Language: Spanish

La crisis de agua potable en Uruguay

This NPR podcast examines a health issue that often goes overlooked: access to potable water. The water crisis plagued a town in Montevideo Uruguay for three months. This coincided with one of the worst droughts in 40 years. This podcast focuses on how the water shortage affected children at a school in Salinas which is a small town. It explores health problems grounded in infrastructure. It features personal stories and experiences of the students through interviews that show the how lack of access to potable water affects children. Transcript available in Spanish will help intermediate learners follow spoken language.

Un chispazo de conexión humana

Agus Morales describes his visit to Faiz, a man from Pakistan, in the hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. He describes Faiz’s shock when he speaks to him in Urdu as he had not spoken his native language since he first arrived at the hospital. The story highlights human connections that can grow from shared language, both speaking and being understood in a medical setting. This is a part of a collection that includes visual as well as written narratives regarding experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Useful for medical Spanish classes, well-told story that will resonate with general composition students, good example of a health narrative for humanities-driven upper division courses. Intermediate level, 1-2 pages.

“Final del juego” por Julio Cortázar

The story revolves around a young narrator, her sisters Holanda and Leticia, their mother, and their aunt Ruth. Leticia suffers from an unidentified back ailment and often directs their play. Told from the point of view of a child learning to understand disability, with emotions ranging from pity to envy: Leticia is excused from chores and catches the eye of an appealing stranger. Could begin discussion of how people with disabilities are perceived and responded to by able-bodied peers and family members, portrayals of relationships. 8 pps (4500 words); Argentinian dialect; some very funny moments.

Para vivir con salud: Leyendo la salud y la literatura.

This open-access resource describes itself this way: "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." Although framed in terms of its uses for literature courses, the literary selections here could be incorporated into many other intermediate and higher level Spanish courses in which reading and composition are central activities. Much primary source material is included in the book itself; when not available due to copyright, there are suggestions on how instructors might be able to access them on their own. Beyond the readings themselves, the book includes a great deal of pedagogical material (introduction to genres and reading strategies), a bibliography that introduces health humanities and links literature to the work of health professionals; ideas for syllabus construction. It is downloadable.

“Rosario Tijeras” Jorge Franco

"Rosario Tijeras" by Jorge Franco is a Colombian novel that explores the world of drug trafficking and its impact on individuals. The story follows Rosario as she grapples with the trauma of sexual abuse, which has driven her into a life of crime within the violent drug trade. The novel also delves into Rosario's mental health and the relationships she forms. Additionally, it sheds light on the effects of child sexual abuse and the physical toll of her criminal lifestyle as they lead to hospitalization. Undergraduates would be highly motivated by the storyline, dialect and characters. 160 pages, only available in print or electronic (paid) edition, but inexpensive ($10 used) and readily available.

‘Oppenheimer’, mi tío y los secretos que a EE.UU. aún no le gusta contar

The film "Oppenheimer.” which won seven Academy Awards shows both the triumph of scientific ingenuity and is a cautionary tale of unintended consequences.This opinion essay describes reckless exposure of Americans to radiation during the atomic tests that created the bomb. Soldiers, pilots, and sailors - and a military band, the leader of which is the focus of this story - were exposed to high levels of radiation that caused serious illnesses and cancer later in life. They were forbidden to disclose their participation in the nuclear testing, even to spouses and doctors, for decades, making it difficult to trace exactly what impact the exposure had on their health. 5 pps, upper intermediate readers; good for discussion of environmental health issues.

Siete voces que cuentan cómo superaron sus adicciones

This article provides seven different stories from recovering drug addicts with the intention of reducing the stigma behind drug addiction. Each story provides a glimpse into the life of each person, past their addiction. They discuss how their addictions started, as well as how they have been recovering from their addictions and beginning to reclaim their lives. Intermediate level, 4 pages.

“Una puerta se abre” por Adolfo Bioy Caseras

Almeyda considers suicide through internal dialogue that evokes the struggle to weigh life-sustaining alternatives against death. His contemplation turns surreal in an encounter with the idea that "time heals everything" and the possibility to sleep for 100 years. Theme throughout the story is that even in the darkest moments, there are options and opportunities to overcome life's challenges. The final twist, with the reappearance of a key character, emphasizes that love and human connection can overcome even the most desperate times, making clear that suicide is not reasonable or desirable. 10 pages, upper intermediate readers; Argentinian dialect. Useful for a Latin American literature course.

“El sur” por Jorge Luis Borges

"El Sur" follows Juan Dahlmann's journey from a sanatorium on the brink of death due to a head injury. He experiences eight days of intense suffering and pain before his transfer to the sanatorium. Inside, he feels imprisoned and faces the risk of sepsis. His doctor promises a recovery and return to his southern estate. The narrative highlights the impact of physical injury on mental health. Short story appropriate for a Latin American literature course for advanced students; focus on illness and healing brings a different lens to Borges that health-oriented students could appreciate. Available online for free.

Tuve Depresión Postparto Dos Veces y Nunca Me La Diagnosticaron

Describes a woman’s experience with two bouts of undiagnosed postpartum depression. She explains her thoughts and experiences of feeling unable to take care of her children and how these were largely ignored by health professionals. Story is framed with Q&A about postpartum depression: symptoms, frequency, treatment, etc. Acessible, magazine-style 10 minute read, intermediate and native speakers; good discussion starter for a community group.