Culturas Indigenas de Latinoamerica
Course Summary
This class is intended for students who are experienced with the Spanish language, intermediate mid/high speakers (according to ACTFL levels.)
Throughout the semester students will learn about Pre-Columbian cultures, also known as originary civilizations that are native to the Central and South American region. Due to the abundance of anthropological and historical information, students will only brush off on these topics, enough to create curiosity, hopefully enough for them to want to continue researching about it.
We will analyze the cultural encounters occurred during the discovery of the Americas, and draw comparisons with cultural encounters nowadays, as we practice conversational and written Spanish skills.
Objective
The main objective of this class is to develop critical and analytical thinking while learning about Pre-Columbian civilizations, as students use their already strong communicative skills.
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Language learners should advance |
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From (Intermediate Low - Mid) |
To (Intermediate Mid-High) |
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Handle short/simple interactions asking and answering questions Express own meaning Produce complete sentences or strings of sentences Understand main idea of texts/ presentations/ conversations on familiar topics Control basic vocabulary related to familiar topics Comprehensible to people who have experience with language learners
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Handle social interactions with ease, even when there´s an unexpected situation Tell stories in various timeframes Explain and describe in detail Produce coherent discourse across groups of sentences most of the time Understand main idea of texts/ presentations/ conversations on various topics Comprehensible to people who may not have experience with language learners |
Source: ACTFL
Class Rule
All students must communicate with other students and teacher in the target language (Spanish) at all times. This might be challenging at first, but a few days into the course, it will feel natural. If students feel the need of asking anything in English, they should wait until the end of the class to do so.
The use of Spanish during class will affect the conversation and work habits strands in X2.
Projects
Students will have a series of mini-projects, for which the necessary content will be provided in every class. Therefore, we will work step by step (building up vocabulary and grammatical structures) in order to achieve the final goal, which is: completing the task (mini/project).
Honors
Students taking this class for honors will be required to:
- Do an extension of every mini-project.
- Search scholar articles about any pre-Columbian civilization and share it with the class (4 in one semester).
- Contribute to the Spanish only environment.
Homework
May vary from taking a picture and upload it into Google classroom, to writing down a mini essay on their journals.
Unit evaluation
Every time we complete a unit (after every mini-project), students will be quizzed on their acquisition of vocabulary, grammatical structures, and cultural information.
Digital Portfolio
Mandatory: Students will have their video diaries uploaded on their DP.
Optional: Students will upload one or more mini/projects into their DP.
Assessment strands
Conversation (25%)
- Using Spanish in class (i.e. asking questions / addressing teachers or classmates)
- Using vocabulary words and phrases presented in class.
- Participating in class dialogues, interviews, surveys, debates, roleplays, etc.
Interpretation (25%)
- Answering questions and/or commenting about topics, videos, and music presented in class (oral and written).
- Recognizing/applying vocabulary words or phrases presented in class.
- Following written or oral directions leading to an activity.
Work habits (25%)
- Participating in class activities.
- Presenting work on time (homework, assignments, project reports)
- Showing interest and effort in each class.
Presentation (25%)
- Keeping journal up to date.
- Completion of mini – projects.
- Revision/reflection of quizzes and homework.
Google Classrooms – 4d49ncm