Hispanic Heritage Month: one language, twenty-one countries
From September 15 to October 15 we celebrated the people, places and voices behind the Spanish we learn — in class and around Indianapolis.
Every year, from September 15 to October 15, the United States celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month. The dates are not random: September 15 marks the independence of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, followed by Mexico on the 16th and Chile on the 18th.
At RSA, we see it as a reminder of why we learn Spanish in the first place. It is not one culture — it is twenty-one countries, hundreds of accents and millions of neighbors, many of them right here in Indianapolis.
What we did in class
Each group chose a country and brought it to the table: a song, a recipe, a word that only exists there. Beginners presented with five sentences. Advanced groups debated what "Latino" and "Hispanic" really mean.
El español no tiene un solo acento. Tiene muchas casas.Spanish doesn't have one accent. It has many homes.
Beyond the classroom
We visited local Hispanic-owned businesses, ordered only in Spanish and asked the owners about their stories. Those conversations became our next lessons.
Why it matters for learners
Learning a language is also learning who speaks it. When you understand the history behind a word, you remember it — and you use it with respect.
