Fostering a Sense of Community

Congratulations to Dr. García-Granados, who has been selected as a 2024-25 UGA Service-Learning Fellow for his project to design and implement a class for Spanish heritage speakers that will combine reflective writing and community service (Span 3011S). 

Over the past few years, Dr. García-Granados has been developing innovative strategies for bilingual students in English and Spanish who lack training in writing Spanish for formal contexts. His classes have become a platform for these students to recover their Spanish voice and express themselves in non-colloquial communicative situations. For instance, he has successfully used the colorful cards from Lotería (Mexican Bingo) to prompt his students to reflect on current issues and create poems. They have even ventured into the role of translators in poetry events, a testament to Dr. García-Granados’ innovative approach. 

One of Dr. García-Granados’ key objectives is to foster a sense of community among his students and extend it to settings where interpreters are in high demand, such as a doctor’s office or a tutoring environment. To achieve this, he has established partnerships with community organizations like Athens Free Clinic and U-Lead. These collaborations will not only provide his students with a more immersive experience in the Hispanic population in Athens but also will serve as a source of first-hand reflection about their unique role as cultural ambassadors, thereby significantly creating bridges between the local Hispanic community and the Hispanic students at UGA.