Language is more than grammar and vocabulary. In the hands of the right educator, it becomes a gateway to identity, culture, and belonging — especially for immigrant communities navigating new societies.
Jessica Payeras has spent more than 25 years building exactly that kind of language program at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), where she directs the Spanish language department.
From International Student to Program Director
Payeras arrived in Montreal in 1992 as an international student from Colombia, pursuing a Master’s degree in linguistics. Her original goal was to improve her French. What she discovered was far larger: that mastering a language was not simply a practical skill — it was a way of accessing other cultures, other worldviews, and other ways of being.
During her studies, she joined a research project examining the use of Spanish and French within Montreal’s Latin community. That work revealed something that would define her entire career: language doesn’t just communicate — it builds identity. Especially for second and third-generation immigrants, the question of which language you speak — and how — is deeply tied to who you are.
By 2001, she was appointed to create UQAM’s Spanish language program from scratch. She went on to earn her doctorate at the same institution, with a doctoral thesis focused on the intonation patterns of spontaneous speech in Colombian Spanish.
Teaching Spanish in Québec Today
Today, teaching Spanish at UQAM means far more than conjugation exercises. Payeras’ students include those preparing for humanitarian missions in Latin America, professionals seeking to expand their career reach, and individuals motivated by cultural curiosity or personal heritage.
Her approach is built on collaboration, intercultural awareness, and deep engagement with the community. Through linguistic exchange programs (jumelages), francophone students are paired with Spanish speakers going through French integration — creating real-world learning environments that go well beyond the classroom.
A Network That Spans Continents
Payeras has built partnerships with consulates from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Spain, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay, as well as with organizations including the Casa de las Américas, CEAL, and RELAM.
For her, the Spanish language in Québec is not a foreign language. It is the living, breathing testimony of an entire continent’s presence in this province.
Article by: Laura Espinosa