The Project:

Each student will select a Spanish-speaking country or region of focus and create a website to showcase learning about the country throughout the year. Many of the postings to the student-created websites will be assigned over the course of the school year and we will have assignments for each of the 6 AP themes. Here is a general description of the AP Country Project website…

Build the site during the course of the year and include:

• interdisciplinary content including background information on the area’s geography, history, demographics, and economy

• an overview of the current issues facing the country, and monthly news updates

• information on artistic and musical expressions from the country (crafts, musical genres, monuments/architecture, fine arts)

• at least one literary text from the country.

  • • The idea is to find and read a short story, poem or a segment from an iconic text from the country (e.g., a segment from Don Quijote from Spain or a poem by Rubén Darío from Nicaragua).

    • The entry should include the work or a link to the work, a description and/or summary of the theme, and a brief statement of why the work is an important cultural reference for the country.

• one or more celebrations and/or traditions (carnaval, día de muertos, religious and/or civic celebrations)

• More Individual Country Research which can be included on the website:

  • • Independently seek out sources from the chosen country to address the essential questions of each learning unit (6 total).

    • Share the information with classmates focusing on different modes of communication

    • Examples include: an oral presentation with visual support, a poster with a chart/graph/map and a short written explanation, record a 1-2 minute radio news item, etc., enhancing abilities to present orally.

    • Thematic Vocabulary

    • Develop a personal vocabulario temático list with academic vocabulary encountered in the anchor texts and the other sources.

• Students will share the insights they gain about their countries in class discussions in which they compare the cultural products, practices, and perspectives they have discovered with those found in their classmates’ countries.

• Additionally, students will address comparisons with their own country/region/community during these discussions.

• The goal is to deepen each student’s knowledge about a particular country, to gain an understanding and appreciation for the diversity of the Spanish-speaking world and develop insights into how their own culture compares with the Spanish-speaking world. In addition to the in-class discussions, each 9 weeks students will create a written reflection pointing out connections with other disciplines and with their own cultures to include in the website.

• Project options: México, España, Colombia y Venezuela, Los otros países de Sudamérica (Chile, Perú, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia), los países hispanohablantes de América Central (Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Panamá), los países/territorios hispanhablantes del caribe (Puerto Rico, ¡Florida!, Cuba, La Republica Dominicana).

Summary: This is (almost) straight from AP...

CR1: The teacher will speak Spanish almost exclusively in class. Students will be encouraged to use Spanish exclusively and verbal work submitted with English will receive significant grade deductions similar to the deductions in the actual AP test.

CR2: The course will provide opportunities for students to engage in interdisciplinary course content and develop skills through the six required themes: 1) Families and Communities, 2) Personal and Public Identities, 3) Beauty and Aesthetics, 4) Science and Technology, 5) Contemporary Life, and 6) Global Challenges (Environmental, Political, and Societal Challenges).

Course Content (OVERVIEW)

Unit 1: Families in Different Societies

You’ll learn Spanish language skills in the context of studying family life and values in Spanish-speaking communities and explore contemporary beliefs and challenges that families face.

Unit 2: The Influence of Language and Culture on Identity

You'll build your vocabulary and learn about how language and culture shape and reflect evolving ideas about identity in Spanish-speaking societies.

Unit 3: Influences of Beauty and Art

You'll explore how ideas of beauty and art influence and reflect culture in Spanish-speaking communities.

Unit 4: How Science and Technology Affect Our Lives

You'll examine how developments in science and technology affect daily life in Spanish-speaking communities and use your growing language skills to help you interpret unfamiliar words and engage in more complicated texts.

Unit 5: Factors That Impact the Quality of Life

You'll learn more about contemporary life in Spanish-speaking communities and how social status, cultural perspectives, and access to jobs and resources can make an impact on the quality of life.

Unit 6: Environmental, Political, and Societal Challenges

You'll explore how complex global issues affect people's lives in Spanish-speaking communities and engage in deeper discussions to suggest possible solutions.

More deTAILED COURSE content…

Unit 1: Families in Different Societies

You’ll learn Spanish language skills in the context of studying family life and values in Spanish-speaking communities and explore contemporary beliefs and challenges that families face.

Skills you will practice may include:

• Interpreting promotional materials

• Understanding the elements of a formal letter

• Describing data from a table, chart, graph, map, or infographic

• Conducting an interview

• Crafting an email reply

• Participating in an informal conversation

• Giving a presentation related to family and society

Unit 2: The Influence of Language and Culture on Identity

You'll build your vocabulary and learn about how language and culture shape and reflect evolving ideas about identity in Spanish-speaking societies.

Skills you will practice may include:

• Identifying the main idea and summarizing short stories

• Comprehending articles and infographics

• Interpreting audio and video reports

• Drawing connections between texts and their larger cultural context

• Justifying ideas and opinions in writing

• Giving a presentation comparing Spanish cultural concepts to familiar ones

Unit 3: Influences of Beauty and Art

You'll explore how ideas of beauty and art influence and reflect culture in Spanish-speaking communities.

Skills you will practice may include:

• Analyzing articles, advertisements, and promotional materials about art

• Interpreting literary texts

• Understanding what is included in the format of typical letters and interpreting their meaning

• Interpreting data represented in charts

• Crafting an email

• Practicing conversational skills through class discussion

• Giving a presentation comparing art across cultures

Unit 4: How Science and Technology Affect Our Lives

You'll examine how developments in science and technology affect daily life in Spanish-speaking communities and use your growing language skills to help you interpret unfamiliar words and engage in more complicated texts.

Skills you will practice may include:

• Interpreting charts, tables, infographics, and maps in context

• Understanding and responding to interviews

• Comprehending verbal instructions

• Interpreting a range of sources and perspectives around a topic

• Writing essays and citing sources

• Giving a presentation on the impacts of scientific and technological developments

Unit 5: Factors That Impact the Quality of Life

You'll learn more about contemporary life in Spanish-speaking communities and how social status, cultural perspectives, and access to jobs and resources can make an impact on the quality of life.

Skills you will practice may include:

• Connecting literary texts to larger cultural topics

• Interacting with online tools

• Interviewing community members

• Understanding video interviews

• Interpreting instructions

• Crafting an email reply using idioms and expressions

• Participating in conversations and debates

• Giving a presentation comparing cultures and quality of life

Unit 6: Environmental, Political, and Societal Challenges

You'll explore how complex global issues affect people's lives in Spanish-speaking communities and engage in deeper discussions to suggest possible solutions.

Skills you will practice may include:

• Analyzing articles and charts on environmental issues

• Listening for connections and meaning in video reports

• Making cultural connections among video presentations

• Writing essays to address global issues and suggest solutions

• Giving a presentation comparing reactions to global challenges across cultures