Activity A: Linguistic Legacy: Explorando nuestras voces

Create a collage that reflects the IDENTITIES and the LANGUAGE/S that make you who you are. Follow these steps to get started:

1. Gather Your Materials: Collect digital images, photos, graphics, and other visual elements that you want to include in your collage. These can be pictures from your personal collections, images downloaded from the internet (make sure you have the right to use them), or graphics created by you.
2. Select a Canvas: Open your chosen software and create a new project. Determine the dimensions of your collage. You might choose a standard size like 8.5×11 inches or customize it according to your preferences. UTSA students will use Adobe.
3. Arrange Your Elements: Import the images and graphics you’ve gathered onto the canvas. Arrange them in a way that visually represents your theme or message. Experiment with different layouts, sizes, and orientations until you find a composition that you like.
4. Add Text (if desired): If you want to include text in your collage, use the text tool in your software to add words, phrases, or quotes. Choose fonts, colors, and styles that complement the overall aesthetic of your collage.
5. Blend and Layer: Explore blending modes and layering options to create interesting visual effects. You can adjust the opacity of layers, apply filters, or use masking techniques to achieve the desired look.
6. Fine-Tune and Edit: Take some time to fine-tune your collage. Make adjustments to the placement of elements, adjust colors and contrast, and refine any details that need attention.
7. Save Your Collage: Once you’re satisfied with your digital collage, save your work in a suitable file format (such as JPEG, PNG, or PDF) to preserve its quality. You might also want to save a copy in the native format of your software for future editing.
8. Share: Share your collage with the class and explain how the collage communicates your story. You can use English, Spanish or Spanglish when presenting your collage to the class.
9. Reflect: After completing the presentation, answer the following questions in a written response. Your response should be 1-2 paragraphs in length and can be written in English, Spanish or Spanglish. (1) What did you think through or feel throughout this creation process? (2) What material from the class helped you reflect on this assignment? (3) What does this collage tell us about Spanish as a Heritage Language in the United States?