Discusses the role of qualified native speakers of Spanish beginning work as teaching assistants in the University of Virginia's intermediate Spanish civilization course. The course focuses on Latino culture and civilization and offers American students the chance to interact with a "real" Latin American. (CB)

Discusses cultural studies as particularly appropriate for the study of Latin American peoples, because it encourages insights from social sciences, critiques the notion of canonical authority, and privileges the study of popular culture. Advocates attention be paid to the kind of pedagogy that will direct students to engage critically with the…