Spanish 4
Syllabus
Week 1
This week's activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Explain the rules and policies of the course, and expectations of you as a contributing member of our learning community
• Begin to build community by sharing important information with your teacher and classmates about yourself and your school, and creating a social contract together for guidelines on interacting throughout the class
• Develop your skills for navigating the course environment and using the various course tools
• Understand the differences between using an online translator and an online dictionary and describe why using translators is prohibited.
Unit 1: La lección preliminar (Weeks 2-5)
Week 2: La oratoria y el mundo hispanohablante
This week's activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Identify the countries in the world that speak Spanish, and are considered 'paises hispanohablantes".
• Describe the elements of a successful Spanish 4 level speaking assignment.
• Practice speaking in Spanish to identify which Spanish Speaking country you would most like to visit.
Week 3: Estrategias de leer y escucha
This week's activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Review the elements of a successful, Spanish 4 level speaking assignment.
• Identify various strategies that can be used to read and listen to high level Spanish.
• Summarize an audio recording about climate change.
Week 4: La grammatica y la escritura
This week's activities will focus on the following objectives:
• List and describe different tenses that appear in the Spanish language in both the indicitive and the subjunctive moods.
• Analyze and identify the elements of a successful, Spanish 4 level writing assignment.
• Describe yourself, your likes and dislikes, hobbies and pastimes.
Week 5: La grammatica y la escritura
This week's activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Create a flow chart illustrating the difference between the indicative and subjunctive moods, and all of the tenses that are found in each one.
• Describe yourself, your likes and dislikes, hobbies, pastimes, your family, intellectual interests, and your future plans.
• Identify a Latino/Latina actor or actress that you admire and describe his/her career.
Unit 2: La tecnología y la ciencia (Weeks 6-9)
Week 6
This week's activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Discuss the power of technology in modern society using relevant vocabulary.
• Review the present perfect tense in both English and Spanish.
• Summarize how Argentina embraces technology according to the reading selections.
Week 7: Ese bobo del móvil
This week's activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Discover significant contributions made by Argentina in the world of science and technology.
• Discuss the effect of smart phones and cell phones on modern social interactions.
• Review the past perfect tense in both English and Spanish.
Week 8: Hernán Casciari: arte en la blogosfera
This week’s activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Compare and contrast the renewable resources industry in the US and in Spanish Speaking Countries. ? Use grammatically complex sentences in writing.
• Review diminutives and augmentatitves and expressions of time with the verb hacer.
• Recall and summarize important details from "arte en la blogosfera".
Week 9: Generación Web: Smartcities
This week’s activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Investigate the concept of "smart cities" and analyze what makes a community "smart".
• Review vocabulary, grammar and culture that was previously discussed in Leccion 1.
• Assess knowledge of Leccion 1.
Unit 3: Lección 2: La economía y el trabajo (Weeks 10-15)
Week 10: Necesito un aumento
This week’s activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Use new vocabulary to discuss the economy and work.
• Research four Latino/Latina people whose stories inspire you.
• Practice using the Conditional tense while describing your future plans.
• Summarize the life of an inspiring Latino/Latina in short story form geared towards children.
Week 11: Las telenovelas
This week’s activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Diagram the differences between the present subjunctive and the past subjunctive. ? Use complex grammar structures in writing.
• Summarize knowledge of telenovelas.
Week 12: La abeja harangana
This week’s activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Summarize the life of an inspiring Latino/Latina in short story form geared towards children.
• Demonstrate understanding of "La abeja haragana".
• Appropriately use "si" clauses with simple tenses to discuss the economy.
Week 13: Gustavo Dudamel: la Estrella de “El Sistema”
This week’s activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Summarize the life of an inspiring Latino/Latina in short story form geared towards children.
• Analyze the benefits and drawbacks to "El Sistema".
• Discuss how social welfare programs impact the economy.
Week 14: Hispanos en la economía de los Estados Unidos
This week’s activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Summarize the life of an inspiring Latino/Latina in short story form geared towards children.
• Examine how Hispanos contribute to the economy of the United States.
• Summarize information covered in Leccion 2 and complete the unit exam.
Week 15: El Examen parcial
This week’s activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Identify any gaps in knowledge that need to be reviewed before the Exam.
• Gain familiarity with the types of questions that will appear on the Exam.
• Review concepts discussed this semester 4. Complete midterm exam.
Unit 4: Lección 3: La cultura popular y los medios de comunicación (Weeks 16-19)
Week 16: ¡O estás con ella o estás conmigo!
This week’s activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Utilize new vocabulary words related to popular culture and communication methods.
• Learn about "mate," a cultural traidition of Uruguay.
• Compare Uruguayan traditions to various traditions in the US.
Week 17: Dos Palabras
This week’s activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Demonstrate an understanding of the cultural impact and importance of the Tango in Argentina.
