Jamaica is known mainly as a tourist playground and the home of Reggae music. This Jamaican teaching unit dispels stereotypes and shows Jamaica for what it really is--an economically-troubled, developing nation. The unit illustrates the challenges this island nation is facing in its struggle toward economic development. Contents are: Teacher…

The text explores Mexico's history, geography, art, religion, and lifestyles in the context of its complex economy. The text focuses on Mexico's economy and reasons for its current situation. Part I of this teaching unit includes: Teacher Overview, Why Study Mexico, Mexico Fact Sheet, Map of Mexico, the Land and Climate, History, Government,…

A guide for student teachers planning to travel or work in Latin America contains general information about living in Latin America and profiles of Mexico and the Dominican Republic. The general information addresses these issues: travel, what to take along, culture shock, greetings, generalizations about Hispanic culture, values, given names and…

Statistical tables, graphs, and photographs accompany this narrative summary that highlights 1980 census information abut Hispanics in the United States and emphasizes Hispanic progress since the 1970 census. Comparisons are made between 1970 and 1980 census information and between Hispanics and the total United States population. Text is…

Focusing upon the role of the United States government in furthering educational and cultural relations with other nations, the book presents a history of cooperative exchange between the United States and Latin America from 1936-48. The report, based upon primary source material in the form of communications between the Department of State and…

In May 1980, the 1973-1979 minority graduates of the University California at Davis were surveyed about their employment, graduate and professional school training, career progress, and university experiences. The response rate was 33.7 percent. Minority groups included were American Indian, black, Chicano, Latino, and Filipino. Most had taken…

The University of Texas Latin America Curriculum Project's survey of instructional materials for elementary and secondary schools revealed specific strengths and weaknesses at all levels. The particular weaknesses found in elementary materials were that (1) instructional materials varied widely in type and quality; and (2) textbooks emphasized…

A college-level course is described that is designed to increase oral proficiency and comprehension in Spanish and to introduce students to the culture of the Hispanic world. The course is taught in Spanish, and faculty members from other disciplines serve as guest lecturers to provide reinforcement of material learned in the areas of history,…

Identification of 26 high priority problem areas in education which affect the lives of the Mexican-American, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and other Latin American peoples in the United States is made in this report. Examination of these areas, determined by a research task force, led to the development of 20 "state-of-the-art" papers which generated…

This report integrates instructional materials and concepts on the teaching of culture in foreign language classes in three major areas. Part 1 deals with the description of sociocultural concepts of Spanish peoples with emphasis on the basic features of Latin American Culture including: (1) the family, (2) family events, (3) social peculiarities,…

This unit is one of a series of cross-cultural mini-dramas, and is offered as the prototype audio-visual unit of the Cross-Cultural Communication Packet (CCCP). The objective is to provide insight into the process of cross-cultural communication, and to develop observation skills, or to sensitize the student to concepts which will help him to…

This guide, produced by teachers and students, departs from the typical approach to language study in that the courses are based neither on a sequential progression of subject matter nor on a chronological view of Latin American history. The primary objective in the planning for both levels of instruction is to develop sociocultural and literary…

This basic textbook for Latin American Spanish contains 10 units. The text is adaptable for use in an academic institution (Completion time is expected to be one year.), in an intensive program (Completion time is about 90-120 hours.), or in independent study. The vocabulary is limited and only basic, essential, grammatical structures are…

Guidelines for developing cross-cultural awareness and understanding in high school students studying a second language are offered to teachers of all languages, but more detailed references are supplied for the teacher of Spanish. Suggestions include teaching the familiar first, presenting a well-rounded view of the target culture, balancing the…

The author briefly examines how educational reform attempts in Cuba since 1959 have taken place and how they have been related to social, economic, and political change efforts in the society at large. The Cuban educational system makes a significant contrast against the failure which characterizes the other Latin American educational systems.…