2026 Encuentro de profesorado de español de Alberta: Full Schedule

The personal information collected through the 2026 Encuentro de Profesorado de Español de Alberta SCHED registration page is for the purpose of registering participants in professional learning sessions and fulfilling the operating activities of the 2026 Encuentro de Profesorado de Español de Alberta. This collection is authorized by section 4(c) of the Protection of Privacy Act. For questions about the collection of personal information, contact the Spanish Language Advisor with International Education Services by email at [email protected].

Join us for a dynamic, full-day professional development experience designed to equip Spanish language teachers with innovative strategies to enhance student learning.

There is a $30 registration fee to attend the 2026 Encuentro de Profesorado de Español de Alberta. To proceed with payment, please visit: Payment - RDPSD

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.

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 and Childcare. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

10:45am MDT

Building Thinking Classrooms in Math and Spanish

Saturday May 2, 2026 10:45am - 11:30am MDT

Room 9

What happens when classroom design prioritizes thinking before answers? Inspired by Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics, this session explores how the conditions that deepen mathematical thinking can also meaningfully inform Spanish Language Arts. By using random grouping, vertical non-permanent surfaces, and low-floor, high-ceiling tasks, teachers create spaces where students collaborate, take intellectual risks, and make their thinking and language visible. These environments offer rich opportunities for formative assessment through observation and conversation, allowing teachers to assess reasoning, language use, and understanding beyond final products. Participants will leave with classroom-ready tasks and strategies to add directly to their instructional toolbox.

Speakers

Paulina Villarreal

Teacher - Learning Leader, Calgary Board of Education

Learning Leader/Teacher

Anita Wee

Substitute Teacher

At 51, I started an unexpected and fascinating journey: teaching Spanish and other subjects I never imagined teaching before—like math and science—in a new country. After finishing my PhD, I told myself I didn’t want to face any more big challenges, but here I am, reinventing... Read More →

Saturday May 2, 2026 10:45am - 11:30am MDT
Room 9

Session in Spanish, Elementary

Company CBE
Audience Elementary teachers
Area Math and Spanish

10:45am MDT

El Poder del Español: Técnicas para Impulsar el Aprendizaje en Programas Bilingües

Saturday May 2, 2026 10:45am - 11:30am MDT

Room 4

In today’s multilingual classrooms, supporting students in a Spanish bilingual program means moving far beyond vocabulary lists and grammar drills. It requires purposeful integration of language and content across the curriculum. This interactive session will equip educators with practical and engaging activities that weave Spanish language learning into core subjects. Participants will explore techniques to make language comprehensible, hands-on and inclusive. The presentation offers actionable ideas, ready‑to‑use tools, classroom examples, and fresh perspectives to strengthen bilingual instruction.

Speakers

Katharina Gonzalez

Kindergarten Spanish Bilingual teacher and Instructional Coach, ECSD

Saturday May 2, 2026 10:45am - 11:30am MDT
Room 4

Session in Spanish

Audience Elementary teachers
Area Instructional techniques for bilingual classrooms

10:45am MDT

¿Por qué la IA no puede reemplazarnos a los docentes de lenguas… "ahorita"? Una perspectiva pragmática.

Saturday May 2, 2026 10:45am - 11:30am MDT

Room 8

¿Puede la inteligencia artificial enseñar lo que significa "ahorita" ? Esta ponencia parte de una provocación: la IA puede producir lenguaje, pero no necesariamente comprenderlo. Desde una perspectiva pragmática, se examinan los límites actuales de la IA en la interpretación del significado en contexto, la gestión de relaciones sociales y la comprensión de normas culturales. A través de ejemplos del español, se argumenta que enseñar una lengua implica mucho más que transmitir estructuras: implica acompañar a los estudiantes en la negociación del sentido. En ese espacio —humano, contextual e impredecible— los docentes seguimos siendo, "ahorita", insustituibles.

