Participate by sharing, listening, asking, and conversing with others present. This should be a fun, friendly class, learning games, tasting foods from Spanish-speaking counties, as well as having an opportunity to talk to each other in Spanish. I will be available for specific questions you may have in your Spanish studies. Describe what you see in a series of pictures. This isn't a study or prepared assignment; you are given 90 seconds to describe what you see in Spanish. You will be amazed at how your Spanish improves as you do this each week. You do not translate words, you describe what is happening. We will also be sharing and talking to each other about an assigned topic, (see schedule). Occasionally share a news story in Spanish and see if others in the group can understand what the news topic was about.
Resources:
Spanish Dictionaries
There are two free Spanish-English dictionaries, one from Espasa Calpe and another from Oxford. Each has its own strengths and the combination of the two plus the WordReference supplement is an unbeatable combination.
answering your questions using innovative search technologies to deliver fast and relevant information (Spanish version)
http://es.ask.com/?o=38302770&l=dis&siteid=38302770&dm=all#subject:ask|pg:1
WEEK 1 - Student & teacher introductions (first day)
WEEK 2 - Independence Day Celebrations
Mexico's Independence Day is Sept 16. Many Spanish-speaking countries celebrate their independence in September. Tell us how you spend America's Independence Day, where you go, what you do, etc... If you do not celebrate holidays, you may just tell us about a favorite family gathering, reunion, or pastime.
WEEK 3 - TIME & DAILY ACTIVITIES
Suggested vocabulary to research: reflexive verbs, your schedule, daily routine, things in which you are involved, what time you wake up, what time you leave, what time you retire.
WEEK 4 - NEWS REPORT
Report in Spanish on a newspaper article or radio program that caught your attention. Make sure it includes information on: Who, What, Where, When, and How. Explain why you are sharing this news article in Spanish.
WEEK 5 - SHARE A RECIPE
Suggested vocabulary to research: ingredients, dishes, recipes, measurements. Share a favorite recipe, bring a sample for the class to taste (not required - but wouldn't that be fun!)
WEEK 6 - NEWS REPORT
Report in Spanish on a newspaper article or radio program that caught your attention. Make sure it includes information on: Who, What, Where, When, and How. Explain why you are sharing this news article in Spanish.
WEEK 7 - AROUND THE HOUSE
Tell us about some type of chore you and your family each do around the house or property. (cleaning, yardwork, gardening, caring for animals, redecorating) Share a goal or something you feel you would like to be doing with your family.
WEEK 8 - OCCUPATIONS
Give a job description or training requirements of any occupation. This would be in a field of which you are interested, or could be something someone in your family does, or could be something a friend or neighbor does, or could just be something you heard about, or something you know little of and would like to learn about.
WEEK 9 - LEGACY & DIA DE LOS MUERTOS
Suggested vocabulary to research: I will explain about the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos, in which departed ancestors are remembered. Share family stories, how many family members, genealogical information, stories you have heard about your ancestors. You may bring photos or items of interest. It can be about your immediate family or can be about ancestors.
WEEK 10 - RESEARCH TOPIC
Tell us about anything you recently discovered, learned, or read about. Any subject.
WEEK 11 - NEWS REPORT
Report in Spanish on a newspaper article or radio program that caught your attention. Make sure it includes information on: Who, What, Where, When, and How. Explain why you are sharing this news article in Spanish.
WEEK 12 - MEXICO CULTURE STUDY -
Research and prepare to share in Spanish any cultural information on any Spanish speaking country of their choice. (Does not have to be an indepth report, just 5 min summary on any aspect. For example: monetary unit, sports, their exports, regional costume, customs, places of interest to visit, tourist information, a historical account, or historical figure, etc...) I will be sharing information about Mexico and share some history and legends of the Mexican culture.
WEEK 13 - LITERATURE
Suggested vocabulary to research: a favorite book, favorite author, what does the author write about, why do you enjoy it, etc...
WEEK 14 - NEWS REPORT
Report in Spanish on a newspaper article or radio program that caught your attention. Make sure it includes information on: Who, What, Where, When, and How. Explain why you are sharing this news article in Spanish.
WEEK 15 - DEMONSTRATION/HOW TO
Teach and demonstrate how to do something in detail, or how to improve a skill, perhaps even give us an opportunity to try this skill ourselves. This could be anything. PLEASE NO VIDEO GAMES. Be creative. Some ideas: repairing something, sewing, playing an instrument, taking photos, using a video camera, speed reading techniques, play a sport, knitting, crocheting, drawing.
WEEK 16 - NEWS REPORT
Report in Spanish on a newspaper article or radio program that caught your attention. Make sure it includes information on: Who, What, Where, When, and How. Explain why you are sharing this news article in Spanish.
WEEK 17 - SHOPPING
Tell us about a recent shopping trip. You may bring in items in a bag (don't show them until after you have told us about them) Suggested vocabulary to research: how much does it cost, where or for what do you like to shop, articles of clothing - colors, collectible items, types of stores.
WEEK 18 - NEWS REPORT
Report in Spanish on a newspaper article or radio program that caught your attention. Make sure it includes information on: Who, What, Where, When, and How. Explain why you are sharing this news article in Spanish.
WEEK 19 - HOBBIES
Suggested vocabulary to research: How do you spend your leisure time? Feel free to bring props to share your interests and what you like to do.
WEEK 20 - MUSIC
Bring in samples of music (CD's). Tell us the type of music you usually listen to, perhaps your favorite radio station, your favorite band(s), singer, songs. If you listen to different types of music at different times, tell us about that. ie, what do you listen to in the car, at home, while studying, on an iPod. Tell us the lyrics to a song you really like. Keep in mind you would need to translate the lyrics. No inappropriate music.
WEEK 21 PHOTOS
Bring some photos of yourself and/or your family. Be prepared to describe each photo and share a bit of the background to the photo. They do not have to be vacation or anything spectacular. They can be normal everyday shots of family life. We will take turns describing a photo without showing it, and then passing the photo around to see if we understood what you were describing. We'll go around the class each sharing one at a time. Bring several photos that would require different descriptions.
WEEK 22 - NEWS REPORT
Report in Spanish on a newspaper article or radio program that caught your attention. Make sure it includes information on: Who, What, Where, When, and How. Explain why you are sharing this news article in Spanish.
WEEK 23 - DIRECTIONS
Invite us to join you someplace for a certain reason or activity. Convince us that we would enjoy it so that we want to go. Then tell us how to get there with very specific driving directions from where we meet. Some examples: to Movies 10 to see a certain movie, to the lake to swim, to the park because there is going to be a fair, to the downtown mall because there is going to be a demonstration of some sort by a certain group, etc... Use your imagination.
HISTORICAL FIGURE
Tell us about a historical figure that you admire or have learned about either recently or in the past. Share why they are famous or well known. Try to include places, dates, events surrounding this person. Do not use his/her name during your presentation and we will try to guess who you are telling us about.
STORY TIME
Tell a well known fairy tale or fable or story in Spanish while the other students will try to recognize it. Do not use names so it does not make it too simple to guess.
PETS
Share about your pets: how many, their names, how you care for them, how you got them, where you bought them, etc. Explain why someone would like to have this type of pet. This could be a pet you have now or had in the past.