“Cultura Viva” in the Classroom

By JULIETE SEO | Junior Reporter

!Hola! Did you know that almost 50 percent of people who live in Los Angeles are of Spanish descent?

Rapidly growing every day as the most widely-spoken language in LA, it’s no wonder so many students at Palisades Charter High School have decided to learn Spanish.

Senora Martine, a Spanish teacher at Pali High, takes students on a cultural journey through the Spanish-speaking world.

Upon entering her classroom for the first time, you will notice the walls, which are covered in colorful cultural posters displaying Spanish-speaking countries around the world.

You will soon realize however, that this is not your typical class. This teacher has much more to offer her students than just showing up to a classroom every day to teach boring grammar lessons that could make you fall asleep in a matter of seconds.

No, this is not your typical Spanish class in any way, shape or form. Brace yourself for a cultural journey through Martine’s world.

The journey begins in Cuba, where she was born. She came to California as a young girl in 1961 because of the Cuban Revolution and has lived here ever since.

“I’m a California Cuban,” she stated proudly. “Los Angeles is home.”

From a very young age, her teaching career was already set in stone. When asked how she got into education, Martine responded reminiscently with a laugh.

“When I was about 8 years old, I used to play school with my brother and my cousin who were 5, and I used to be the teacher and they were the students. My grandmother used to say to me, ‘You’re going to be a teacher,’ and that was the first encounter,” she said. “But since I was in junior high, I knew I wanted to be a teacher, and when I started college, I knew that was my goal.”

Martine has now taught at Pali High for 21 years and shows up every day with a specific goal in mind for her students: “To have a passion for the Spanish language and the people who speak the language. And when I say the people, I mean the countries, the areas of the world where Spanish is spoken.”

Consequently, her goal has been brought to life in the classroom through various creative projects that force students to “step outside of the box” (one of her famous sayings) and explore cultures other than their own.

In addition, she undoubtedly has a passion for not only the language, but also for teaching and the students she teaches. When asked what she likes most about teaching at Pali High, she responded by saying, “the students” with a smile.

When asked what she gets out of teaching, she replied with much enthusiasm, “Fun, and learning from young people. Looking at the world from a young person’s point of view, and I learn so much from my students.”

Martine has without a doubt swept the Spanish-speaking world by storm, dramatically altering the way in which a language can be taught by stepping outside of the box and creating a fun learning environment for students.

By weaving in creative and unique projects seamlessly into each chapter, learning Spanish is taken to a whole new level, forcing students to step outside of the box and venture out into a world of living culture, or “cultura viva.”

In Martine’s classes, students are taken on a wonderful journey as they explore famous Latin American artists (and some not-so-widely known). Through the artists’ work, they make connections to a broader statement being made about Latinos, learn about the core Hispanic values and much more.

Without even realizing it, by the end of the semester students feel more educated about a people they knew little or nothing about before. They also leave her class feeling more well-rounded and more aware of the Spanish culture and influences in everyday life.

Students break down barriers along the way, shattering false perceptions they may have had and becoming more educated.

What does Martine think about her classes at Pali High?

“I think my classes are interesting and fun. I try hard to connect what’s taught in the classroom with the real world,” she said.

Without a doubt, she has accomplished this goal, and much more.