As the second semester begins, students might be looking to explore new clubs. Clubs are a great way to get to know people and make new friends, which is exactly what Spanish Club is all about. The club advisor and Spanish teacher, Michelle Hammons, and I sat down for an interview via Zoom to talk about what is in store for the club this year. Hammons has been the teacher advisor for the club for the past four years.

Gauntlet: What is Spanish Club exactly, and what is done during it?

Hammons: Spanish Club is basically just a club for kids to get together and hang out. For the last four years, we have had a group of kids that just liked coming to Spanish Club to see that group of people. As we are not meeting in the building right now, we have kind of had to find ways to make it fun online. We have been doing a lot of games, and for next semester we have been trying to think of ideas to get creative. Some of the ideas being considered are having a cooking demonstration for things like making guacamole or salsa. Those are things that we have done in the club before as a group. We have also watched Spanish movies. Sometimes we will do things around the holiday such as Navidad, or Day of the Dead, or whatever type of holiday is coming up. We sometimes will make crafts, but right now we are just trying to come up with ideas that we can do online together and build community. I think that is more of the focus, just to have a place where kids can talk and build a little bit of community with each other.

G: What changes were made to the club having it be online this year versus being in person in the previous years?

H: We are trying to get more creative, because, in person, we have a variety of things that we can do versus finding things that we can do online. What we have done before is usually having one or maybe two of the club members be in charge of planning the next meeting, so we are starting with that, and then they come with the ideas. We have some Pictionary and memory games, which we have been translating into online activities, and then trying to incorporate more online games as well.

G: What had inspired you to start the club?

H: (enthusiastically) I think that somebody else was doing [Spanish Club], and then they just did not do it anymore. They needed somebody to do [the club], and I used to coach after school, but since I was not coaching, I was like “Okay I will do it!” It is just super fun!

G: Why should students join Spanish Club if they are looking to join a club?

H: One of the things that makes it a great club to join is that we are really young right now. A lot of our club graduated, and so it is a club right now that you can join and grow with. A lot of the members are new, so you can kind of all come together and meet new people and meet new friends, hopefully. We are looking for officers in the future as well, so there is an opportunity to have some leadership roles in our club.

G: If someone is interested in joining Spanish Club, but is not in a Spanish class, can they?

H: Yes! [Kamiak] has language clubs, lots of language clubs, but there is no requirement to be in the language. Anyone can join the clubs!

G: When does Spanish Club meet?

H: Monday’s at 2:00.

G: How can students contact you if they are interested in joining Spanish Club?

H: Students can contact me through email, which is hammonsmr@mukilteo.wednet.edu, or they can send me a message in Schoology by typing Hammons in the send bar, and I will send them the invite to the group.

Spanish Club is a great way to make new friends and do fun activities during quarantine. They are currently looking for new members, and it is always a great time to join. If anyone has any questions about the club, they can email Hammons either through Schoology or the email she provided.