Wherever You Go, Do as You See Others Do : Using Spanish Proverbs for Teaching Finance to Hispanic Students

This paper proposes the use of Spanish proverbs for teaching finance to Hispanic students. Spanish proverbs facilitate teaching by appealing to Hispanic students' cultural background, by introducing ideas in a succinct and unique way, and by creating a friendlier classroom atmosphere. Spanish proverbs also help English-speaking instructors overcome language barriers and establish a trusting relationship with students. In addition, Spanish proverbs benefit English-speaking students by promoting cross-cultural literacy and foreign language fluency. This paper presents thirty-one financial concepts accompanied by their related Spanish proverbs. Strategies for the effective use of Spanish proverbs in the classroom are suggested as well