When Spanish Learning Comes to Life: Watertown Students Visit Yale
What began as a digital learning experience came to life on campus when a Spanish Honors class from Watertown High School visited Yale to engage directly with the people behind Yale en primera persona: Narrativas hispanas.
There are many reasons to learn a second language, from professional growth to deeper cultural connection. In July 2025, Lourdes Sabé, Senior Lector I of Spanish at Yale University, launched Yale en primera persona: Narrativas hispanas (Yale in First Person: Hispanic Narratives), an online video collection highlighting the lived experiences of Spanish-speaking members of the Yale community. During the visit, Sabé saw firsthand how the collection resonated with high school students in a real-world setting.
On March 25, 2026, Yale’s Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning welcomed Watertown High School seniors for a panel discussion featuring instructors and contributors to the collection. Students asked thoughtful questions ranging from what inspired panelists to pursue careers in Spanish, to how their academic paths evolved, to how emerging technologies like artificial intelligence are shaping today’s classrooms. Each panelist shared a unique perspective on their professional journey.
Kristian Wingo, Panelist and Language Technology Specialist at Yale, reflected on the experience: “Part of my job is to help faculty members create and share open educational resources, but I don’t often get to hear from the students and teachers who use them once they’re done. I’m so happy that ‘Yale en primera persona’ has had a reach beyond Yale, and it was fantastic to meet students who learned from it.”
Watertown High School teacher Katerina Cyr highlighted the value of the collection’s 60-plus short, first-person narratives presented in Spanish. She noted that exposure to a range of dialects—Argentine, Ecuadorian, Mexican, and more—helps students better understand the diversity of the Spanish-speaking world. The breadth of voices and topics made the resource especially impactful in her classroom.
“It was incredibly rewarding to see my students meet the individuals featured in Yale en primera persona in person,” Cyr said. “Hearing their perspectives and gaining insight as they think about their next steps was especially meaningful. I’m grateful to partner with Yale Online and the Poorvu Center for such a culturally enriching experience.”
Katerina Cyr
Panelist and Senior Lector II at Yale, María de la Paz García, shared a similar sentiment: “It was wonderful to see that our work goes beyond our doors, and young students get to hear the voices of real people speaking in Spanish about their experiences and life.”
The discussion underscored the power of storytelling in language learning. Covering topics from childhood and identity to studying abroad and cultural traditions, Yale en primera persona highlights the richness and diversity of Hispanic experiences. For high school seniors preparing for college, these perspectives offer both inspiration and guidance.
Sabé emphasized the importance of representation and accessibility in building the collection: “It means a great deal to me that the repository we created is both useful and engaging for high school students. It’s incredibly rewarding to see it making a positive impact beyond the university.”
She added, “I sought out Spanish speakers at Yale with a wide range of accents, backgrounds, and roles—faculty, staff, students, and administrators—to ensure the collection reflects a diversity of voices and experiences. My goal was for every learner to find something that resonates.”
Sybil W. Alexandrov, Senior Lector II, Emerita at Yale, noted the broader impact of the visit: “Lourdes Sabé’s innovative project served as a springboard for thoughtful questions from students. I was impressed by their willingness to engage with complex topics. Initiatives like this foster meaningful connections between the university and the surrounding community.”
Lourdes Sabé
Looking ahead, Sabé and the Department of Spanish and Portuguese are preparing to launch “Elementary Catalan I” in fall 2026, followed by “Elementary Catalan II” in spring 2027. Spoken in eastern Spain, Andorra, and parts of France and Italy, Catalan will offer students a deeper connection to the region’s language, culture, and history.
For Sabé, expanding access to language learning remains central—whether learners are in New Haven or engaging online from around the world.
To explore Yale en primera persona: Narrativas hispanas, visit online.yale.edu.
When Spanish Learning Comes to Life: Watertown Students Visit Yale
Watertown High School’s Spanish Honors class visited Yale to meet those behind an online video collection featuring first-person stories from Spanish-speaking members of the Yale community.