Suporna Saha

Spanish 1

Unit Activity

Unit: Introductions
This Unit Activity will help you meet these educational goals:
Vocabulary SkillsYou will use new and learned vocabulary in different real-world
situations.
Cultural AwarenessYou will investigate the culture and customs of other countries and
compare them to your own.
Communication SkillsYou will practice reading, writing, and listening skills to
communicate meaningfully in a new language.
21st Century SkillsYou will employ online tools for research and analysis.

Introduction
This is a culminating activity of the unit that you have studied, where you learned to greet
people in Spanish, share names and phone numbers, ask and reply to questions about
your own or someone elses national origin or nationality, and ask and give information
about days, months, time, age, and numbers.
Please save this document before you begin working on the assignment. Type your
answers directly in the document.
__________________________________________________________________________

Directions and Analysis

Task 1: Vocabulary Table and Grammar Guide
Complete this vocabulary table to act as a searchable dictionary, and also complete a
grammar guide that lists important rules that you might follow when writing or speaking the
Spanish that youve learned in this unit. Youll update the vocabulary table and the grammar
guide after each unit of the course.
a. Fill in your Vocabulary Table here. (You can add more rows at the end of the table if
needed.)
Vocabulary Table
Spanish Word/Phrase
casa
Coche
Rizado
ondulado
tareas
saludos
horas

English Equivalent or
Context Reminder
house
car
Curly
wavy
chores
greetings
hours

Pronunciation Tips
like the a in father
Like the ch in church
Like the i in rear
Like the a in daughter
Like the a in care
Like the o in only
Like the h in hour

1
2013 EDMENTUM, INC.

trabajo
stano
nieto
amigos
mascotas
familia

work
basement
grandson
friends
pets
family

Like the o in okay

Like the a in alter
Like the i in niece
Like the a in father
Like the a in father
Like the a in father

b. Fill in your grammar guide here: (You can add more rows at the end of the table if
needed.)
Grammar Guide
Word
t (pronoun)

Meaning
you (informal)

When to Use
to address a friend,
or a younger person

El (pronoun)

He

Ella (pronoun)

She

to address to one
male
to address to one
female

Ellos (pronoun)

They (masculine)

Ellas (pronoun)

They (feminine)

Usted (pronoun)

You(Formal
singular)

to address an older
person or someone
you respect

Ustedes (pronoun)

You(Formal Plural)

Nosotros (pronoun)

We

to address more
than one older
person or someone
you respect
to address to a

Nosotras

We

Yo

Vosotros

You (informal or

refers to a group of
males or males and
females,
refers to females
only

group of males or
males and females
to address to
females only
to address to
yourself
to address to a

familiar plural)

Vosotras

group of males or
males and
females(this
pronoun is seldom
used in most parts
of Latin America)
to address to

You(informal or
2

When Not to Use

to address an older
person or someone
you respect
To address an
woman
To address an man
To address to
females only
To address to males
or males and
females
to address more
than one older
person or someone
you respect
to address an older
person or someone
you respect
To address to a
male or female
To address to a
male
To address to
someone self
To address a male
or female

To address to a

familiar plural)

females only (this

pronoun is seldom
used in most parts
of Latin America)

male

Task 2: Create a Holiday Calendar

Select a Spanish-speaking country, research its important holidays and historical dates, and
then complete this table listing selected holidays and dates. Use Spanish to list the dates and
names of the holidays and write brief descriptions of the holidays. Then, list important
holidays and dates of the United States in the right column. In the section below the table,
note how the holidays from the two countries are similar or different. Add the websites you
use to the Resources section.
Use this table format:
Spanish-speaking Country
Da: Quince de Agosto
Nombre del evento: Da de la Asuncin de la
Virgen Mara
Descripcin: En todo el pas hay
celebraciones , servicios religiosos y
procesiones que honran a la Virgen de la
Caridad . Incluso hay lugares donde la fiesta
dura unas dos semanas.
Da: diecisis de septiembre
Nombre del evento: Da de la Independencia
Descripcin: Todos los mexicanos celebran
su independencia en este da con numerosos
eventos y reuniones en las que todos el
orgullo de Mxico se encuentra en exhibicin
y que por lo tanto es un momento ideal para
estar en Mxico .
Da: doce de Deciembre
Nombre del evento: Da de los Muertos
Descripcin: Segn la creencia popular de
Mxico , a los muertos se les permite visitar a
sus amigos una vez al ao . En este da , los
vivos dan la bienvenida a las almas de los
difuntos con todo tipo de ofrendas : comida ,
velas, flores o dulces .

