By Ellie Porter ’25
Learning a language can be a long and difficult process. However, immersing oneself into the language can be an effective way to boost practice. During lunch and G block every Tuesday, students can practice their Spanish at a designated table in the dining hall.
The Spanish table, hosted by Language Media Lab Supervisor Mrs. Gloria Baldelli, Language Department Head Mr. Charlie Fuentes, Nev Rathburn ’26, and Majo Soria ’26, is located at one table in the sophomore and junior section of the dining hall. Rathbun believes that studying a language in a classroom alone cannot prepare learners for the everyday use of the language. Instead of a regular Spanish class environment or tutoring session, the experience guided by conversation leaders is more interactive and better resembles real-life exchanges.
“Learning a language within the classroom is very different from getting a more holistic experience,” Rathbun said. She hopes that the Spanish table will help solve this issue.
Mrs. Baldelli said, “In a tutoring situation, you feel maybe a little uncomfortable, but this is just fun. You have lunch and learn.”
Similarly, Soria seeks to create more opportunities for students to practice their language abilities. As a native Spanish speaker, she hopes to promote her culture and instill more natural, fluid speaking skills in her peers at the Spanish table. “I feel helpful to other students’ understanding, and that makes me happy,” Soria said.
At the language table, the conversation leaders adapt to the students’ level and topics of interest. Spanish Teacher Ms. Azucena Alvarez Alonso, who has participated in many of the lunches, explained, “Anything can happen, but the program is for everyone.”
In the future, French and Spanish Teacher Dr. Donna Canada-Smith and the rest of the Language Department hope to expand the program to include French, Chinese, and Arabic.
Spanish student Kristie Lu ’26, who sat at the Spanish language table during lunch, said, “It was definitely different from a traditional classroom experience. I felt more comfortable sharing and talking to them … it helped me learn how to talk in Spanish and it pushed me out of my comfort zone.”