Speakers

Luz Janeth Ospina M

University of Lethbridge

Luz Janeth Ospina M.
Una vida de retos y aprendizajes:
Nació en Colombia, pero se mudó a Canadá con su hija en 1997. Es licenciada en educación en lenguas extranjeras y magíster en lingüística de la Universidad de Antioquia; doctora en lingüística aplicada a la enseñanza del español como lengua extranjera de la Universidad... Read More →

Saturday May 2, 2026 10:45am - 11:30am MDT
Room 8

Session in Spanish

Area Artificial Inteligence

11:45am MDT

Reading Across Borders: Planning Effective Literacy Instruction in Spanish Bilingual Programs

Saturday May 2, 2026 11:45am - 12:30pm MDT

Room 9

In this session, we’ll explore how to develop a coherent reading plan for elementary Spanish bilingual programs, drawing on the work of Beatriz Diuk and Young‑Suk Kim. We’ll examine evidence‑based approaches to integrating reading and writing, strengthening biliteracy, and supporting language development. The session will also feature a curated list of children’s books from a range of Spanish‑speaking countries to enrich classroom instruction.

Speakers

Andrés Sánchez Fernández

Languages Consultant, ECSD

International Languages Consultant

Saturday May 2, 2026 11:45am - 12:30pm MDT
Room 9

Session in Spanish, Elementary

Audience Elementary teachers
Area Second Language Acquisition

11:45am MDT

Seeing, Saying, and Thinking: Using Notice & Wonder + PWIM to Strengthen Vocabulary and Mathematical Reasoning in Bilingual Classrooms

Saturday May 2, 2026 11:45am - 12:30pm MDT

Room 8

In Spanish bilingual mathematics classrooms, visuals are more than supports, they’re powerful bridges between language, reasoning, and deep mathematical understanding. Join me for an engaging, hands-on session where we will explore how the Notice & Wonder routine and the Picture Word Inductive Model (PWIM) work together to spark curiosity, build academic vocabulary, and strengthen students’ ability to communicate their mathematical thinking in Spanish.Come ready to participate, reflect, and reimagine how visuals can transform language learning and math discourse in your mathematics classroom and beyond.

Speakers

Anita Hanneman

Mathematics Consultant - Elementary, Edmonton Catholic Schools

Elementary Mathematics Consultant

Saturday May 2, 2026 11:45am - 12:30pm MDT
Room 8

Session in Spanish

Company EDCS
Audience Elementary teachers
Area Math and Spanish

11:45am MDT

Tasks by Design: Developing Task-Based Lessons for the Spanish Language Class

Saturday May 2, 2026 11:45am - 12:30pm MDT

Library

In Second Language Education, we often hear about teaching with tasks. But, how do we design or adapt pedagogical materials so that they are truly tasks? In this session, first we will examine the main characteristics of a task through examples so that we can differentiate them from other pedagogical activities. Then, we will discuss the different steps for developing task-based lessons: the conceptualization of the task, the design of pedagogical activities to enable learners to complete said task as well as activities to foster learning from it, and decisions regarding assessment options.

Speakers

Xavier Gutiérrez

Associate Professor, University of Alberta

Spanish Language Program Coordinator

Diseño de tareas Xavier Gutiérrez Encuentro 2026 pdf

Saturday May 2, 2026 11:45am - 12:30pm MDT
Library

Session in Spanish, K-12

Company UoA
Audience K-12
Area Lesson planning and pedagogical materials design

1:30pm MDT

Biliteracy as Meaningful, Cross-Curricular Instruction in the Spanish Bilingual Classroom

Saturday May 2, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm MDT

Room 4

This session explores how biliteracy instruction in a Grade 3/4 Spanish bilingual program provides an efficient, powerful approach to literacy development. Through intentional cross-linguistic connections and structured literacy practices, students strengthen reading, writing, and comprehension in Spanish and English. Special attention is given to learners not yet reading independently. By building decoding foundations in Spanish and transferring skills to English, students gain fluency, confidence, and academic language. Oral language development and explicit vocabulary instruction further support comprehension across content areas. Embedding literacy in science and social studies reduces duplication, streamlines planning, aligns outcomes, integrates intervention, and elevates achievement for learners.

