There is a conversational Spanish group open to all students, staff, and community members every Wednesday from 4:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. and is held in the SRC 203T, said Laura Dulin ALMA supervisor.
The meetings are held by Dulin to help those who are interested in learning some Spanish and also for those who want to practice speaking the language, she said.
Dulin said that all skill levels are welcome to attend the meetings but that it is usually most beneficial for students who have at least a basic knowledge of Spanish.
Those that are really serious about learning Spanish but have no knowledge at all are also welcome to attend as well, she said.
Dulin wants to remind everyone that these are just meetings to help students practice Spanish, they are not CNM courses or classes.
The meetings start off with an hour of dialogue and the last fifteen minutes are used to watch short videos, she said.
She said she usually starts the meeting off with a list of phrases for the group to practice with but that the group is the one who is in control of the meeting and she is just there as a facilitator to help guide the students and allow them to get the most out of the meetings.
Students should feel free to throw in their own questions or practice certain phrases or words that they are having a hard time with, she said.
Dulin said that it takes a lot of practice, perseverance, and self-motivation to learn a new language.
“It’s really rewarding, fun and amazing to learn a new language,” Dulin said.
If students get the chance to go abroad that is the best way to learn a new language, there is nothing like immersing yourself in the language, she said.
Dulin spent five years in Costa Rica teaching English as a second language and working on her master’s degree.
“I was a horrible Spanish student, I was terrible at learning Spanish,” Dulin said.
It was not until she immersed herself in the language that she really began to pick it up, she said.
It took her three years of living in Costa Rica before she became fluent in the language, she said.
Being fluent in another language looks really good on a resume and it can be very beneficial when it comes to working in the medical field, in a school, and in the business profession, she said.
“No matter what, there are people everywhere that you can carry on a conversation with who don’t speak English as their native tongue,” she said.
It’s crucial to speak it in order to learn it, she said.
Practicing the language and working with each other is one of the best ways to learn the language, she said.
It takes a lot of effort and practice to learn a new language, she said.
For students who are interested in conversation Spanish groups but cannot make the Wednesday meetings Dulin suggests looking up a Meetup group online, as she says there are a few to choose from.
Currently there are about four people attending the meetings but she said that she would like to see that number raise to eight or ten people.
Dulin started the conversational Spanish group about a year ago because she said that there was not a lot of groups focusing on that.
She said that there is also an ESL conversation group for students to practice English with one another.
American Indian Science and Engineering Society AISES
meets the second Friday of every month at 12 p.m. at the SSC, room 205 Next meeting: Friday, April 11
Club Advisor: Dee Bluehorse (DBluehorse@cnm.edu)
AISES is a diverse group of students from different Native American tribes and backgrounds, who have come together to create a supportive and dynamic community of students, said Troy Blackdog, engineering major and AISES president.
“I’ve been involved with AISES for a while and I love it. Everybody there is very welcoming and friendly, and there’s a lot of opportunities, especially with internships and scholarships,” said Bertishia Begay, Physics major.
Aside from the opportunities for internships and scholarships, club members get involved with groups and events in the greater Albuquerque community and beyond to strengthen ties between the club and other communities, Blackdog said.
“This shows us that the students are willing to step up to the plate and become an active member, and that shows a lot, not only to me, but to the faculty, CNM, and to our advisor,” Blackdog said.
Blackdog said he invites students looking for a diverse and supportive group on campus to come and attend one of the meetings to meet people, network and possibly make friends.
The club is open to all students, and though it is based in Science and Engineering, the group accepts students from other majors as well, he said.
ARTWorks! CNM Art Club
Meetings are held as scheduled at artworks.wix.com, 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Main Campus, room N-15
Faculty Advisor: Danielle Miller (DRMiller@cnm.edu)
Photo by Elizabeth GalvezPhoto by Elizabeth Galvez
CNM’s Art Club, ARTWorks is a student organization whose members include students, faculty and alumni at CNM, said ARTWorks club president, Letitia Hill.
