Upcoming Events

This summer we are hosting a series of four webinars that will provide direct experience with diverse content that can be integrated in your teaching practice. Each webinar will feature an OER that was specifically written for SHL populations; authors will present their work expanding on the textbook’s features, and demonstrate how to adapt the resource to diverse educational settings, proficiency levels, and student needs.

Event Schedule

Monday June 1st, 2026, 1 pm – 2:30 pm CST

Diversidad y contextos: Un libro de texto de español para estudiantes de herencia 

Karen López Alonzo, University of San Diego

The content of this workshop seeks to advance HL pedagogy by engaging students with their cultural roots through five comprehensive chapters and supplemental materials. The material presented will feature sample exercises from every chapter, highlighting the Critical Language Awareness (CLA) framework and strategies for indigenizing the curriculum.

Chapter One focuses on foundational descriptive skills, followed by Chapter Two, where students explore family structures, cultural traditions such as La Quinceañera, and the narration of past events. In Chapter Three, the focus shifts to the global Spanish-speaking world through an examination of rich food cultures and regional lexical variations. Chapter Four tackles the complex linguistic landscape of language contact, including the study of Spanglish, the historical influence of Arabic, and the presence of Indigenous languages such as Nahuatl and Quechua. Finally, Chapter Five prepares students for the professional world by mastering formal and informal registers, culminating in a professional portfolio that contrasts English and Spanish stylistic formats in a workplace context.

Tuesday June 2nd, 2026, 1 pm – 2:30 pm CST

Reflexiones sobre nuestra lengua

Yanina Hernández, University of Houston & José Esteban Hernández, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Reflexiones sobre nuestra lengua es un recurso educativo abierto (REA) diseñado para cursos introductorios de español como lengua de herencia. Se compone de ocho unidades temáticas pertinentes a la realidad social de los hablantes de español como lengua de herencia en los Estados Unidos. Además de enfocarse en la escritura como un proceso, se enfatiza el desarrollo de una conciencia sociolingüística y crítica del lenguaje en esta población estudiantil. Durante el taller se presentará un breve recorrido por el proceso de formación de las unidades temáticas hasta su conversión en un libro REA. Al mismo tiempo, se ofrecerán ejemplos de cómo este libro REA podría ser implementado en un curso de español como lengua de herencia en los diferentes programas a través de los Estados Unidos y de cómo puede adaptarse a cursos de español en distintos contextos. Asimismo, si ya utilizas este recurso, te animamos a que te unas al taller, para que compartas tus experiencias y tu propia implementación.

Wednesday June 3rd, 2026, 1 pm – 2:30 pm CST

Español en los Estados Unidos: Una aproximación histórica y comparativa del español estadounidense

Alexandra Rodríguez Sabogal, Texas A&M University-San Antonio

This presentation introduces Español en Estados Unidos: Una aproximación histórica y comparativa del español estadounidense (2024) by Elena Foulis and Alexandra Rodriguez Sabogal, an open educational resource (OER) grounded in multilingual and translanguaging practices. The textbook highlights the diversity of Spanish in the U.S., explores its interaction with English and Indigenous languages, and situates it within its historical and social context. Designed for both heritage and second-language learners, it incorporates authentic materials from transnational communities and engages with real-world topics to promote critical thinking.

The book also fosters linguistic awareness and empowerment by encouraging students to value their own language practices and recognize the legitimacy of diverse forms of Spanish. Its structure integrates vocabulary, readings, cultural analysis, creative expression and interactive tasks that connect classroom learning to real-world contexts, supporting inclusive and community-centered approaches to teaching Spanish.

Thursday June 4th, 2026, 1 pm – 2:30 pm CST

Historias compartidas: empoderamiento y lectoescritura en contexto para hablantes de herencia

Julia Oliver Rajan, Northwestern University

As classrooms become more culturally and linguistically diverse, Spanish as Heritage Language (SHL) programs are evolving to meet students’ needs from K-12 through college. Many heritage learners are strong speakers but need extra support with reading and writing, something traditional textbooks may not provide. Open Educational Resources (OERs) give language educators flexible tools to create engaging, culturally relevant materials that value students’ backgrounds and strengths.

This workshop introduces an adaptable OER to boost academic reading and writing for heritage Spanish learners. The resource uses authentic texts, engaging themes, and interdisciplinary projects to validate students’ identities and encourage participation. Faculty at any grade level will find ways to adapt these materials and empower students as readers, writers, and creators.

You will gain practical strategies for using project-based OER in any classroom. We will explore how to create student-centered resources that address literacy gaps and celebrate your students’ cultural backgrounds. You will leave with new ideas to make your Spanish classes more inclusive and dynamic.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at techs.edu.team@gmail.com