The Amistades program introduces students to articles, advertisements, cartoons, and literature from the magazines, newspapers, websites, and other sources of the various Spanish-speaking countries. Instead of simplifying the reading materials themselves, the authors of Amistades have adapted the reading activities to fit the needs and abilities of beginning Spanish students. Reading strategies are a feature of each chapter and help students become efficient, independent readers. The Diario de actividades provides an introduction to Hispanic literatures (prose and poetry), basic literary terminology, and simple literary analysis.