There are three main problems in teaching Latin American literature: (1) It is difficult to maintain a regional overview, while, at the same time, including a sense of the literary history of Latin America; (2) It is necessary to teach literature so that the material seems worthwhile in its own right and not only as a complement to other disciplines, especially the social sciences; and (3) It is necessary to demonstrate that a literary work, in itself, has an attractive value. The most appropriate solution to these problems is intensive study in a small class of works that are outstanding because of their aesthetic merit. Afterward, students can derive the greatest benefit from other works outside of class. (VM)