Local high school Spanish students stopped repeating foreign words, put down their books, and didn’t listen to a lecture Tuesday.

Instead, they jumped, danced, yelled, sang, and enjoyed a Spanish pop concert led by Ennio Emmanuel, the Puerto Rican singer and songwriter, at Clay High School.

“It’s important to be bilingual,” he said during a rare English sentence during the concert. While he tried to teach students Spanish, he also brought stage presence fit for a pop concert.

Students from Clay, Perrysburg, Genoa, and Whitmer high schools attended the event. Mr. Emmanuel, 26, has performed the past four years at Genoa, where he attended school. He sings in Spanish, speaks to the audience in Spanish, and sometimes explains himself in English.

This year, Clay High School hosted the event, and Clay Spanish teacher Beth Duda wants to keep it that way.

“The kids love it,” she said. “They enjoy learning through song instead of textbooks.”

Other feedback she hears from female students is that Mr. Emmanuel is “gorgeous.”

Classes have been practicing and learning the words to the Spanish songs Mr. Emmanuel sang.

Alicia Steele, Perrysburg High School Spanish teacher, said the excitement of the concert carries over to the classroom.

Some male students showed their enthusiasm by painting their chests to read “ENNIO.” Others made signs. Most expressed their excitement by screaming, dancing, and enjoying the music.

“So much fun, this was amazing,” said LeAnn Winslow, a junior at Clay. “I didn’t think it’d be so fun. It’s awesome learning a different language.”

Clay senior Sydney Barrett took the stage and sang a duet of “Nada es Impossible” (Nothing is Impossible) with Mr. Emmanuel. She practiced for about an hour before the concert with him, and he helped with the Spanish lyrics she hadn’t yet mastered.

“It’s motivational,” she said of the song. “I was drilling all weekend to get the hang of it.”

Mr. Emmanuel brought students and teachers on stage at various times during the show. Students danced with him, played a tongue-tied Spanish-word game, and learned Spanish instruments.

Along with loud, fast pop songs, he sang some slower numbers. He sang to sophomore Jaycee Wamer “Manda un Angel” (Send me an Angel). The young Wamer was given flowers and became a bit star-struck.

“I was tearing up and crying,” she said. “He has the best voice ever.”

Contact Matt Thompson at: mthompson@theblade.com, 419-356-8786, or on Twitter at @mthompson25.

First Published May 4, 2015, 4:00 a.m.