Introduction
Mónica Treviño was born and raised in Mexico and has been a teacher for 12 years. She is currently in her 5th year teaching Spanish to JK-6th-grade students at St. Albert the Great School in Louisville, KY. Monica is passionate not only about teaching Spanish but also about sharing the cultural aspects of the Spanish-speaking world. Her goal is to inspire students to see language as a bridge to understanding different cultures and perspectives, and to embrace global connections.
Mónica has been using ALBA Y GAEL for three years.
St. Albert the Great Parish School is a private school in Louisville, KY, serving approximately 715 students in grades JK-8. As a 3X nationally recognized Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, St. Albert the Great strives to prepare students to be good citizens and to excel academically.
The Spanish program at St. Albert the Great is designed to immerse students in both the language and the rich cultural diversity of the Spanish-speaking world. Using the communicative approach, the program emphasizes real-world language use, encouraging students to develop speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills through interactive and meaningful activities.
The Challenge
The textbooks previously used in Mónica’s Spanish classes created significant barriers to authentic language learning. According to Mónica, “These books, although containing vocabulary, lacked engaging content and failed to present the language in a meaningful, communicative, and creative way.”
The materials focused solely on teaching vocabulary without providing a solid foundation in grammar. This approach encouraged rote memorization of isolated words without context, making it difficult for students to form sentences or express themselves meaningfully. The books lacked engaging activities such as role-playing, games, and multimedia content—essential elements for keeping young learners motivated and interested.
Without interactive exercises and real-world applications, students often found the material dull and struggled to stay motivated. Mónica noted, “This lack of engagement led to students memorizing vocabulary in order to pass a test without truly understanding how to use the vocabulary in real-world situations. As a result, their language retention and confidence suffered.”
The textbooks focused on vocabulary lists and repetitive drills that did not encourage real communication. Without dialogues that reflected natural conversations or opportunities for cultural immersion tasks, students struggled to apply what they learned in real-world scenarios. Students often found it difficult to engage in authentic conversations.
Mónica recognized that a more interactive, immersive program was needed. “It was essential to find new books for Spanish class. By incorporating materials that reflected real-world scenarios—such as daily-life conversations and social interactions—students would be able to see the direct value of learning the language. This approach would not only improve engagement in class but also help build practical communication skills that students could apply in their personal and professional futures.”
"I used to rely on textbooks that were monotonous and focused solely on teaching vocabulary without providing a solid foundation on grammar. These materials lacked engaging content and failed to present the language in a meaningful, communicative, and creative way."
The Solution
To effectively address these challenges, Mónica adopted ALBA Y GAEL, a comprehensive Spanish program designed specifically for elementary learners. The decision was underpinned by several key features that promised to transform the language learning experience in her classroom.
Interactive, Engaging Learning Experience
“Unlike the previous monotonous materials, ALBA Y GAEL incorporates real-world conversation, reading, listening, and hands-on activities that encourage active participation,” Mónica explains. “With engaging dialogues, role-playing exercises, and culturally relevant themes, students became more invested in learning and saw the practical value of Spanish in their daily lives.”
Since implementing ALBA Y GAEL, Mónica has noticed a significant improvement in student feedback. “They often express how much more fun and engaging the activities are compared to before. The interactive and varied exercises keep them interested and motivated, making language learning feel more enjoyable.”
Students echoed this sentiment:
“My experience is different from that of ALBA Y GAEL is interactive with fun activities and projects.” — Benjamin, 5th grade
“In the other course I have taken, we did not get to see what we were looking at. We did not do projects either. ALBA Y GAEL has all of that!” — Whitney, 3rd grade
Project-Based Approach Connects Learning to Real Life
Using a project-based approach, ALBA Y GAEL engages students in real-world communication by encouraging them to apply their language skills in meaningful, practical contexts. Mónica notes: “Students are now engaging in activities that mirror real-life situations. This approach not only enhances their language proficiency but also builds their confidence in using Spanish outside the classroom.” By connecting language to relatable situations, students become more motivated and invested in the learning process.
