Teaching Spanish Language in the Knowledge Society: A Canadian Experience

Abstract

Poetic works are part of the Spanish curriculum either as cultural topics in textbooks for teaching the language or in literature classes where the work is discussed and analyzed. This paper presents the experiences of using poems by Hispano-Canadian writers living in Canada in the class SPAN 2123 Culture and Composition: Spanish America at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The population is mostly Anglophone and Francophone Canadians with some international students. The goal of the class is to practice Spanish in context, and to facilitate intercultural awareness, while practicing the four language skills - reading, writing, speaking and listening - by promoting discussion of issues relevant to students in the Canadian social context in the language they are learning. This approach nurtures a cosmopolitan identity characterized by tolerance to cultural differences and willingness to learn from others, both important skills for competing in a knowledge society. This paper has three parts: first, the introduction, where general considerations related to the course are given; second, the methodology with the objectives and structure of the course integrated into the theoretical foundations of language teaching along with the students' experiences and our findings; and third, the conclusions. Our findings provide valuable insights into the importance of engaging students in learning by fostering discussions using authentic materials, such as poems, in the language classroom. In addition to learning the language the participants bring their own opinions in the subject after studying the point of views of poets in the position of cultural intermediaries. This is possible because the poets have Spanish American origins and cultural backgrounds, and they are fully integrated into Canadian society. The connection of the language learners and Hispano-Canadian poets facilitates the interaction of the students with the community.