Student Scholars Day

Literary Blogs: An Active Learning Tool

Many Spanish programs at the Undergraduate College level have adapted a Survey of Latino American Literature at an intermediate level. This is a course that teaches the students the most fundamental literature works. However, this class is challenging for many reasons: (a) Students do not feel confident reading, understanding and interpreting literature; (b) Literature is not transcribable; (c) Literature is not connected to their own reality. So, how do students see the importance of literature and most significantly how do the students feel comfortable with the literature texts? How do students gain confidence when reading and interpreting literature? We are presenting a Literary/Creative Blog that was designed for a Latin American Survey Class. We are trying to support the idea that students need to feel ownership with the literature texts to successfully overcome their anxiety when studying literature and, as a result, they become more engaged in literature.