Holy Family Spanish Professor Awarded Don Quixote de La Mancha Scholarship
There are very few people who can match the passion Holy Family professor John Grande has for Latino culture and the Spanish language.
An instructor for more than 37 years, Grande has spent the last three years teaching a range of Spanish courses at Holy Family University. One of the main goals he has in every class he teaches is to provide students with the tools necessary to communicate conversationally with other Spanish speakers.
Recently, a national organization recognized Grande for his professional achievements. The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities awarded Grande the Don Quixote de La Mancha Scholarship. The scholarship is offered through a partnership between the association and the University of Castilla-La Mancha in Spain. The partnership grants 50 scholarships to higher education faculty who teach Spanish. According to an announcement from the association, the scholarship was awarded to Grande for his commitment in advancing Spanish language and culture education.
As a scholarship recipient, Grande will travel to Toledo, Spain in March 2025 to take part in a week-long program held in collaboration with the University of Castilla-La Mancha. The program includes a 20-hour Spanish Teaching course and an integrated cultural program held in Toledo and Consuegra.
Grande said it was an honor to be named a scholarship recipient and to receive an opportunity to travel to Spain in March. The trip will be Grande’s fifth to the country. He previously toured Spain twice with his family, participated in a study abroad program through the University of Salamanca, and led a group of high school students on a 10-day tour of the country.
“I can't wait to explore Spain once again and be nourished by the language and culture of the country, not to mention the food and the people,” Grande said.
Grande has positively impacted many Holy Family students during his time at the University and has immersed them in courses that go beyond speaking and writing Spanish. In addition to teaching Spanish 101 and Spanish 102 classes, Grande also teaches Hispanic Influences in the U.S. and two courses that he created, Latino Pop Culture and Spanish for Travelers. Grande said he is also developing another course that will investigate traditions, celebrations, and crafts of the Spanish-speaking world.
One of the aims of both Latino Pop Culture and Spanish for Travelers is to teach students conversational language that will allow them to talk with Spanish speakers about their daily lives and learn more about their cultures.
“Holy Family University is a microcosm of Philadelphia and any other major city in the U.S.,” Grande said. “We are surrounded by Latino culture and I thought it was very valuable to offer our students the opportunity to learn about the Latino culture in the U.S.”
Learning more about Spain’s culture and reconnecting with the people who live there is one of several goals Grande has heading into his upcoming trip. He also hopes to inspire Holy Family students to travel to Spain themselves so they can experience the beauty, warmth and excitement of the country’s language and culture.
“I know this experience will reignite my passion of sharing the Spanish language and culture with my students,” Grande said. “I am hoping that I can then create interest in a Spanish immersion program for our students.”
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities represents more than 500 colleges and universities committed to Hispanic higher education success in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Latin America, Spain and U.S. school districts. The organization is the only national educational association in the U.S. that represents Hispanic-serving institutions. Holy Family University is a partner institution of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities.