Bringing the Bicentennials into the Language and Culture Classroom

In the past two years, several Latin American nations have begun celebrating their bicentennials of independence, turning attention to questions of national identity and the legacy of independence in the twenty-first century. This reflection is sure to continue into the coming decade. This article offers a few practical suggestions for bringing these themes into the Spanish language and Latin American culture classroom in a way that follows the "National Standards for Foreign Language Education" put forth by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. The author identifies several texts, including government-sponsored websites and online news sources, films, literary pieces, and secondary source material that can help foster discussion about independence, national heroes, the bicentennial celebrations, and their significance. The scope of these texts is limited to Mexico and the former Gran Colombia, and the materials discussed are readily available in the United States. Bibliographical references provide suggestions for further reading.