“Is this movie appropriate for my Spanish classroom?” After twenty years of teaching Spanish, I can tell you that this is one of the simplest questions a teacher can ask—and one of the hardest to answer. Because the answer is almost always: It depends. Appropriate according to whom? A teacher?
How updating twenty years of classroom resources unexpectedly reignited the teacher in me. When summer vacation began, I had every intention of taking a break. I wanted to soak up some sunshine, enjoy Maine while the weather was beautiful, and intentionally limit the amount of schoolwork I brought home. I
Every summer, teachers are bombarded with professional development opportunities. Conferences. Workshops. Webinars. Certifications. Don’t get me wrong—there is value in all of those things. Over the years, I’ve attended my fair share of professional development sessions and have walked away with ideas that improved my classroom. However, after more than
As the school year begins to wind down, many Spanish teachers begin searching for engaging end-of-year Spanish class activities that still feel meaningful. After all, students are tired, attention spans are shorter, and motivation can slowly begin to disappear as summer vacation approaches. However, I have found that the right
Why Movies for Spanish Class Prepare Students for Real Life There are moments in teaching that stop you in your tracks. I’ve always believed that movies for Spanish class could do more than engage students—but I didn’t fully understand their impact until I watched my students use that language in
Discover exactly how to use movies in Spanish class with a step-by-step lesson plan that boosts engagement, builds real listening skills, and improves long-term vocabulary retention.
There’s a quiet truth in language teaching that doesn’t get talked about enough: Some of the most powerful learning moments don’t come from worksheets—they come from stories. And yet… one of the richest sources of authentic storytelling—film—is still one of the most underused tools in the Spanish classroom. 🎥 More
Why Movies Work So Well in Spanish Class Below are several films that have consistently engaged my Level I and Level II students and helped bring culture and storytelling into the Spanish classroom. Coco This film has become one of the most beloved movies in my classroom. Students connect immediately
Teaching Spanish Through Food in Film: Building Vocabulary That Lasts Have you ever noticed how students remember vocabulary from a powerful food scene far longer than words from a textbook list? They may forget the worksheet.They may forget the quiz format.They remember the grandmother’s hands folding masa.Students recall the wedding
For years, film has been the heart of my high school Spanish classroom. Movies offer authentic language, cultural depth, emotion, and narrative — all the elements that make language stick. But something powerful happened when I began pairing film-based vocabulary with interactive digital games found on platforms like Wordwall. My
Mid-term season has a way of weighing on everyone. Students feel the pressure to perform.Teachers feel the responsibility to prove learning.And suddenly, language becomes something to memorize instead of something to use. This year—while teaching through lingering illness and low winter energy—I was reminded why I moved away from traditional
Ease students back into Spanish after winter break using film-based vocabulary lessons that reduce anxiety, rebuild confidence, and re-engage learners in January.