Welcome to the NEW website of the Southern California Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese

Adrian Perez Boluda - Interim President        Bibiana Díaz -Interim Vicepresident

Loknath Persaud -Treasurer     David Zarazúa - Webmaster     

Thank you college of the Canyons!

We would like to thank Claudia Acosta and her team at College of the Canyons for hosting our enriching Fall Conference on November 1, 2025. We also thank Soudi Jiménez of the L.A. Times for sharing some of the stories from his new book Ecos migrantes. Finally, we are grateful and excited about the new OER book presented by Karen López Alonzo (USD), titled Diversidad y contextos: Un texto de español para estudiantes de herencia en el tercer año. You can also visit her site, “Bluefields: Languages and Cultures,” to gain insight into a multilingual community in Nicaragua. You can find the program here.

Latest AATSP Exams Information

Claudia Kechkian, AATSP Exams Director, has shared with us the latest information on AATSP Exams. First, you can see her AATSP Exams Presentation here. You also have access to these documents:

• • Exam Cycle and Cost flyer, 

  • Join the Contest Poster!

  • NSC, Elementary Contest Flyer

  • Junior Travel Abroad to Salamanca Flyer (new opportunity for a Study Abroad Trip at the University of Salamanca)

  • Senior Scholarship Flyer (new opportunity for a Study Abroad Trip at the University of Salamanca)

Additionally, they have a new scholarship for Rising Educators at the early stages of their careers!

They have also developed new Specifications Booklets for all our exams, with vocabulary and grammar integrated within language functions, to support communicative alignment and promote proficiency-oriented instruction. You can find them on this website.

This year, they are again encouraging active chapter members and leaders to apply for the "2026 Chapter Leader Award" to spend a full Professional Development week at the University of Salamanca. Last year participants had an amazing experience! You can check participants' video HERE, and can apply following this link: 2026 CHAPTER LEADER AWARD.

Thank you Pasadena City College!

The SoCal Chapter of the AATSP  would like to thank Pasadena City College for welcoming us this past April 12 for our 2025 Spring Conference. Thank you to all the presenters and to professors Olga González and Loknath Persaud in particular for leading the plenary discussion on the current situation of language education at the post secondary level. Click here to see the program.

Be the Change! Start a Sociedad Hispánica de Amistad (SHA) Chapter at Your School! 

Are you passionate about promoting cultural understanding and making a difference in your school and community? Here’s your chance! We invite teachers in elementary, middle, and 9th grade high school to sponsor a Sociedad Hispánica de Amistad (SHA) chapter. SHA provides students with the opportunity to become ambassadors of the Hispanic culture through engaging activities, school events, and community service projects.

By sponsoring a chapter, you'll inspire students to embrace cultural diversity, develop leadership skills, and give back to their communities. Let’s work together to build a welcoming, inclusive environment where students can shine as global citizens!

Ready to inspire the next generation of cultural ambassadors? Start your SHA chapter today! More information here: https://www.aatsp.org/page/SHA

Thank you MSMU for a great conference!

The Southern California Chapter of the AATSP would like to thank Mount St. Mary´s University (Chalon Campus) for welcoming us this past Saturday, November 16, for our FALL 2024 Conference. Also thank you to Dr. Cristina Moon for the inspiring plenary speech. Please see the program for the conference here. 

Mount Saint Mary´s U. welcomed us this Fall 2023

Thank you to Mount Saint Mary´s University-LA for welcoming us for our Fall 2023 Conference and thanks to Dr. Krishauna Hines-Gaither, Vice President for Equity, Diversity and Justice, also of MSMU, for giving the plenary presentation. You can see the full program here. We also would like to congratulate Nancy Ballesteros and Vernice Grajeda who will be the new President and Vice-President of out chapter.