Course Description: A comprehensive introduction to the practical use of the target language of Spanish, which explores both the self and the world around students through the lens of the culture of Spanish-speaking countries.
Units of Study:
Unit Title 1: New Friends, New Adventures, and Me
Unit Summary: Through an exploration of Spanish speaking countries and famous Hispanics , students will gain insight into the Spanish speaking world, its geography, its people, and its culture. While doing so, they will make presentations in front of an audience of their peers about themselves and a Spanish-speaking country they would like to travel to and explain why, and an influential Hispanic person. In addition, students will write pen pals in a Spanish-speaking country. They will greet and introduce themselves and write a basic get to know you conversation at the novice-mid level. As students progress through their studies, they will strive to communicate at the novice-high level.
Unit Title 2: El Béisbol Dominicano
Unit Summary: Through an exploration of Dominican baseball and Dominican baseball players, students will gain insight into the Spanish-speaking world of baseball and its culture. While doing so, they will make a presentation in front of an audience of their peers about a new Dominican baseball team they have created, complete with uniforms. Students will research a famous Dominican baseball player and create a baseball card for their player. Then students will interview each other about their famous Dominican baseball players. In addition, students will compare and contrast their lives with teens in the Dominican Republic. As students progress through their studies, they will strive to communicate at the novice-high level.
Unit Title 3: La Esperanza de la Educación
Unit Summary: Through an exploration of different countries and their cultures, students will compare and contrast their daily routines with a student in a Spanish speaking country. Students will gain insight into why all children can’t go to school. Students will do research to discover ways to help children that can’t go to school and then they will create a Service Learning Project to benefit some of these children. Students will present and discuss their Service Learning Projects to their classmates via a Gallery Walk. In conclusion, the class will vote on their favorite Service Learning Project. As students progress through their studies, they will strive to communicate at the novice-high level.
Unit Title 4: Perú: Recordando el Pasado, Iluminando el Presente, e Inspirando el Futuro
Unit Summary: Through an exploration of Peru and its culture, students will gain insight into how travel affects our understanding of the world. While doing so, students will learn about the 18th century indigenous legend of the Ekeko and how the legend lives on today. They will create their own Ekeko. Students will research a famous Peruvian site or a cultural item and play a guessing game. Then they will role play a travel agent and a customer and interview each other about places to go and things to experience in Peru. They will make a presentation in front of an audience of their peers about a Peruvian trip they have planned and budgeted. Next, students will write a postcard about their trip to Peru. In conclusion, students will make and experience the Pre-Incan tradition of Chica Morada and they will learn the Zamacueca tradition of the Marinera Norteña dance. Our class, Peruvians, and people around the world will be keeping old traditions alive. Tradition and modernity will coexist. As students progress through their studies, they will strive to communicate at the novice-high level.
