Interview Series
Classroom to Culture is an immersive collection of interviews focused on familiarizing listeners with different facets of the Spanish language and its diverse communities. Conversations with native speakers, teachers, and students of all realms of life offer differing insights into the process of language learning, cultural exchange, and the values of being bilingual.
Literature's Bridges
We had a conversation with Mr. Ramos, a Spanish teacher who introduced the AP Spanish Literature & Composition course to his school. He explores the value of literature in education, and what it means to delve into the world of Spanish literature with a group of predominantly native English speakers.
New Beginnings
Sebastian is a senior in high school, expecting to be the first in his family to attend college. His father is from El Salvador and came to the US seeking a new life for himself and his kids. Sebastian explains the important role that the Spanish language has played in his life, and how he balances a variety of cultures every day.
Miscommunication
Sebastian adores his Peruvian heritage, yet can feel a disconnect due to language barriers. He is a high school student who has spoken Spanish with his father for a majority of his life, and he hopes to continue improving his Spanish, particularly in academic settings. His family overseas helps him feel comfortable as he continues to learn.
Blending Cultures
Karina is a college student who discusses with us her dance between three distinct cultures. With her father from Bolivia and her mother from Mexico, now living in the United States, she tells us about the importance of the Spanish language as a unifying force of her identity.
Empowering the Future
We talked with Mr. Victoria, a Spanish teacher from Mexico City, to understand what got him into teaching. We then explored how this passion sparked an interest in a summer youth program aiming to get underserved children up to speed on their schoolwork which he now leads, giving back to his community.
Mastering Spanish
We interviewed a mere high school student who spent a year apart from their family studying in Spain. They share with us their unique circumstances, and how studying abroad was such a gratifying experience.
A Polyglot's Triumph
Luca, a teenage polyglot originally from Italy, shares with us his profound insight into the tedious language-learning process as a fluent speaker of 4 languages. He discusses the culture in Spain and balancing academics in a new environment.
Teaching Across Cultures
We sat down with Ms. Jenkins, a Spanish teacher who is from Columbia, to get a grasp on the differing educational systems between the US and her mother country. We also discussed what led her to teach in the US and what she misses about where she is from.
Global Perspectives
In this second episode, we talk with Alex, an individual who has lived in 3 different countries. He learned English as a child in Guadalajara, then traveled abroad to Canada and the UK to improve his English. We discuss with him the process of learning new languages and some cultural shocks he experienced.
A Bilingual Life
In our inaugural episode, we sit with Karina, who is from Guadalajara, Mexico. She spent a multitude of years in the US in her adult life and now lives in Mexico again. She shares with us the process of balancing two cultures, and the benefits of being bilingual in her personal and professional life. *Originally recorded January 9, 2024