The UW’s Center for Spanish Studies, one of fifteen in the U.S. and Canada, is a cooperative venture between the University of Washington, the Spanish Ministry of Education and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Education. Located in Padelford Hall, Room B-202C, the Center’s purpose is to promote and support programs that teach Spanish to K-12 students in both public and private schools.
The Resource Center provides bibliographic and video graphic materials as well as novels and books on teaching, traveling and Spanish culture. According to the UW Center’s Director, Eva González-Abad, anyone interested in the Spanish language and Hispanic cultures can borrow materials from the Resource Center. “No card required!” she laughed.
Recent acquisitions are listed below. “The new films have been updated into our system and online catalogue,” said González-Abad. “Come round and borrow a few!”
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Each year the Center for Spanish Studies and the Juan de Fuca chapter of the AATSP co-organize a professional development session for Washington State Spanish teachers. In February, Heritage Language Learners in the Spanish Classroom, was held at Bishop Blanchet High School. Teachers from across Washington attended the seminar, which was introduced by UW Professor, María Gilman.
It was a great day to share with all participants and, as teacher attendee, Hannah Bellinger (Spanish 1, Woodinville High School and Canyon Park Junior High), said, “No te puedo decir cuán útil ese taller fue para me… Vosotros sois pioneros importantes y me siento súper afortunada haber asistido a la reunión.” (“I can’t tell you how useful this workshop was for me…you are pioneers and I feel really privileged for attending this session.”)
“Students shared their experience and feelings about reacquisition of their mother tongue and the empowerment they feel in being able to relate to their culture, roots and families,” said González-Abad.
On Saturday, March 9, the Center offered another session for teachers. This session, held on the UW Campus, was about legends of Latin America. Run by Yudy Moir, a Spanish teacher at Archbishop Murphy High School in Everett, the session was well attended and greatly enjoyed by participants, who shared their approaches to working with folk tales in the Spanish class.
Other spring events, both past and upcoming are listed below.
Professional development activities for teachers of Spanish
April 27, 2013 Poetry. Professional development activity presented by UW Professor, Edgar O’Hara. Ph. D. and Josefa Báez-Ramos, Ph. D., High School Spanish teacher. To be held on UW campus. May 11, 2013 Creative Writing in Spanish presented and discussed by teachers of Spanish.
WABE (Washington Association of Bilingual Education) conference
April 18-20 in Yakima, WA.
WAFLT (Washington Association for Language Teachers) Spring Regional Conference
April 20 in Yakima, WA.
Escribo en Español Awards Ceremony
June 1. Held at the Legislative Building in Olympia, this is the 15th annual school contest held for students of Spanish in Washington State.
If you are interested in knowing more about the Center for Spanish Studies or to learn about upcoming events, email Eva González-Abad at spnrectr@u.washington.edu
Center for Spanish Studies web site:
http://www.educacion.gob.es/exterior/centros/seattle/en/home/index.shtml