Join us for a dynamic, full-day professional development experience designed to equip Spanish language teachers with innovative strategies to enhance student learning.
To make the most of your experience, please read the title and description of each session carefully before selecting. Some sessions will be conducted in Spanish, while others will be in English.
There is a $30 registration fee to attend the 2025 Encuentro de Profesorado de Español de Alberta. To proceed with payment, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/3xys6c4c
Photography Notice: Please be aware that by attending this event you grant permission for your photo to be taken and used for promotional purposes by Alberta Education. If you have any questions, please email encuentro.profesores@gov.ab.ca.
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Welcome to the Encuentro de profesorado de español de Alberta! Start your day by checking in and picking up your event materials. This is a great opportunity to meet fellow participants, get familiar with the schedule on SCHED, and ensure you’re ready to make the most of this professional development day. We look forward to seeing you!
KEYNOTE SPEAKER Felipe Pieras-Guasp es Assistant Instructional Professor en la Universidad de Chicago, donde imparte cursos de español a diferentes niveles y coordina iniciativas de formación docente. Obtuvo su Ph.D. en Español en Penn State University, y su investigación se ha desarrollado en el campo de la sociolingüística, con un enfoque en las actitudes lingüísticas, el contacto de lenguas y la planificación lingüística. Su trabajo académico también abarca la enseñanza del español como lengua extranjera y de herencia, con especial interés en estrategias de aprendizaje activo e inclusivo. Además, ha participado en la organización de seminarios y talleres sobre innovación pedagógica y diferenciación en la enseñanza del español en contextos multiculturales.
Enseñanza del español en aulas diversas: estrategias para una educación inclusiva El aula de español es un espacio dinámico donde conviven estudiantes con distintos niveles de competencia lingüística, antecedentes culturales y necesidades de aprendizaje. En esta presentación, exploraremos estrategias de enseñanza diferenciada para atender tanto a aprendices de L2 como a hablantes de herencia en un mismo entorno. A través de ejemplos prácticos y actividades concretas, los participantes descubrirán formas de adaptar su enseñanza para fomentar la inclusión, el desarrollo lingüístico y la participación activa de todo el alumnado, asegurando una educación más personalizada y centrada en el estudiante.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER Felipe Pieras-Guasp is an Assistant Instructional Professor at the University of Chicago, where he teaches Spanish courses at various levels and coordinates faculty development initiatives. He earned his Ph.D. in Spanish from Penn State University, and his research focuses on sociolinguistics, with an emphasis on language attitudes, language contact, and language planning. His academic work also includes the teaching of Spanish as a Foreign and Heritage Language, with a particular interest in active and inclusive learning strategies. Additionally, he has been involved in organizing seminars and workshops on pedagogical innovation and differentiation in Spanish teaching within multicultural contexts.
Teaching Spanish in Diverse Classrooms: Strategies for Inclusive Education The Spanish classroom is a dynamic space where students with varying language proficiency levels, cultural backgrounds, and learning needs coexist. In this presentation, we will explore differentiated teaching strategies to address both L2 learners and heritage speakers within the same environment. Through practical examples and concrete activities, participants will discover ways to adapt their teaching to promote inclusion, linguistic development, and active participation from all students, ensuring a more personalized and student-centered education.
In our presentation, we will discuss and share new approaches/resources we are using to target specific weaknesses from our students. We will talk about how we are using SpacesEDU and writing prompts to further our students' learning.
Luis Fernando Garcia is a dedicated educator with a Master of Educational Studies and a Bachelor of Secondary Education, specializing in Spanish and Physical Education. Currently teaching Junior High Spanish Language Arts at St. Brendan School Junior High School, Luis Fernando Garcia... Read More →
Mariana, a University of Alberta graduate with a major in Spanish and a minor in ESL, holds a secondary teaching degree in languages. She gained valuable experience teaching English in Madrid through the North American Language & Culture Program. Currently, she dedicates herself to... Read More →
With increasing class sizes and no restrictions on class access, classrooms often feature a diverse mix of heritage speakers and students with little to no prior experience. In this session, we will explore a range of strategies aimed at engaging all learners, ensuring that new students are supported without disengaging more advanced learners. A live document will be shared for teachers to contribute ideas, fostering collaboration and allowing us to build a supportive community that continuously enhances our teaching practices.