• Discuss popular culture preferences using relative pronouns.
• Describe the life and accomplishments of Isabel Allende and demonstrate understanding of "Dos Palabras."
Week 18: Guaraní: la lengua vencedora
This week’s activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Describe the cultural impact of Guaraní in Paraguay.
• Identify the key differences between "qué " and "cuál." ? Practice using the neutral pronoun "lo."
Week 19: Sintonía
This week’s activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Practice using listening comprehension skills to watch an authentic Spanish Language movie.
• Use vocabulary related to pop culture in a creative writing assignment.
• Review vocabulary, grammar, and cultural points presented in Lección 3.
• Complete an exam for Lección 3.
Unit 6: Lección 4- La literature y el arte (Weeks 20-23)
Week 20: Unas pinturas…radicales
This week’s activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Use vocabulary related to literature and art to discuss favorite artists and paintings.
• Choose, read and take notes on a short story or poem written by a Spanish Speaking author.
• Report on various aspects of Pablo Neruda's life.
Week 21: Continuidad de los parques
This week’s activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Identify architectural landmarks in the city of Barcelona, Spain.
• Recall important details in the story "Continuidad de los parques".
• Review the use of the conditional perfect and choose the correct use of this conjugation.
• Translate vocabulary in a vocabulary quiz.
Week 22: De Macondo a McOndo
This week’s activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Identify and discuss the use of stereotypes in literature and film.
• Utilize the past perfect subjunctive effectively in writing and speaking.
• Describe "El grupo McOndo" and their connection to popular culture.
Week 23: Jóvenes Valientes
This week’s activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Identify major themes in the film "Jóvenes valientes"
• Discuss influential teen leaders who make a difference in their communities.
• Review vocabulary, grammar, and cultural points presented in Lección 4.
• Complete a unit exam.
Unit 7: Lección 5 – La politica y la religión (Weeks 24-28)
Week 24: La rueda de prensa
This week’s activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Practice using vocabulary words related to religion and politics.
• Research the connection between religion and politics throughout Spanish history.
• Create a timeline outlining the different political periods throughout Spain's history.
Week 25: Puerto Rico: ¿nación o estado?
This week’s activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Categorize Puerto Rico as a nation, state, or territory and debate the benefits and drawbacks of each.
• Use the passive "se" and recognize this grammar structure in authentic Spanish writing.
• Discuss what topics are found in "the news."
• Translate vocabulary in a vocabulary quiz.
Week 26:La noche de Tlatelolco
This week’s activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Describe the connection between politics and religion during a specific period of Spanish history.
• Summarize the literature selection "La noche de Tlatelolco"
• Use the prepositions "de, desde, en, entre, hasta and sin" in context.
Week 27: Cómo Bolivia perdió su mar
This week’s activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Review the use of past participles as adjectives.
• Recall important details of "Cómo Bolivia perdió su mar".
• Prepare a "discurso" in a role-playing activity.
Week 28: Hiyab
This week’s activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Compile the group research paper that provides a detailed history of the relationship between religion and politics in Spain.
• Examine and write about the complicated and controversial themes in the short film "Hiyab."
• Review vocabulary, grammar, and cultural points presented in Lección 5.
• Demonstrate understanding in a unit exam.
Unit 8: Lección 6 - La historia y la civilización (Weeks 29-33)
Week 29 This week’s activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Identify vocabulary used to talk about nature and the environment, animals, and natural phenomena
• Summarize the topics of conversation in the Fotonovela, Cuidando a Bambi
• Use the future tense to express your opinion about climate change and other environmental issues
• Discuss and analyze the plot of El eclipse, paying particular attention to the ending
Week 29: Esta noche o nunca
This week’s activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Use vocabulary related to history and civilization to talk about the Incas and Machu Picchu.
• Imagine and report where the Facetas employees will be in 20 years.
• Describe the indicative mood and identify all the different tenses used within it.
Week 30: El milagro secreto
This week’s activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Identify the major themes of El milagro secreto and recall important information.
• Discuss future travel plans.
• Comprehensively review the subjunctive mood and all the tenses within it.
Week 31: Ramona
This week’s activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Analyze the major themes and message of the author and director of the corto "Ramona".
• Review various cultural topics from Spanish 4.
• Review vocabulary, grammar, and cultural points presented in Lección 6.
Week 32: Un repaso exhaustive
This week’s activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Review various cultural topics from Lección 6.
• Review vocabulary, grammar, and cultural points presented in Lección 6.
• Write stories with a clear beginning, middle and end.
Week 33: El examen final
This week’s activities will focus on the following objectives:
• Identify any gaps in knowledge that need to be reviewed before the Exam.
• Gain familiarity with the types of questions that will appear on the Exam.
• Review concepts discussed this semester