WQ # 24: Plan del viaje


Description

Mi Amiga,

¡Hola! How are you doing? I’m sure you are enjoying your stay there so much. :-)
I really enjoyed your Power Point presentation on the local festival that you sent me the other day through email. How fascinating! You really hooked me on this wonderful country!
So… guess what! I’m planning to come visit “your” country next month or so, for about two weeks. I’d love to see and participate those festivals my self. Could you tell me when is good for me to visit, what events there are, what’s happening, etc? I’d prefer to come about 5 days before the event to avoid difficulties in lodging and traveling. Will you be available at that time, too? It will be great if we can be “in the crowd” together.
Hope to hear from you soon.
¡Adios!

Love,

Jane.


Task

Are you ready to help your best friend? Here’s what you will do: you will find out the cultural events (festivals, holidays, special days, etc.) scheduled for this coming month (if there’s none, the next month) and tell her about it. You will give her the date of the event so that she can make reservations. You will give a short summary of the event in Spanish to give her an idea what will happen. Additionally, you will suggest her a few Web sites to read about the event (in Spanish).


Resources

A. Latin American holidays

 

Latin American Holidays
http://www.middlebury.edu/~is/LAS/holidays.html

Special Latin American Holidays
http://www.wskg.com/americanfamily/SpecialLatinAmericanHolidays.htm

B. Sample search engine

 

Fiestas y días festivos
http://mx.yahoo.com/Sociedad/Fiestas_populares_y_dias_festivos/

C. Months in Spanish

 

Business Spanish.com
http://www.businessspanish.com/LECCION/months.htm

 

Process

1. First, browse the suggested sites (A) and choose the holiday that is coming in next month (or the following month, if there’s none) in the country you are visiting for the project.

2. Second, using the sample search engine suggested in (B) or any other ones that you are most familiar with, find out the date, and the traditions (e.g. family celebrations, decorations, foods, costumes, parades, etc.) of the holiday. Use the name of the holiday as keyword. Choose at least 3 good Web sites that explain the holiday and write down the address.

3. Third, write a response email to your friend in Spanish, giving the date of the holiday, suggested date for her arrival (you may refer to the suggested site (C) for help in writing dates in Spanish), a summary of the holiday happenings, and at least 3 web sites that you are suggesting her to read before she comes.

4. Keep a copy of your response email in your professional portfolio. If possible, check with one of your local friends about the holiday events and your summary about it.

Conclusion

¡Gracias, mi amiga!
I’m so excited to come and participate to the events with you.
I have already made my reservations, and I’ve been reading about the holiday from the sites that you had suggested.
See you there, soon!

Love,
Jane.


National Standards (ACTFL)

Communication
Standard 1.2: Students understand and interpret written and spoken language on a variety of topics.
Standard 1.3: Students present information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners or reader on a variety of topics.


Comparisons
Standard 4.2: Students demonstrate understanding of the concept of culture through comparisons of the cultures studied and their own.

Communities
Standard 5.1: Students use the language both within and beyond the school setting.


Sunshine State Standards – Foreign Languages (9-12)

Communication (FL.A.2.4) (FL.A.3.4)
The student understands and interprets written and spoken language on a variety of topics.
The student presents information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners or readers on a variety of topics.

Connections (FL.C.2.4)
The student acquires information and perspectives that are available only through the foreign language and within the target culture.

Experiences (FL.E.1.4)
The student uses the language within and beyond the school setting.

 


Printable PDF table