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At CASLS, we believe that transformational education is achievable through careful and intentional planning, innovation, and the development of pedagogical materials that speak to the needs of diverse populations of language learners. Keeping these ideals in mind, we recently collaborated with the Vanderbilt University Center for Latin American Studies in their teacher workshop entitled, “They are We: Exploring Afro-Cuban Identity through Film and Archives”.

At the workshop, teachers viewed They are We, a documentary created by Dr. Emma Christopher. This documentary reveals the first meeting of people living in Perico, Cuba with people living in a small village in Sierra Leone after discovering that they share the same traditional songs and dances as a result of the transatlantic slave trade. After viewing the film, educators were provided with lesson plans to incorporate the film in their classrooms and were treated to a presentation and question and answer session with the filmmaker. Then, Dr. Jane Landers, a Vanderbilt historian, discussed Cuba and the preservation of its various historical documents. Finally, Stephanie Knight, CASLS Language Technology Specialist, presented various CASLS resources to support the application of the material learned in the workshop including game-enhanced classroom activities for exploring African diaspora in Latino communities. These resources can be downloaded for free at  https://games2teach.uoregon.edu/publications/.

We are happy to report that the workshop was a success. According to Adrian Bahan, an AP Human Geography teacher who attended the workshop, “I find immense value in the educational outreach programs offered through the Vanderbilt University Center for Latin American Studies because of their access to the academics behind the films and other resources that are presented. This allows … deeper insight into the material which leads to richer classroom experiences for my students”.  Indeed, as we continue to work with educators to develop classroom lessons that are founded in relevant, real-world concepts, we can expect education to become increasingly more meaningful for all learners.