Written by: Ainsley Hall and published in The Martinsburg Journal on March 25, 2025, link to the article HERE.
MARTINSBURG — Martinsburg High School hosted the Fin de Semana de Diversión e Inmersión, or FISEDI Conference, on Friday, where Spanish teachers throughout the state gathered to connect with other educators and embrace the Spanish culture.
For two days, teachers enjoyed reconnecting and finding new ways to engage students in the classroom.
The event was organized by Martinsburg High School teacher Elizabeth Sanchez, who serves as the president of the West Virginia Chapter of the American Association of Spanish and Portuguese Teachers. FISEDI takes place every year depending on where the current president is located. Last year, during Sanchez’s first term as president, she took the group to Washington, D.C., where they visited several museums and learned more about Spanish speaking cultures around the world.
This year, Sanchez wanted to have a more traditional gathering at the high school, where the theme focused on Spain. She invited Jesus Cerda, from the Embassy of Spain, and several other speakers to talk with the teachers throughout the two-day conference.
During his presentation, Cerda talked about how they can use art to teach people more about language and vice versa. By teaching Spanish in a new way, teachers can engage students in a way that doesn’t mean reading a textbook.
“It’s about approaching language in a different way,” Cerda said. “It makes it more appealing to some students.”
Cerda comes from the education field, teaching in both Spain and Texas. It is through his own experience that he’s so passionate about working with teachers. He was excited for the opportunity to spread teachers around the world by connecting with West Virginia educators.
There were also several workshops, where they learned traditional dances or how to make traditional Spanish dishes like paella, salmorejo, tortilla espanola, and churros. Around 28 teachers registered to participate in the conference and connect with other teachers.
Sanchez shared that meeting other Spanish teachers is one of the things that makes this event so important. It allows them to practice their language skills with other professionals, both local and from other countries.
“It makes us better teachers,” Sanchez said. “Some of the Spanish teachers haven’t been out of the country for many years. Here, they have the chance to practice their language with other Spanish speakers.”
Sanchez was excited to host FISEDI and looks forward to future events to meet with other teachers. By working together, they can provide the best education possible for their students.