In this lesson, students will explore La Casa Cultural, a cultural center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, via Momento360.  The purpose of this lesson is for students to explore some of the resources available at the University and the cultural houses. Similarly, students will develop cultural awareness of Latin American cultures as they explore the various rooms at La Casa and engage in a variety of cultural activities.

Context

The lesson would take place in a classroom either with ESL students in the U.S. who will be attending UIUC or in an EIL classroom outside of where students might attend a U.S. university.

• 12th grade/ high school seniors

• B2 English as a Foreign Language

• Classroom

Lesson Aims 

The aim of this lesson is to enhance students' cultural awareness by exploring Latin American traditions and cultural resources through a virtual visit to La Casa Cultural at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Students will develop their receptive and productive language skills through interaction with various media (text, video, and audio) and reflect on cultural comparisons. They will also practice discussing cultural content, comparing food traditions, and summarizing key information from provided resources.

CEFR Competencies

Reception (B2 Level): Students will be able to understand spoken and written texts in the target language, such as video recordings about Día de los Muertos and muralism, and identify viewpoints, cultural references, and main ideas.

Production (B2 Level): Students will write clear, detailed texts (e.g., a short story based on a Feijoada recipe) and express personal reflections on cultural differences and similarities, ensuring coherence and logical structure.

Plurilingual & Pluricultural Competence: Students will reflect on the cultural nuances of food traditions, gestures, and historical artistic movements (muralism), and discuss their significance in fostering mutual understanding across cultures.

Learning Objectives (SWBAT)

• Students will be able to compare and contrast traditional Latin American dishes, such as empanadas, with similar foods from their own cultures.

• Students will be able to analyze and discuss the significance of Latin American cultural traditions such as Día de los Muertos by engaging with authentic articles and videos.

• Students will be able to create a short written narrative inspired by a traditional recipe, demonstrating clear and connected use of language.

• Students will be able to critically evaluate the impact of Latin American muralism by analyzing videos and interviews and summarizing their reflections.

Materials

• La Casa Cultural Momento 360

• Handouts (these could be screenshots or just embedded Docs)

• Equipment (smartphones, cameras, tablets, headphones, etc.)

Activity Instructions

Preparation for the app task cycle

Opening the provided link:

• Students will receive a link to the virtual tour of La Casa Cultural in advance.

• It should be ensured that all students have access to the link and can open it on their devices (smartphone, tablet, or computer).

Becoming familiar with technology:

• Time estimate: 15-20 minutes (before class).

• Instructors should guide students through a brief tutorial (either live or as a short video) on how to navigate the Momento360 virtual platform.

• Students should be instructed on basic app functions like zooming in on objects, moving between rooms, and accessing embedded media (text, videos, links).

Creating accounts if necessary:

• Time estimate: 10 minutes (before class). 

Ensuring access to all materials:

• It should be ensured that students have access to the necessary supplementary materials, such as the Google Forms for questions and quizzes, embedded videos (e.g., Día de los Muertos), and handouts with recipes (e.g., Feijoada).

Checking equipment:

• Time estimate: 5-10 minutes (in class or before class).

• It should be ensured that students' devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops) are charged, connected to the internet, and capable of running the virtual tour smoothly.

• Optional: A backup plan (such as screenshots or printed materials) in case any students have technical difficulties with the platform 

Assessment Ideas

• At the end of the exploration, students will share what they have learned about Latin American cultures and find similarities with their own cultures. They can do this in small groups or as a whole class or they can do written reflection. 

• Extension: Students can brainstorm a cultural house for their own culture and think about the elements they incorporate into their cultural house and the reasoning.