Speakers

RAQUEL AVILES TORRES

Spanish Bilingual Teacher and Instructional Coach, ECSD

I am a passionate Mexican educator with over 15 years of teaching experience. Teaching is not only my profession but my true vocation. Throughout my career, I have been deeply committed to sharing the richness of the Spanish language and culture while supporting students’ academic... Read More →

Saturday May 2, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm MDT
Room 4

Session in Spanish, Elementary

Company ECSD
Audience Elementary teachers
Area Biliteracy instruction

1:30pm MDT

Del juego a la palabra: Tres kits interactivos para desarrollar el lenguaje oral.

Saturday May 2, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm MDT

Room 9

Del juego a la palabra: tres kits interactivos para desarrollar el lenguaje oral es una sesión práctica que presenta tres kits de Communakit diseñados para apoyar a niños que aprenden español como segunda lengua. A través de tarjetas con imágenes organizadas por niveles y actividades de secuenciación, junto con manipulativos que los estudiantes utilizan para hacer correspondencias entre la imagen y los objetos presentados, los niños desarrollan vocabulario, expresión oral, escucha, memoria y habilidades sociales. El enfoque multisensorial permite adaptar el aprendizaje a cada estudiante, fortaleciendo el lenguaje como base de la alfabetización y el éxito académico.

Speakers

Tatiana Cristancho

Spanish Teacher, ECSD

Grade 3 Spanish Teacher

Saturday May 2, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm MDT
Room 9

Session in Spanish, Elementary

Audience Elementary teachers
Area Spanish as a Second Language

1:30pm MDT

Portafolio Cultural y aprendizaje cultural personalizado

Saturday May 2, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm MDT

Room 2

En esta sesión se presenta el Portafolio Cultural como herramienta práctica para una enseñanza del español inclusiva y culturalmente relevante, en cualquier nivel, programa y tipo. Se explicará qué es y cómo implementarlo paso a paso en distintos contextos. Se mostrará cómo este proyecto promueve el desarrollo del conocimiento cultural, la competencia intercultural y la confianza del alumnado como aprendiente de lengua y cultura. El portafolio invita a establecer conexiones significativas entre comunidades hispanohablantes y las propias identidades culturales, fomentando inclusión, equidad y sentido de pertenencia. Al finalizar, se contará con pautas, una rúbrica adaptable y acceso a materiales abiertos.

Speakers

Angela George

Associate Professor, University of Calgary

Professor of Spanish. I have taught all levels of Spanish (beginning, intermediate, ad advanced) and also courses in Spanish on topics in linguistics such as sociolinguistics, introduction to hispanic linguistics, and pragmatics. I have also taught in English courses on research methods... Read More →

Portafolios Culturales.Encuentro 2026.AG pptx

Saturday May 2, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm MDT
Room 2

Session in Spanish, K-12

Audience K-12
Area Teaching Culture

1:30pm MDT

¡Siempre los mismos!

Saturday May 2, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm MDT

Room 8

Strategies, including UDL, to make sure that ALL students have a chance to participate in the Spanish class.

Speakers

Abdel Rassi Mendez

Spanish Bilingual Teacher, Edmonton Catholic Schools

Grade 6 Spanish Bilingual Program

Saturday May 2, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm MDT
Room 8

Session in Spanish, K-12

Company ECSD
Audience K-12
Area Spanish as a Second Language

2:30pm MDT

EL AULA COMO ESCENARIO: música, juego dramático y TIC

Saturday May 2, 2026 2:30pm - 3:15pm MDT

Room 9

El aula como escenario se presenta como un espacio para crear, experimentar y usar el español de forma activa. El aprendizaje de ELE se organiza como un itinerario cooperativo centrado en la oralidad. La música y la cultura hispana desempeñan un papel vertebrador desde el inicio, facilitando la construcción de vocabulario, ritmo y pronunciación mediante canciones, referentes culturales y materiales visuales personalizados. El proceso continúa con rutas digitales y retos cooperativos, así como con dinámicas de juego dramático y creación de vídeos.

