Why Digital Storytelling?

Digital Storytelling in the Spanish L2 Classroom: A Horizontal Learning Experience grew out of a digital storytelling project in SPA 102 at Princeton University. Yvonne Gavela-Ramos, the course coordinator, developed the website with technical support from Ben Johnston and funding from the McGraw Center Digital Pedagogy Grant.

Designed to guide students and instructors through the process of crafting personal stories in Spanish, the website brings together step-by-step guidance, teaching resources, and student work to support a shared learning experience grounded in creativity, reflection, and collaboration.

Through writing, images, music, and oral narration, students explore meaningful experiences and develop their own voices in Spanish. Sharing their stories creates opportunities to learn from one another and engage with diverse experiences and perspectives.

In addition to showcasing students’ work, the website serves as a practical resource for educators interested in incorporating digital storytelling into their own language courses.

 

Yvonne Gavela-Ramos

Yvonne Gavela-Ramos (Ph.D., Penn State University) is a Lecturer in Spanish and Portuguese at Princeton University. Her teaching and research explore Digital Storytelling, multiliteracies, and creative writing in the Spanish language classroom, alongside teacher education. Her work also examines Spanish film, literature, and visual culture, with a particular interest in collective memory and film adaptation. These interests inform her approach to storytelling as a space for creative expression, cultural exploration, and language learning.