Spanish Professor Finds Inspiration, Cultural Connection in Spain

For Gabriela Carrión, Ph.D., a professor of Spanish, an opportunity in March allowed her to travel to Toledo, Spain, which offered more than a professional boost, it rekindled a deep belief in the value of language, literature, and culture.

Carrión was nominated by vice-provost, Nicki Gonzales to participate in a program hosted by the Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, designed to enhance the teaching of Spanish language and culture. Supported by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), the program brought together faculty from across the Spanish-speaking world to explore pedagogical practices and strengthen cultural competency.

In Carrión’s words, “The primary purpose of this program is to enhance the teaching of Spanish language and culture and to explore opportunities for students to expand their understanding of these subjects both in the classroom and beyond. I chose to participate to explore the ways in which new pedagogies strengthen the acquisition of language skills and by extension, create greater openness towards other cultures. Of particular interest to me is how other educators grapple with questions of linguistic and cultural competence in an environment that is increasingly hostile to the study of non-English languages and cultures.”

The experience aligned closely with Carrión’s professional mission, helping students better understand Spanish-speaking cultures and by extension, discover more about themselves and their role in the world.

“In our current political environment, the very premise of a diverse, pluralistic society is under attack, and it can be challenging — to say the least — to teach a foreign language under these circumstances. By inviting Spanish-language faculty to connect with each other, the program at the Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha provided its participants with a much-needed boost. It was clear to me that the directors of this program take the humanities seriously, and this was palpable in their programming. It not only included Spanish-language pedagogy, but also fascinating lectures ranging from El Greco’s modernity to Toledo’s Jewish and Muslim past.”

The program, held in the historic city of Toledo, Spain featured immersive lectures and experiences that spanned centuries of Spanish history, including sessions on the city’s history and legacies. For Carrión, the setting was very meaningful given Toledo’s rich history:

“It was especially poignant to meet in Toledo, Spain a city that has been associated with the historical period known as the convivencia or co-existence of three major religions: Christianity, Islam and Judaism. A city such as Toledo has a great to deal to teach us about navigating cultural and social differences,” she said.

Carrión said one of the most moving moments of her time in Spain came at the program’s closing ceremony, held in the sixteenth-century city hall and attended by the university’s president, the mayor of Toledo and other local dignitaries: “How could I fail to notice how dedicated not only academics, but also local political figures are to their language and culture? It seems that the entire community works towards the common goal of promoting the humanities in ways that have become nearly unrecognizable today in the United States.” She continued by saying, “The takeaway for me was that there do, in fact, exist people and places who prioritize these subjects in ways that have a transformative and positive impact on our students’ lives. Despite any setbacks we may be experiencing in the present, it is well worth our time and effort to continue learning about other cultures. Many young people are eager to learn about people and places that may be unfamiliar to them.”

We asked Carrión why opportunities such as those provided by HACU are important:

“It may be stating the obvious, but Spanish language and culture are central to any organization that serves the Hispanic community. By providing this opportunity to faculty, HACU signals its ongoing commitment to this community by connecting us to our counterparts across the Spanish-speaking world. Participants came from Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Puerto Rico, Cuba and Spain, just to name a few. And a variety of educational institutions ranging from community colleges to large public institutions were also represented. I think it is critical that we connect with each other if we are going to continue to strengthen our students’ experiences both in our classrooms and beyond,” said Carrión.

Currently, the program has an offering for an intensive summer Spanish course at a reduced price. The tuition is half price if more than one student enrolls.

You can learn more about the program here: https://www.hacu.net/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=5024