Speakers

Candelaria Mínguez Fernández

Spanish Bilingual Teacher, West Coulee Station School

Primary teacher specialized in Spanish as a Foreign Language (ELE). I focus on helping students actually speak through movement, music, and drama. This is my main focus in this event:Getting students to speak from day oneLow-prep, high-impact activitiesMaking language learning active and engaging... Read More →

Saturday May 2, 2026 2:30pm - 3:15pm MDT
Room 9

Session in Spanish, Elementary

Audience Elementary teachers
Area Languages and drama

2:30pm MDT

Historias, voces y pantallas: comunicar, interpretar y conectar culturas

Saturday May 2, 2026 2:30pm - 3:15pm MDT

Room 4

Esta sesión presenta cómo integrar Spanish Language & Arts con Film and Media Arts para aprender español a través de procesos creativos. Mediante la creación de narrativas, decisiones visuales y producción de contenidos mediáticos, los estudiantes comunican en español mientras exploran distintas perspectivas culturales. Actividades como guiones breves, mini-videos, podcasts, narrativas multimedia o remezclas creativas fomentan la experimentación y la conexión con diversas realidades. La competencia intercultural guía este trabajo expresivo. Los participantes recibirán recursos prácticos y adaptables para implementar en el aula.

Speakers

Jesús Gómez Troyano

High School Bilingual Teacher, Austin O'Brien Catholic High School, Edmonton Catholic School Division

I am currently teaching Spanish Language and Arts 20 and 30 (grades 11 and 12), Social Studies 10, and Religions of the World 35.

Saturday May 2, 2026 2:30pm - 3:15pm MDT
Room 4

Session in Spanish, K-12

Audience K-12
Area Spanish Language & Arts and Film and Media Arts

2:30pm MDT

Nuevos artistas audiovisuales como ejemplos pedagógicos para aprender español

Saturday May 2, 2026 2:30pm - 3:15pm MDT

Room 8

Mi ponencia propone un recorrido pedagógico sobre la industria audiovisual española reciente con particular interés en la música, el cine y los podcasts con el objetivo de ilustrar ejemplos actuales de películas, comics, podcasts y artistas que funcionan muy bien en una clase de español. Mediante el análisis de varias obras y de los múltiples vínculos culturales que las unen, mi ensayo demuestra que existe una gran diversidad dentro de las artes audiovisuales de España. Mi investigación termina con una reflexión general sobre la riqueza cultural española con el objetivo de tratar de enmarcar dichas obras dentro del nuevo arte iberoamericano.

Speakers

Enrique Avila Lopez

Associate Professor, Mount Royal University

Professor of Hispanic Studies. Over the past 10 years I have been teaching courses on modern Spain and Hispanic cinema. My courses are GNED 1303: Conflicts within the Spanish Cultures and societies; SPAN2220: Hispanic Cinema; SPAN2219: Contemporary Spanish Culture; and HUMN2201: Hispanic... Read More →

Saturday May 2, 2026 2:30pm - 3:15pm MDT
Room 8

Session in Spanish, Junior High /High school

Area Cine, literatura, Música, podcasts

2:30pm MDT

¡Juguemos! Learning Spanish Through Games

Saturday May 2, 2026 2:30pm - 3:15pm MDT

Library

Get ready to move, play, and learn! In this hands-on session, educators will explore high-energy Spanish games designed for the elementary classroom that build language through comprehensible input, movement, and fun. Participants will experience games that focus on listening and oral Spanish, helping students acquire language naturally while staying actively engaged.

You’ll leave with easy-to-use, classroom-ready games that get students up, moving, and confidently using Spanish—no worksheets required!

Speakers