Blue Jays in Ms. Nilda Rivera’s Spanish IV AP and Spanish V Honors classes had the opportunity to speak via teleconference with renowned Puerto Rican actress Magali Carrasquillo. The Skype session was the first in a series of lectures in which the students will meet via teleconference a diverse group of Hispanoamerican artists from different media ― theatre, television, film, visual arts, design, and music. The artists will each share their experiences as professionals and discuss how speaking Spanish has helped open doors for them internationally.

Ms. Carrasquillo talked to the AP students about her 39-year career as an actress, her travels to Cuba earlier this year, and the experience of being Ms. Rivera’s teacher.

This is the second year Ms. Rivera has used this type of long distance conversation experience part of her Spanish classes’ curricula. Last year, the Spanish AP class spoke with two young professionals — a doctor and a lawyer. This year the AP class will participate in a second series of lecturers with first-generation Latino professionals to discuss the life of the Latinos in America and the social issues affecting their communities.