The Conceptual Semantics of ‘Latin America’: Popular Geopolitics and Spanish Language Teaching
in Denmark
Susana S. Fernández
Abstract
This article explores how the concept of ‘Latin America’ is constructed in connection with the teaching of Spanish as a foreign language in Denmark, and how it is received and understood by Spanish learners in the country. The paper explores the concept of Latin America from different perspectives: Danish learners, young Latin Americans and through a historical overview, in order to embrace its complexity. The hypothesis is that the conceptualization of ‘Latin America’ in the context of language teaching in Denmark does not do justice to the diversity and richness of the geographical area and its peoples.
Keywords: Latin America, foreign language learning and teaching, intercultural education, NSM