Understanding martian epistolary texts in seventh grade from the cognitive approach, communicative and sociocultural by Angelina Romeu. Teaching strategies for its development

Abstract

Introduction: Teaching language and literature in seventh grade faces the challenge of developing competent readers capable of understanding complex texts such as José Martí's letters. The temporal distance, the particularities of Martí's language, and a lack of knowledge of the historical and cultural context limit a complete understanding. Materials and methods: A theoretical and methodological framework is proposed based on the cognitive, communicative, and sociocultural approach developed by Angelina Romeu Escobar, which conceives of teaching as an integrative process where the student decodes, interprets, and relates the discourse to its context. Didactic strategies were designed, organized into three phases corresponding to the functional components of text comprehension, analysis, and construction. Results: The proposed strategies include activating prior knowledge, historical and cultural contextualization, analysis of the epistolary superstructure (syntactic dimension), semantic analysis through inferential questions, identification of the communicative intention (pragmatic dimension), analysis of figurative language, rewriting from another perspective, updating the message, and writing original letters. An exemplary teaching sequence for working with a letter from José Martí to his mother is presented, structured in three sessions. Discussion: The cognitive, communicative, and sociocultural approach allows us to move beyond a reductionist view of reading as mere decoding, guiding it toward a process where the student engages with the text and interprets its meanings. The semantic, syntactic, and pragmatic dimensions of discourse are addressed in an integrated manner. Conclusions: Historical and cultural contextualization, collaborative analysis of the epistolary superstructure, and creative rewriting activities constitute effective ways to introduce students to Martí's world, fostering the appropriation of human and patriotic values and developing competent readers.