Regional Chilean and American writers in the context of English and cultural teaching

Authors

  • Hernán Pereira Universidad Arturo Prat
  • Lucía Ramos Universidad Arturo Prat

Abstract

This paper presents the development of an innovative teaching project that integrates literature, photography and methodology for teaching a foreign language. The result was the publication of the book So Far… So Close: Contemporary Writers of Tarapacá and Pennsylvania (2014). The theoretical basis of the project, the objectives, methodology used and the text design stages, are described. Twenty Chilean and American writers were selected, then interviewed and photographed. Excerpts of their works were carefully chosen to design the text which includes a methodological guide to be used in Chilean and American foreign language classrooms. The target audience is college students, educational institutions, and researchers. A multidisciplinary team in both countries conducted the project. The text can be used in teaching English and literature and it shows worldviews of local and foreign authors who share the same dreams and desires through the art of the written word.

Keywords:

Teaching innovation, regional literature, language teaching, worldviews, interculturality