Peer Review

Corridos sin fronteras

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Reviewed:: Dec 19, 2003 by World Languages

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Ratings

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Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: Corridos sin fronteras is a bilingual (Spanish/English) web site that accompanies the traveling exhibition ?Corridos sin Fronteras.? It was organized by the Smithsonian Institution, The Chicano Studies Research Center, the University of California, Los and the Smithsonian Center for Latino Initiatives.The multimedia interactive site celebrates the narrative songs known as corridos.
Type of Material:: The site is structured around three main themes: learn, listen, and write. In the area labeled ?learn?, users identify characteristics of this music genre and trace the historical development of the corrido using an interactive multimedia timeline that includes images,sound and video. The ?listen? section divides the topic into four historical stages; each one includes a short description of the characteristics of the ballads in the given time period plus musical samples the user can listen to and sing along with. The final section, ?write?, provides the user with the music and a plan of action to write a corrido.
Recommended Uses:: Corridos sin fronteras would be ideal for an overview of the history of Mexico,
and its people from the conquest to the present. This site can be used by intermediate or advanced level Spanish or English language students. It can also serve as a rich resource of materials for lower level language classes and can be used to teach culture.
Technical Requirements:: This material requires access to the Internet and preferably a DSL connection. Also, the user needs QuickTime or Win Player software to play the videos and music.Flash 5 plug-in and 5.0 browser.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: After working with this web site users will be able to describe the characteristics of the corrido (roots, audience, purpose, role of women). Also, they will be able to explain the different themes of these ballads and how they relate to a popular vision of history. The user will develop listening and reading skills with the lyrics and songs. Creative writing skills are encouraged through the writing of lyrics for "corridos."
Target Student Population:: These materials are bilingual and can be used by the intermediate and advanced level student of Spanish or of English. Also, they can be used as a cultural unit,in any advanced language class or in a Latin American culture course. The site is also ideal for Social Studies, Music, and bilingual programs for younger learners.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: To take full advantage of this site a user needs an intermediate high to advanced low level of language proficiency and to be able to navigate through different multimedia web pages. This means, to know how to start a video or an audio file, to drag a slider in the interactive timeline, to identify the symbols used for text, graphics and sound, to be able to exit and enter the site and to open and close windows.

Content Quality

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Strengths:: The site offers a concise overview of the genre and enough exercises and activities to keep the interest of many students. It is designed to help the teacher plan lessons using this set of materials. It provides targets, national standards, learning outcomes and activities. It is attractive, interactive and relatively user friendly.
The site is divided into three main modules for learning about history,listening to corridos, and writing personal corridos. The user can learn by using a history timeline, can study classic songs and lyrics, and develop an original corrido set to music, and even sing one's original lyrics.
The site also includes resources, a teacher?s page, and a glossary of terms.

In the ?Aprende? module, the user scrolls through a timeline from the Spanish
conquest of Mexico to the Gulf War and the terrorist attack of the World Trade
Center on September 11. Each time piece is represented with an image and a
short reading of the historical event. For selected events, a corrido with its
images, music and lyrics capture the moment. There are also four videos
developing themes around a definition of a corrido, the role of women in
corridos, the role of corridos in the current music industry, and the expression
of voice of the people in corridos.

In the ?Escucha? section there are four timeframe with the accompanying
corridos, the music and lyrics. These songs are the same ones that appear in the
?Aprende? section.

In the "Escribe" module, the user follows three steps. First, one listens to the
example of a corrido with the lyrics, then the composer creates original lyrics
using the same music, and finally sings the lyrics employing the same melody.

The site also includes resources, a teacher?s section (English lesson plans),
and a glossary. For example, the resource page provides links to films and
videos, speakers, and information on contacting producers and distributors.

The glossary incorporates a listof common words and phrases which when opened,
include a definition or explanation of the item, and a suggested link or source
within the site where the word or phrase appears in a lyric. This feature
provides a lot of cohesion for making the site function in terms of the
historical, musical, and language connections.
Concerns:: The rich variety of materials may be confusing to some learners. It may require practice time navigating the site and careful planning on the part of the instructor.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

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Strengths:: Corridos sin Fronteras can be a powerful teaching tool because it is well structured, clear, and above all interesting and interactive. Users not only read about corridos but are able to listen to them and sometimes see them being performed. The timeline is particularly effective because it provides the chronological and historical context with links to images, sounds and videos that give depth to the presentation.

Music can be used ideally in this site to create an animated learning environment; to build listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing skills; to increase vocabulary; and to expand cultural knowledge. The title of the site implies that at the heart of the corrido is a living history of its "people," Mexicans who have created an oral tradition on either side of the border.
Concerns:: The main concern is about the ability of many students to have access to the materials and to fully enjoy them since users need a fast Internet connection able to download files in seconds and not in minutes.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

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Strengths:: To the moderately proficient Internet user this site should not be difficult to navigate. The site can be viewed in English or Spanish. Technology requirements are cleary stated throughout.There is a richness throughout due to the multimedia effect of photos, images, sound, text, and the interactivity between these and the user.

The use of the colors sets the tone and mood for a vintage historical setting.
Videos contain closed captioning in English when Spanish is used. The song
lyrics are clear and strong. Also, the video and audio clips include the
duration of the clip and time required to view them.

The site incorporates a good source of commands in Spanish for computer usage
language.In the glossary section of the site, each word is explained according to its cultural information, with links included to help expand the related cultural information.
Concerns:: It may present a challenge to beginning users not familiar with interactive, multimedia web pages and to other with no access to fast Internet connections.

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