The club works to organize and fund exhibitions, art sales, studio time, visiting speakers and museum tours, as well as to provide members with a connection to the greater arts community, Hill said.
One great aspect of the club is that it holds a variety of workshops throughout the year, which provides members the opportunity to experience new and different applications, and to learn new techniques in a supportive and fun environment, she said.
The club works to support student artists transitioning to becoming professional artists, and can help them develop valuable social networking skills, “which are vital to becoming successful artistic entrepreneurs,” she said.
Students interested in joining the club can find member applications and more information at artworks.wix.com, where students can also RSVP to events, Hill said.
“Are you passionate about art? Wish to be challenged and learn new artistic skills? Want to be supported in creative endeavors? Meet likeminded students? Join ARTWorks Art Club,” Hill said.
CNM Shooting Club
Meetings held once per term as scheduled through the MyCNM group
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Lisa Orick-Martinez (lisao@cnm.edu)
Photo by Lisa Orick-Martinez
The mission of the shooting club is first and foremost to provide education and instruction to all CNM students, faculty and staff, said Dr. Lisa Orick-Martinez, Communications Studies Instructor and Shooting Club Faculty Advisor.
She said the club gives opportunity for members to be educated in firearm safety, legal issues, respect and marksmanship, which is put into practice at caliber shooting meetings held by the club once a semester.
The club also supports students who are interested in pursuing the National Rifle Association’s Competitive Shooting Awards and provides non-firearm related education about personal security on and off campus to all CNM personnel, Orick-Martinez said.
The Shooting Club is also looking to participate in activities on campus to increase awareness of gun related crime and techniques for crime prevention, she said.
The group is looking for a new board this fall, and students who are taking at least three credit hours can contact the group’s advisor via email if they are interested in serving on the board, Orick-Martinez said.
The group currently has about 100 students in the MyCNM group, and is always accepting new members. Students can register through their MyCNM account under “groups” she said.
American Welding Society, CNM chapter
Meetings are Wednesdays from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. in room W-102, plus additional events as scheduled.
Next meeting: Wednesday April 9
Faculty Advisor: Kay Hamby (khamby@cnm.edu)
Photo by Carol Woodland
Club President Henno Van Arkle said for those who join AWS, there is a $15 annual fee that goes to the national organization, which helps to provide scholarships and field trips for AWS members.
Vice President, Thomas Saunders said CNM’s chapter is also involved with the state union, NM Local 75, which provides opportunities for club members to get to know other welders across the state.
“One great thing I get out of AWS in general is the networking,” Saunders said.
Students who join the group are also automatically enrolled in the state and national chapter, Van Arkle said.
Over the past few months he and Saunders have been working to reboot the club and have planned monthly field trips, with the next one scheduled for April 25 to a company called CEI, Van Arkle said.
The club also wants to organize events and bring outside speakers to teach seminars on specific topics or give presentations to the club, as well as provide networking opportunities with local companies, Van Arkle said.
Chemistry Society
Meets Saturdays for study sessions 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in room JS-301
Monthly designated meetings as scheduled
Faculty Advisor: Carl Whalen (CWhalen1@cnm.edu)
When the Math, Chemistry, Physics and Biology groups were formed, they agreed to meet for weekly study sessions on the same day with these clubs in rooms next to each other, so students could move freely between them, said Chemistry Society President, Tim Torres.
He said the times were staggered to make it possible for students to attend the various clubs, which helps students who are taking classes in those areas form a strong community of learners as they often find themselves in the same classes at the same time.
“The idea there is to develop a community of people who are in those STEM fields,” he said.
During the weekly meetings the group occupies a large classroom with students who work together as a group, usually organizing themselves by shared classes, he said.
Torres said students do not have to be in a chemistry class or be a chemistry major to take advantage of the club’s weekly meetings.
For a complete list of CNM Student Clubs, CLICK HERE.
