The text of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao may be very difficult for some students, notably those with no background in Spanish. The prose is riddled with Spanish words, some of which are very specific slang, and with references to literature and sci-fi novels. Encourage students to research these words and phrases, and to ask questions of each other. There may be students who speak Spanish and can help, but keep in mind they may not have historical context for many of the words, which may speak to specific revolutionary or cultural associations.
The thought questions in this lesson plan provide material and ideas that students can use to write short original essays and to develop...
