This class is designed to teach basic and fundamental techniques for improving reading and writing skills for poetry and creative essay. In order to achieve this objective, consider it fundamental to have an understanding of “other” styles of writing from “other” cultures, which in this case is that of Latin America. To that end, we will use as models of analysis, a selection of classic essays, short stories and poems from Contemporary Latin American Literature, written after 1900. Upon accessing a different world-vision through literature, the student will have the sufficient elements to better her/his use of written language, whether as a form of expression or communication. In order to achieve part of the course’s premise, which is to learn skillful writing, the student must first learn to read well, and to discover the “secrets of writing” from those authors who contributed new literary resources and forms of expression to literary history. The class will be conducted as a workshop, with the students’ essays, short stories, and poems as the principal subjects of weekly discussions. (1 unit)