Synopses & Reviews
Why legends and myths? These stories convey information, and describe both events and their consequences. They encourage readers and listeners to react on an intellectual level. Stories stimulate the imagination, triggering thoughts about the possible, as well as the actual. Since the earliest times, they have engaged listeners to imagine what it would be like to see the world through someone else’s eyes. Legends spread ideas about the cultural products, practices and perspectives to guide behavior and understanding from one generation to the next. And, perhaps most importantly, everyone – whether five or fifty-five - loves a good story. We only have to look at the success of such modern folklore as Harry Potter to recognize that a fine story will engage readers and listeners of all ages.
Synopsis
Leyendas del mundo hispano is a completely digital reading experience intended for intermediate and advanced students of Spanish. It may be used with a grammar text or as a stand-alone text for Conversation and Composition classes. Although there is no explicit presentation of grammar, the authors reinforce both grammar and vocabulary through the telling of the legends and the variety of activities. The text can also be used to provide a richer context for Hispanic civilization courses, and Spanish Phonetics, through the use of the audio program.
About the Author
&>Susan M. Bacon (Ph. D. Ohio State University) is Professor
Emerita of Spanish at the University of Cincinnati and former Director of UC International Programs where she promoted and supervised all education abroad for the University. In the Department of Romance Languages she served at various times as Director of the Basic Spanish Program, Undergraduate Director, Graduate Director, and Assistant Department Head. In addition to her administrative duties, she taught Spanish language and culture, teaching methodology, and second-language acquisition. Her research interests include child and adult second-language acquisition, and the processing of authentic input. She is the recipient of the prestigious Paul Pimsleur Award for Research in Education. She was Project Director for a four-year grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities in Mexico, and a Fulbright-Robles Scholar in Mexico. She is primary researcher for a considerable number of empirical studies, and has co-authored several elementary and intermediate-level Spanish programs including
¡Arriba!,
Conexiones , and Leyendas del mundo hispano, all published by Pearson-Prentice Hall. Her research has led her to visit all 21 Spanish-speaking countries, some several times.
Aitor Bikandi-Mejias has taught at the college level in the U.S., in Spain-País Vasco, and in Madrid. He is currently Professor of Spanish at Saint Louis University, Madrid Campus. He teaches Spanish Language, Spanish Culture and Civilization, and Spanish Literature and Cinema. His research interests include the Teaching of Spanish Language, Spanish Cinema and Literature, and Cultural Studies, fields in which he has authored several articles and books. He has also co-authored elementary and intermediate-level Spanish texts.
Gregg O. Courtad is currently head of the Spanish program at the University of Mount Union, where he has been instrumental in redesigning the curriculum. In addition to being one of the co-authors on all four editions of Leyendas del mundo hispano, he has also conducted or co-directed workshops for high school teachers of Spanish, as well as given numerous presentations related to pedagogy and literature in such diverse countries as the Bahamas, Brazil, Colombia and the Dominican Republic. He has been a visiting professor for American students at the Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica and serves as co-president of the Ohio chapter of the non-profit organization, Amigos de las Am é ricas. Presently, he is a frequent traveler to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he maintains a second home.
Table of Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
Photo Credits
Capítulo preliminar: Leyendas de tu mundo (Davy Crockett y la Batalla de El Álamo, Juan Ponce de León y “la fuente de la eterna juventud”)
Capítulo 1: La creación inca (Bolivia, Perú)
Capítulo 2: La yerba mate (Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay)
Capítulo 3: Los Amantes de Teruel (España)
Capítulo 4: Los volcanes (México)
Capítulo 5: El Abencerraje y la hermosa Jarifa (España: hispano-árabe)
Capítulo 6: El Dorado (Colombia)
Capítulo 7: La Llorona (México)
Capítulo 8: La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre (Cuba)
Capítulo 9: Las Cataratas del Iguazú (Argentina, Brasil, Paraguay)
Capítulo 10: Las Tres Pascualas (Chile)
Capítulo 11: Los cadejos (El Salvador)
Capítulo 12: El Corrido de Gregorio Cortez (Texas, EE. UU.)
Glosario