SPAN 156J Contemporary Central America

Introduces Central American cultures, including an overview of historical, political, and socioeconomic development, and cultural products, such as literature, film, and visual arts. Emphasis placed on the forces that shaped contemporary Central America, cultural and ethnic diversity, identity, revolutionary processes, diaspora, and building democracy in post-civil conflict societies. Draws attention to the linguistic features of Central American variations of Spanish. The class is conducted in Spanish with high expectations to enhance oral and written proficiency through writing assignments, research tasks, group presentations, analysis, discussion, and debate.