Peer Review

We have developed this open access book for universities and colleges responding to the needs and interests of students preparing for careers in health or even seeking to add a “health track” to their majors or minors. Para vivir offers an introduction to reading different literary and cultural texts from the Spanish-speaking world with a thematic focus on health. It can be used as an alternative to the standard Introduction to Hispanic Literature course texts, as it also teaches techniques of close reading. It incorporates authors from seventeen counties, has an almost even representation of male and female authors and diverse communities in the Hispanic world (European, Creole, Afro Hispanic, Latinx, Indigenous, Jewish). In addition to introductions to reading different genres (narrative, poetry, theater, and film) we have scaffolded supporting material such as biographies, notes on the historical contexts, pre and post-reading questions.

• Open (Access) Textbook

• Open access textbook
• Supplement material
• In the classroom
• Homework reading assignment

• Internet access
• Web browser

After active engagement with the material, the learner will:

1. Develop an appreciation for cultural communication through narrative texts to improve reading and listening skills.

2. Identify the tone and emotions of individuals by nonverbal observation using culture-closed caption videos.

3. Describe ethical variations in healthcare and health beliefs within different cultures.

4. Apply listening abilities when interviewing an individual and how the individual evaluates disease or healthcare.

5. Explain how different variations of literature work in a culture to identify perspectives, emotions, and visions of life.

• College Upper Division
• Graduate School
• Professional
• Hispanic Literature
• Cultural healthcare
• Humanities

• Basic computer skills
• Basic understanding of healthcare