Cafecito Spanish Conversations Bring Community Together Through Language and Culture

Adjunct Professor and Fisher alumna Liliana Rucci has returned to Fisher to teach and plans to continue a tradition by hosting a series of Cafecito events designed to bring students, faculty, and staff together to practice their Spanish in a relaxed, culturally rich environment.

The series kicked off on Feb. 11 and featured a timely student‑led presentation on global music icon Bad Bunny, followed by a lively game of Kahoot. Attendees also enjoyed a “Guess the Song” game that sparked laughter, conversation, and friendly competition. With café, or coffee, and snacks on hand, the atmosphere was warm, welcoming, and intentionally low‑pressure, allowing students of all proficiency levels to feel comfortable using their Spanish skills.

For Rucci, the event carries personal meaning. She first experienced Cafecito as a Fisher student with her professor, Dr. Francisco Plata, an experience that stayed with her. Now teaching a Conversational Review course, she introduced the idea to her own students, who immediately embraced it.

“When I shared about Cafecito, my students reacted with such enthusiasm and excitement at the opportunity to practice their speaking skills,” Rucci said. “Each semester I have taught at Fisher, the students in class and the faculty at Fisher have supported me in continuing the tradition of bringing our Fisher community together to share conversations and café.”

The purpose of Cafecito is simple yet powerful: to bring language learning to life through natural, unscripted conversation. Rucci emphasizes that practicing a language in real time is essential for building confidence and fluency.

“You will always see people sitting around a table in groups during Cafecito,” she said. “It’s a physical representation of the togetherness that Cafecito stands for. And of course, there is always café and a snack to share, always tied to la cultura hispana.”

Cafecito events will continue through the spring semester, scheduled for March 11, March 25, and April 22. They take place from 4:30 to 5 p.m. in Basil 207. No registration required.

This article was written by Hailey Gunther, a senior marketing major, who is working as an intern in the Office of Marketing and Communications at Fisher for the 2025-2026 academic year.