interviews and writing a newspaper article in another language works muscles I wouldn’t usually use in a traditional Spanish class. The article I co-wrote focuses on how we can diversify school curriculum to be inclusive of all students. This showcases my ability to apply my Spanish skills to my prospective educational field. I also had the opportunity to write a CV and cover letter in Spanish for a teaching job in Guatemala.
Hannah Sanders ‘23
The “El Eco” class has not only improved my article writing skills in Spanish, but it has also familiarized me with the process of journalism: interviewing, summarizing, and writing what the interviewees said in a short useful article. I struggled writing an article at first, especially in Spanish, but I strengthened this skill by reading old El Eco articles and speaking in class.
Ahmed Alqasir ‘20
While I am bilingual, this class makes me feel like I’m learning Spanish again and it feels refreshing. Being able to participate in discussions regarding world events and construct my opinions for my peers has been rewarding since it's a skill I can use in professional and non-professional settings. I’ve also learned how to create a cover letter, resume and interview in Spanish so I can expand my career opportunities into Spanish speaking countries.
Marilyn Huitron ‘21