In the year 2000, Brazil celebrated the 500th anniversary of its discovery by the Portuguese navigator, Pedro Alvares Cabral, and subsequent settlement by the Portuguese and African, Western, and Asian immigrants. The seminar commemorating these events was designed for U.S. secondary and post-secondary teachers and curriculum specialists of the…

Summarizes the sometimes confusing and contradictory efforts of the John F. Kennedy administration to encourage the development of democratic political processes in Latin America. Although sincere, Kennedy's efforts often were stymied by resistance from the local power structure and his own Central Intelligence Agency. Eventually, anti-communist…

Provides an extensive annotated bibliography of materials on 18th century Latin America. The bibliography is divided into three sections: An introductory overview; selected topics such as The Enlightenment and women; and major regions. (AEM)

Reviews Betty La Duke's 1985 book "Companeras: Women, Art, and Social Change in Latin America." States that La Duke's background as an artist with more than 30 years of experience in Latin American travels produces a very clear impression of the aesthetic response of women to the fabric of their lives. (JDH)

Examines increased interest in Latin American studies initiated by Cuban Revolution of Fidel Castro. Identifies and compares older historiography which evolved in Latin America and newer efforts which have emanated from the United States. Suggests that a changing political and economic climate and different emphasis in methodology are affecting…

Offers brief descriptions of 16 books in English (published in 1997 and 1998) about Latino people and cultures. Arranges these noteworthy books into five broad areas: fiction, history, literature, poetry, and sociology. (SR)

Six areas of attention for a course on Latin America, geared to document social change, are discussed and a case made for the importance of Latin American studies in public education. Useful references are included. (JH)

This publication contains learning activities which can be used in secondary social studies classes to teach about African, Latin American, and Western European cultures. The activities, developed by teachers in a summer institute, are self contained. The information provided for each activity includes a focal idea, type of activity, title,…

Present methods of high school and college instruction in history, namely, the instructor centered approaches, have made the study of history irrelevant for many students, and hence objectives for teaching history are seldom realized. Even good lectures, and most discussion classes, result in the student acting as a passive observer, never…

Presents a strategy for using oral history in the classroom and includes steps involved in an oral history project. Provides examples of an oral history project about discrimination focusing on the experiences of Latin American women. Includes teaching suggestions. (CMK)

This study tested the effect of embedded clauses on recall for 48 English-speaking high school students reading Spanish historical texts. It found that the complexity of sentence structure seemed to cancel the advantage of previous exposure to the content domain. Contains 39 references. (MDM)

Addresses the migration of smallpox into the New World where it caused the extinction of entire indigenous civilizations and altered the survivors' cultures. Discusses the historical origins of smallpox and highlights the migration and consequences of smallpox in Central and South America. Includes an annotated bibliography, research description,…

This article presents the results of a questionnaire regarding Latin American cultural studies, submitted to Florida public school teachers of social studies or Spanish. Findings are analyzed and inferences drawn, with implications for Latin Americanists and educational policy. (CHK)

Folk music is musical expression of deep culture, and is therefore a useful tool in teaching culture in the language class. The use of Spanish music to teach Hispanic culture is described. Useful books and music are suggested. (CHK)

Broadening the investigation of Mexico's Porfirian political elite, the study examines the education, professional training, and alternatives to formal education of 70 Union Liberal delegates. The delegates represent a microcosm of the political leaders of the middle Porfirian period. The article also discusses the formation of the Union Liberal.…