The semester begins with a lively discussion of the meaning of Indigenous cultures. The unit includes
- a general, informative text about indigenous cultures in Latin America
- a creation legend
- a short story that illustrates the encounter of European and Indigenous cultures
- a visit to the Yale Art Gallery to see the Art of the Ancient Americas room
- a debate on the ownership of art
- an examination of how Christopher Columbus portrayed native cultures in one of his letters to the Spanish monarchs.
- An opportunity to make cultural comparisons.
- viewing of the movie También la lluvia.
All The visit to the Art Gallery is a huge success, not only because students use Spanish in a real-world environment, but because of the scavenger hunt-like worksheet that they must complete and the subsequent discussion post on Canvas.