Students have gained tangible confidence through the program’s projects:
“I felt more confident doing the season poster because ALBA Y GAEL helped me with spelling and learning all the words that I needed to know.” — Benjamin, 5th grade
“When we did a ‘Clase de Música’ project, we had to write about it. Thanks to ALBA Y GAEL, I wrote with ease.”— Whitney, 3rd grade
“I felt more confident doing the season poster because ALBA Y GAEL helped me with spelling and learning all the words that I needed to know.” — Benjamin, 5th grade
“When we did a ‘Clase de Música’ project, we had to write about it. Thanks to ALBA Y GAEL, I wrote with ease.” — Whitney, 3rd grade
From Sentence Frames to Independent Writing
The impact of ALBA Y GAEL on student language development has been remarkable. Mónica observed a fundamental shift in how students construct and express themselves in Spanish: “In the past, when we used the old Spanish books or in grades where we used no books at all, students often needed sentence frames to help them construct sentences. The structured prompts provided a necessary scaffold, allowing students to piece together their thoughts within a given framework. However, this sometimes limited their ability to create original sentences or express themselves beyond the provided models.”
“With the ALBA Y GAEL program, students have more flexibility and support to develop their own sentences independently,” she continues. “Some students can even write short paragraphs using their own ideas, demonstrating a stronger grasp of the language. This shift has encouraged greater confidence in their writing, as they are no longer reliant on rigid sentence structures but instead can apply their knowledge in a more meaningful way.”
Practical Resources Students Value
Students particularly appreciate the practical support the program provides. Charlotte, a 4th grader, explained: “The books give me a good resource to look back on or refer to if I have a question about one of our assignments. They also have really good examples, which help me learn and understand what the objective is for the activity.”
Benjamin, a 5th grader, added: “The aspects that I have found most helpful are that there are audio recordings and that it is about people and different events for the different units.”
Flexible Implementation
Mónica found the program adaptable to her diverse classroom needs: “When implementing the new Spanish books in our school, I initially approached the curriculum with the idea that I needed to follow it exactly as laid out. However, as I became more familiar with the materials, I realized that there was flexibility within the lessons, allowing me to adapt them to best meet my students’ needs.” This adaptability has been crucial in ensuring the program works effectively for her diverse classroom of JK-6th-grade learners.
"With the ALBA Y GAEL program, students have more flexibility and support to develop their own sentences independently. Some students can even write short paragraphs using their own ideas, demonstrating a stronger grasp of the language."
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- Student project from Alba y Gael — Grade 2
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- Student project from Alba y Gael — Grade 3
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- Student project from Alba y Gael — Grade 4
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- Student project from Alba y Gael — Grade 4
Impact on Students and Learning Outcomes
Mónica reflects on the transformation: “The ALBA Y GAEL books transformed student engagement and learning outcomes by making language acquisition more interactive, relevant, and immersive. The activities in the program have captivated students’ interest, improving their ability to retain and apply vocabulary and grammar in practical contexts.”
Students consistently express increased confidence and understanding:
“These books have helped me understand Spanish. The books helped me learn a lot.” — Maggie, 4th grade
“It makes me feel more confident in Spanish class.” — Emily, 5th grade
“I like the activities because they help me understand the language.” — Emily, 5th grade
“I felt confident in the ‘Tío Calavera’ project.” — Emily, 5th grade
The transformation at St. Albert the Great School illustrates how carefully selected educational materials can profoundly influence the effectiveness of language teaching at the elementary level. By moving from isolated vocabulary memorization to authentic, communicative language learning, ALBA Y GAEL has equipped young students with both the skills and confidence to use Spanish in meaningful ways—preparing them to be global citizens who can connect across cultures.
"Since implementing the new Spanish books, I've noticed a significant improvement in the feedback I receive from students. They often express how much more fun and engaging the activities are compared to before."
Learn more about the ALBA Y GAEL textbook series by visiting the link below.
