Current Events

History, Holidays, and Traditions

Topic: Current Events
Communication

• Person-to-Person Communication
  
  • Ask and answer questions concerning current events.
    
  • Express and exchange reactions to current events.
    
• Listening and Reading for Understanding
  
  • Identify pertinent information when listening to media newscasts or reading selections from written news sources.
    
• Oral and Written Presentation
  
  • Communicate main ideas and supporting details orally and in writing when presenting a current event.
    
  • Produce and explain opinions and reactions to current news events.
    

Cultures

• Cultural Perspectives, Practices, and Products
  
  • Discuss how the viewpoints of people from Spanish-speaking countries are reflected in their news broadcasts and publications.
    

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

• Making Connections Through Language
  
  • Relate knowledge of current events gained in social sciences, history, government, and science classes to information learned in Spanish class.
    
• Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons
  
  • Compare and contrast attitudes towards world events of people in the U.S. and in Spanish-speaking countries.
    
• Communication Across Communities
  
  • Locate and use authentic resources in Spanish television news programs, newspapers, magazines, and the Internet to broaden understanding of current events.
    

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to the specific current events
  

Topic: History, Holidays, and Traditions
Communication

• Person-to-Person Communication
  
  • Ask and answer questions about historical events, holidays, and traditions.
    
  • Sustain a detailed conversation about historical events, holidays, and traditions.
    
• Listening and Reading for Understanding
  
  • Comprehend culturally-authentic spoken and written information related to history, holidays, and traditions (e.g., articles, information from the Internet, songs, poems, and narratives from well-known authors).
    
• Oral and Written Presentation
  
  • Produce a detailed spoken and/or written presentation about a historical event, a traditional celebration, or a holiday.
    

Cultures

• Cultural Perspectives, Practices, and Products
  
  • Discuss customs related to celebrations in Spanish-speaking countries.
    
  • Explore the role of traditional elements of celebrations in Spanish-speaking countries, such as music, poetry, and dance.
    

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

• Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons
  
  • Compare and contrast the origins of celebrations in the United States and Spanish-speaking countries.
    
  • Contrast the use of the subjunctive in English and Spanish.
    
  • Compare and contrast U.S. celebrations such as July 4, Halloween, New Year's, etc., with similar celebrations in Spanish-speaking countries (e.g., el Día de los Muertos).
    
• Communication Across Communities
  
  • Explore opportunities to participate in an authentic Hispanic celebration in the local community.
    

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Subjunctive mood
  
• Subjunctive vs. indicative moods
  
• Conditional