Professional Development

Join us this summer in Salamanca, Spain June 28th – July 11th 2026 for our Empower Your Teaching with Technology professional development course.
Want to win a scholarship for the course? Fill out the form below to enter to win a FREE trip (not including flight) to Salamanca this summer!
Meet the Professor: Dr. Gabriela Christie Tolleti

Dr. Gabriela Christie Toletti
Dr. Gabriela Christie Toletti is currently Professor of Spanish at Tidewater Community College (Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.) and Associate Adjunct Professor of World Cultural Studies at Old Dominion University (Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.). Previously, she taught Spanish and Literature at Wingate University (Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.) and English at the Alianza Cultural Uruguay-Estados Unidos (Montevideo, Uruguay).
Bio
She earned both her M.A. and Ph.D. in Latin American Literature, with a minor in Peninsular Literature, from the State University of New York at Buffalo (Buffalo, New York, U.S.). She also graduated as a Teacher of English as a Second Language from the Alianza Cultural Uruguay-Estados Unidos and as a Clinical Psychologist from the University of Uruguay (Montevideo, Uruguay).
Specialties
Her areas of specialization include Interdisciplinary Education, Multicultural Studies, Pedagogy, Educational Psychology, Applied Educational Technology, Hispanic Literature, and Foreign Language Education. Among her publications, she is the author of On the Scene with Migration and Dictatorship: An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Work of Uruguayan Playwright Dino Armas (2018).
Course Description
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This comprehensive two-week professional development program, held in Salamanca, is designed for Spanish teachers aiming to elevate their language proficiency, teaching skills, and cultural competence through the integrated use of educational technology.
Digital platforms (such as Padlet, Edpuzzle, and Genially) and AI-powered applications (such as ChatGPT and Perplexity) serve as a connective thread throughout the course, enabling teachers to explore innovative strategies for lesson design, classroom engagement, and intercultural research. Authentic
resources and multimedia enrich contextual understanding and unify the learning experience.
The program emphasizes holistic language development through daily sessions focused on language structure, writing techniques, oral communication, listening skills, and reading abilities. It also incorporates Spanish cultural studies, featuring excerpts from literary works primarily by authors associated with the Salamanca region, such as Miguel de Unamuno, Fernando de Rojas, Antonio Machado, and Carmen Martín Gaite, as well as works by authors representing other regions of Spain.
A central emphasis is placed on pedagogy and methodology, with a special focus on technology-enhanced instruction.
Participants explore innovative strategies, including the responsible use of AI for lesson design, dialogue practice, and intercultural research. Practical teaching exercises, including microteaching, reflective practices, and digital lesson design, enable participants to apply their enhanced language and teaching skills.
Cultural activities and technological teaching tools are seamlessly integrated with class materials, further immersing participants in the Spanish language and culture, and equipping teachers with practical,
transferable skills for today’s classrooms.
The course ultimately promotes linguistic excellence, cultural understanding, digital literacy, and professional growth.
Learning Outcomes
Outcome 1: Analyze and apply complex Spanish language structures in both written and oral communication, demonstrating advanced proficiency in grammar, syntax, and vocabulary, with support from digital and AI-powered platforms for practice and feedback.
Outcome 2: Demonstrate advanced listening and speaking skills through immersive language activities and practices, optimizing fluency and accuracy in various communicative situations, using multimedia resources and AI-based dialogue rehearsal tools.
Outcome 3: Examine, analyze, and synthesize sociocultural knowledge from authentic resources and literary works by renowned Spanish authors, fostering intercultural understanding, enhancing creative writing skills, and developing the ability to create culturally enriching classroom activities integrating collaborative platforms such as Padlet or Genially.
Outcome 4: Evaluate and refine teaching methodologies through microteaching and reflective practices, leveraging digital platforms and AI applications for lesson design, classroom engagement, and critical reflection on technology-enhanced instruction.
Outcome 5: Prepare and deliver high-level oral presentations in Spanish, demonstrating fluency and advanced oral expression skills, supported by multimedia tools and AI-powered feedback mechanisms