La conciencia y utilidad del Spanglish puede beneficiar el aprendizaje del español como segunda lengua e, incluso, la mejora del español como primera lengua reduciendo la barrera lingüística y mejorando la fluidez. Por un lado, refleja una realidad cada vez más frecuente que se refleja en el día a día de los propios alumnos y alumnas. Por otro lado, permite una transición gradual y plena hacia la enseñanza del español. Durante la charla, se ofrecen propuestas prácticas sobre cómo trabajar el Spanglish para el aprendizaje y mantenimiento del mismo.
Laura Ferrero Visanzay is a Spanish Language Assistant from Zaragoza (Spain) who has given support to the Catholic District from Kindergarten to Grade 12 during this scholar year. She holds a degree in Spanish Philology and she graduated from her Teaching masters in 2024. She has... Read More →
Do you ever wonder: how does the brain process language? and if the brain distinguishes first language (L1) differently from a second language (L2)? What challenges and advantages do bilingual and language-learning students face? This session explores the neuroscience behind language acquisition, comparing the brain mechanisms involved in L1 and L2 processing and their implications for teaching.
Getze Uscanga has been with the Calgary Catholic School District for seven years, where she enjoys sharing her language and culture with students and contributing to their learning journey.She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Mount Royal University and a Bachelor of Education... Read More →
**This session is offered in Spanish.** We all face obstacles when teaching mathematics in a target language but there is hope. Come join us as we share about our journey in implementing strategies for teaching mathematics in Spanish to multilingual learners. Included will be real life stories of teachers who have implemented these strategies into their practice and are seeing the positive impact. We hope to inspire you and send you off with some practical strategies that you can implement right away!
Raquel is a passionate Mexican teacher with over 15 years of experience. Teaching is not just her profession, but her true passion, and she is always eager to share the richness of the Spanish language and culture with others. Throughout her career, she's discovered the rewarding... Read More →
Elementary Math Consultant at Edmonton Catholic School Division, Edmonton Catholic School Division
Anita is incredibly grateful for the multitude of opportunities that God has graciously placed before her throughout her career in education. These opportunities have allowed her to receive training in various capacities, including early learning, secondary education, sciences, mathematics... Read More →
La música es un elemento presente en nuestra vida diaria y una palabra sinónima de cultura, vocabulario, gramática, actualidad y tradición. En esta ponencia se presenta a la música como un medio de comprensión de la cultura española y su contexto mientras se trabajan contenidos enfocados al desarrollo de la lengua castellana del alumnado. Europa, comunidades autónomas o festividades, la música está presente en todas ellas y más allá.
I am an English Studies graduate with a masters in Secondary Education Teaching (Foreign Language Acquisition speciality). Being an undergraduate, I started my career in teaching as an assistant professor for the Spanish department at Cardiff University. Currently, I am potentiating... Read More →
The Neurolinguistic Approach is a new way to consider teaching and learning language, created by Canadian pedagogues Claude Germain and Joan Netten. The goal is to create in the classroom the necessary conditions to help students to communicate in the L+ with spontaneity.
