An interview with an Oakland School author.           By Gabe Gurwin

        Joyce Puebla, the Oakland School Spanish teacher, was recently featured in a Valley News Dispatch article about her recent book. An update of a book originally written 50 years ago, Say it in Spanish is an educational guide to help with common Spanish phrases. Joyce Puebla’s updated version added phrases dealing with cell phone use and social media. I sat down with her to get the details on the process.

Gabe: Now, what were your instructions before you began rewriting this book?

Joyce Puebla: They asked me to rewrite a book that was originally written in the 1950’s and published in 1960, and update it. By the time I was finished, I had completely rewritten it. It wasn’t usable in its old format, so they kept changing the instructions throughout the time I was doing it.

Gabe: How much of the original was left when you were done and how long did it take to rewrite the whole thing?

Joyce Puebla: Very little. The basic structure was there, but I changed a lot of the pronunciation. I would say that about 20% of it was left. It took about 6 months.

Gabe: And what makes learning these phrases easier than learning individual words?

Joyce Puebla: Usually, when you buy a phrase book, you’re going to a Spanish speaking country. You’re really motivated. Having a complete phrase makes it much easier, so you don’t have to worry about conjugating a verb or using a different form of adjective. Phrases that are often used will come to you right away.

         Not only has the Oakland School given a great environment for teaching Spanish in a small class, but it has also given Joyce Puebla the opportunity to take students to Spanish speaking countries. The activities these students participate in would’ve been impossible in a larger setting. This year’s trip is a two-stop journey to Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Please check back after the trip for an interview with the travelers!

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