Spanish professor shares passion for world cultures and inclusive pedagogy

The University of Delaware Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures welcomes Kathy Peña as its newest assistant professor of Spanish. The Philadelphia native brings a wealth of international experience and a commitment to interactive, "communicative" language learning. Beyond the classroom, where she focuses on creating a comfortable space for student experimentation, Peña is an accomplished translator who recently collaborated on the 2025 bilingual anthology Women Poets of Panama. Having studied and traveled extensively throughout South America—most notably in Chile—she joins the Blue Hen community ready to bridge cultural divides through poetry, translation and dedicated mentorship.

What drew you to the Spanish language in the first place?

I grew up in a monolingual, Irish American family in the Philly suburbs, so I surprised everyone when I decided to major in Spanish. I had a fantastic Spanish teacher in high school who inspired me, and I had always been curious about world cultures.

Is there a brief way you would describe your approach to teaching?

I teach Spanish using the communicative method, so the language learning experience is interactive and focused on developing real communication skills. Sometimes people get nervous about learning a new language, so my approach is kindness and positivity. I work hard to make my classroom a comfortable place for students to experiment and grow, and I want those 55 minutes to be enjoyable.

Have you discovered any particular place or activity that you enjoy in Delaware?

In Newark, my husband and I love Olé Tapas Restaurant. Their food is fantastic, and on weekends they have flamenco shows. It’s my go-to for my fav Spanish food, croquetas.

Do you have any hobbies?

I enjoy translating poetry and short stories. I’ve collaborated as a translator on several bilingual poetry anthologies by Central American poets, one of which just came out: Women Poets of Panama / Mujeres poetas de Panamá, 1980–2025 (Modus Ludicus Press, 2025).

Do you have a favorite Spanish-speaking place to visit?

I’ve traveled most to South American countries. I’ve been to Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Peru and Uruguay, but Chile is my favorite. I studied in Arica, Chile (in the extreme north) as a college student, and then met my husband there 15 years later.

Fun fact?

I have a 428-day streak on Duolingo, where I dabble in French, Japanese and chess. It definitely doesn’t replace classroom learning, but it’s fun and helps me to build basic vocabulary. Last Halloween, I dressed up as a scary Duolingo reminder for my students!