Abdel was born in Cuba, where he became a teacher of English as a Second Language. He lives in Canada since 2007, and has taught Spanish in Elementary school, High school and University. He is currently a grade 6 teacher in the Spanish Bilingual Program, at Blessed John Paul I School... Read More →
Angela Amaya is a dedicated Grade 4 teacher at St. Teresa School in Edmonton, Alberta. Originally from Bucaramanga, Colombia, she moved to Canada in 2008 to pursue her academic and professional journey. She holds a degree in Psychology with a minor in Latin American Studies from the... Read More →
Are you eager to plan your first international trip but unsure where to start? This session will provide you with the essential tools to organize a successful and enriching cultural experience for your students. We’ll cover key aspects such as selecting a Spanish-speaking destination, handling field trip forms, promoting the trip, and navigating basic logistics. Join me for a practical and engaging session that will leave you confident and prepared to embark on this exciting adventure!
Oralia Hernández is a Spanish bilingual teacher and the Chief Examiner for DELE for Edmonton Public Schools. She is an executive member of the Additional Languages and Intercultural Council and serves on the Greater Edmonton Teachers’ Convention Association board. Oralia has taught... Read More →
How to use Number Talks as both a Math routine and a Spanish routine in the classroom, and integrating NLA strategies to facilitate language growth in students' oral output.
This is my fifth year as a Spanish-bilingual Elementary teacher, now teaching a Grade ⅚ class at the Calgary Catholic School District. Previously I have taught Grade 2 and Grade 3 at the Calgary Board of Education. Before becoming an elementary teacher, I worked at the University... Read More →
Usando la serie de libros de Carla, Anaya, hemos creado un grupo de actividades durante el año escolar para potenciar la lectura y usar los temas de los libros para crear actividades multidisciplinares que cubren objetivos de español y otras materias. Siempre tratando de promover el interés por la lectura y por temas transversales interesantes.
International Languages Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division
Andrés is the International Languages Consultant at ECSD. Born and raised in a small town by the Camino de Santiago, he is passionate about languages and has worked in schools in three different countries. He likes going for walks with family and friends, playing musical instruments... Read More →
Katharina es una apasionada maestra bilingüe de primaria con 10 años de experiencia fomentando el crecimiento lingüístico y académico de los jóvenes estudiantes. Con una dedicación a integrar las materias de manera fluida, Katharina utiliza textos modelo como herramientas clave... Read More →
La inteligencia artificial ha llegado a nuestras aulas con el poder de un hechizo: nos asombra, nos facilita tareas y nos llena de posibilidades… pero, ¿qué pasa cuando la magia tiene truco? En esta sesión, reflexionaremos sobre el impacto de la IA en la enseñanza del español.
Nací en Medellín, Colombia, y crecí amando mi cultura, mi lengua y mi país. Soy doctora en Didáctica del Español y profesora en la Universidad de Lethbridge. Maestra de lenguas por formación y pasión, me especializo en adquisición y pedagogía de segundas lenguas. Mis intereses... Read More →
This session will explain what Locura de Marzo is all about, and the ways this competition can be used to engage learners with Spanish language and culture. In this session, teachers will gain valuable teaching strategies and tools to incorporate in their Spanish classes.
I’m Laura García Pérez, a Grade 3 teacher at Escuela Vista Grande in Red Deer, originally from Tarragona, Spain. I came to Canada as a Spanish visiting teacher in 2017, planning to stay for 1-2 years, and I’m still here! I hold a Bachelor’s and Master’s in education and... Read More →
I'm Karen Arias, a Middle School teacher at Escuela Vista Grande, in Red Deer. I hold a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Education. I love helping students connect with the language in meaningful ways, while also introducing them to rich and diverse traditions of Spanish-speaking c... Read More →
A dedicated Spanish bilingual elementary teacher, specializing in cross-curricular integration and supporting diverse learners. With experience in fostering cultural connections through language, I endeavour to create engaging, hands-on learning experiences. Passionate about bringing... Read More →
This session equips educators with practical tools to design interdisciplinary tasks that integrate content and language learning using the Neurolinguistic Approach (NLA). Whether new to NLA or refining its implementation, participants will learn to plan meaningful, real-world tasks that support both subject knowledge and language development. The session covers key task design principles, strategies to implement the full NLA loop (from oral competency to written production), and examples of interdisciplinary tasks connecting Spanish with other content areas.
I'm a second-language teacher and Learning Leader at Escuela Dalhousie in Calgary. As a Venezuelan Canadian with a background in Communications, I have a deep appreciation for the culture and language of the Spanish-speaking world. I strive to create an engaging learning environment... Read More →
**This session is offered in Spanish.** En esta presentación, presentaremos el Concurso de Relatores de Fútbol llevado a cabo en ECSD. Este proyecto adopta un enfoque de enseñanza de lenguas basado en tareas, donde la tarea principal consiste en relatar un fragmento de un partido de la Liga de España. Gracias a la colaboración de la Embajada de España y La Liga, los ganadores reciben camisetas oficiales de equipos españoles, lo cual añade una motivación auténtica más al aprendizaje
International Languages Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division
Andrés is the International Languages Consultant at ECSD. Born and raised in a small town by the Camino de Santiago, he is passionate about languages and has worked in schools in three different countries. He likes going for walks with family and friends, playing musical instruments... Read More →
Jesús Gómez Troyano is a teacher at Austin O´Brien Catholic High School in Edmonton. He holds a Licentiate Degree in Spanish Philology, as well as Master's Degrees in Education and Teaching Spanish as a Second Language. Jesus has a total of 21 years of experience teaching Spanish... Read More →
Mi nombre es Andrés Eduardo Toledo Carias. Nací en El Salvador y he vivido en Canadá desde el 2014. Actualmente, estoy en mi último año de universidad en la carrera de educación secundaria en la Universidad de Alberta, y estoy haciendo mis prácticas en Austin O’Brien Catholic... Read More →
Are you an additional language teacher in Alberta? Come to this session to learn about the Additional Languages and Intercultural Council (ALIC) of the ATA. Topics will include current ALIC initiatives that support access to professional development, recently developed resources to support language teaching and learning, and information about how to connect with other language teachers in Alberta.
In this presentation, I will share “The Magic Box,” a dynamic tool to motivate and provide more opportunities for students to maximize speaking and listening skills and writing practice. Drawing on the Neurolinguistic Approach Principles, The Magi Box encourages students to engage with the language as much as possible by providing frequent opportunities to actively use vocabulary and sentence structures they learn throughout the year. The Magic Box contains cards with Spanish vocabulary words, questions and answers that students learn through oral activities and then use for writing activities.
I'm Liliana Fuentes. I began my career in my home country, Colombia, and my love and passion for teaching languages led me to the USA, where I worked as an international visiting teacher. In 2009, I embraced a new challenge in Canada, joining the CBE at Dalhousie School, where I am... Read More →
Listening is perhaps the skill that poses most challenges to second language (L2) learners. At the same time, it is arguably the skill that receives the least attention in the L2 classroom. In this session, we will begin with an overview of the importance of input for language learning. Then, we will present a model for listening instruction that aligns with communicative approaches to language pedagogy by combining principles of Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) and learning strategy instruction. With the use of examples, we will discuss practical ideas to develop active listening skills and promote learner autonomy.
Xavier Gutiérrez es doctor en educación y en la actualidad profesor de lingüística aplicada y coordinador del programa de lengua española en la Universidad de Alberta. Sus líneas de investigación incluyen la implementación y evaluación del enfoque por tareas en contextos... Read More →
Jesús Toapanta teaches Spanish and culture/society of Latin America in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies at the University of Alberta. His professional and academic interests include indigenous languages, Spanish sociolinguistics, and language teaching and learning... Read More →
Wrap up the day with meaningful conversations at our Networking Café! This informal gathering is a great opportunity to connect with fellow Spanish language educators, share insights from the sessions, and exchange ideas and resources in a relaxed setting. Grab a coffee, reflect on the day, and build valuable professional connections before heading home.
Saturday May 3, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm MDT Gymnasium
