Building Up an Excellent Spanish Language Program

Maestra Rebeca Viquez is leading excellent work at Decatur Classical School! She joined the Decatur community a few years ago when the school transitioned from teaching Latin to Spanish. Her commitment to students made it seamless! Recently, her principal highlighted how her deep love for her students shines through daily in the authentic way she honors individual identities, heritage, and cultures across our community. She is also known for masterfully balancing rigorous language instruction with a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where learning a language is a genuinely joyous experience. 

And her hard work is definitely paying off! Last year, 100 percent of Decatur’s fifth-grade students met the proficiency benchmark on their Spanish-language assessment. This achievement supports their progress toward the CPS Pathway to Biliteracy Award. She exemplifies teaching excellence, cultural pride, and academic achievement. We connected with her to learn more about her plans for this school year. Read about them below! 

What was it like leading the school’s transition to teaching Spanish? 

It was unexpected because it was such a big change! Latin is an important language because Spanish and the other Romance languages developed from it. However, Spanish gives students more opportunities to communicate, hear the language in their communities, and use what they learn in everyday life. It was hard for the students at first, but now they love it! 

What strategies have you been using in the classroom that led to the 100 percent pass rate on the Spanish-language proficiency assessment?

I involve students in the language from the very beginning and create an immersive, Spanish-rich environment. I’ve also focused on helping students understand the cultures connected to the language. I’ve used myself as an example, explaining that English is not my first language and that I still make mistakes sometimes. Sharing that experience has helped students feel safe, comfortable, and willing to take risks as they learn.

How do students feel joy in your classroom? 

My classroom is not a traditional classroom. I have worked to create a calm, colorful, and welcoming learning space with flexible seating. Students can feel comfortable, interact with one another, and have fun while they learn. We were recently learning about mariachi, and I played music while asking them if they could identify any of the Spanish words in the song. My room is also extremely colorful, which I think makes the students happy. 

It’s Hispanic Heritage Month! What do you hope students remember about this month? 

So many things—the culture, the music, the colors, the history, and the people! I want students to understand the meaning and cultural context behind what they are learning. For example, with mariachi, I want them to be able to share more than just comes from Mexico. I want them to understand its history, cultural importance, instruments, clothing, and the stories communicated through the music.

What is your message to your students? 

You’ve got this! It is okay to make mistakes because mistakes are part of learning. We are going to learn and grow together.