United States
Da: cuatro de julio
Nombre del evento: Da de la Independencia
Descripcin: Esta fiesta honra el cumpleaos
de la nacin - la adopcin de la Declaracin
de Independencia el 4 de julio de 1776 es un
da de picnics y desfiles patriticos , una
noche de conciertos y fuegos artificiales .
Da: primer lunes de septiembre.
Nombre del evento: Da laboral
Descripcin: Esta fiesta honra a las personas
que trabajan de la nacin , por lo general con
desfiles . Para la mayora de los
estadounidenses que marca el final de la
temporada de vacaciones de verano y el
inicio del ao escolar
Da: 11 de noviembre.
Nombre del evento: Da de los Veteranos
Descripcin: Esta fiesta se llamaba
originalmente el Da del Armisticio y creado
en honor a los estadounidenses que haban
servido en la Primera Guerra Mundial I.
Ahora honra a los veteranos de todas las
guerras en las que los EE.UU. han luchado .

Resources:
http://www.iberostar.com/en/hotels/mexico/pages/culture
http://www.usa.gov/citizens/holidays.shtml
Task 3: Compare Student Exchange Programs
3

Do some research on student exchange programs in Mexico and Spain to determine

which country you would like to visit as an exchange student. Then, write a one-page
essay in English explaining your choice of country and whether you meet the
qualifications to join the program.
Type your response here:
My choice of my country is Mexico. The number of Americans studying
abroad in Mexico and the number of Mexicans coming to American
institutions is far distant from the economic ties of both neighbor
countries. Mexican students rank ninth in the number of foreign students in
American institutions, behind China, India, South Korea, Canada, Taiwan,
Saudi Arabia, and even Vietnam, according to the Institute of International
Education (IIE). When studying abroad, Mexico is the eighth destination
chosen by American college and graduate students. Therefore, few
Mexican and American professionals have a deep understanding of the
realities and challenges of their neighbor country. Mexicans are the largest
legal and undocumented immigrant population in the U.S. and the same
happens south of the border with Americans being the largest foreign-born
population in Mexico, according to the Mexican Census office INEGI.
When on vacation, Mexico is the top destination abroad for American
tourists while the opposite is true for Mexicans. Large numbers of
Mexicans work for American transnational corporations, watch American
films and TV series, and enjoy American music. Their contact with
American tourists, and imported products have also crafted perceptions of
the United States in Mexico. At the same time, immigrants from Mexico,
news from the border, the growing presence of Tex-Mex and Mexican food,
beer, and Spanish-language in the U.S. has shaped American perceptions
of Mexico. And I do meet the qualifications for this student exchanging
program because is one of the top foreign country that provides good
education.

Task 4: Write a School Newspaper Article

Write an article in Spanish for your school newspaper introducing Eric to your classmates.
You can refer to your vocabulary table to find Spanish words, phrases, and sentences that
you are familiar with.
Type your response here:
Eric es un estudiante de 14 aos que est en noveno grado. l tiene dos
mascotas . Eric pertenece a una muy grande family.He es un estudiante
maduro y bien educada . Tambin, l es bueno en los deportes como el
ftbol y el baloncesto . Eric toma clases avanzadas y asiste a muchos
clubes . Incluso asisti a los desfiles y los paseos que nos hace
comprender que se preocupa por las personas y la comunidad . Eric
tambin hace trabajo de servicio comunitario para la universidad . S
amigo de Eric porque slo le ayudar en la vida .

Evaluation
Your teacher will use these criteria to evaluate your work.
Task 1: Vocabulary Table and Grammar Guide

(1 point)Beginning (2 points)Developing (3 points)Proficient

(4 points)Distinguished

Criteria

Completes the vocabulary table comprehensively: includes a comprehensive list of vocabulary

terms from the unit, correctly translates the words or gives context clues in Spanish, and provides
accurate pronunciation tips

Creates a comprehensive grammar guide: correctly establishes the rules for writing Spanish,
based on lessons from the unit

Completes the vocabulary table adequately: includes many vocabulary terms from the unit,
correctly translates most words or gives context clues in Spanish, and provides adequate
pronunciation tips

Creates an adequate grammar guide: adequately establishes the rules used for writing Spanish,
based on lessons from the unit

Completes the vocabulary table partially: includes some vocabulary terms from the unit,
correctly translates some words or gives context clues in Spanish, and provides some pronunciation
tips

Creates a somewhat adequate grammar guide: somewhat correctly establishes the rules for
writing Spanish, based on lessons from the unit

Completes the vocabulary table partially and incorrectly: includes very few vocabulary terms
from the unit, translates words or gives context clues in Spanish with several errors, and provides
very limited pronunciation tips

Creates a grammar guide with several errors: establishes very few or incorrect rules for writing
Spanish, based on lessons from the unit

Task 2: Create a Holiday Calendar

Criteria

(1 point)Beginning (2 points)Developing (3 points)Proficient (4 points)Distinguished

Chooses the selected countrys holiday events accurately

Gives the dates and names of all the chosen holidays correctly

Compares the events on the calendars of both countries accurately

Chooses the selected countrys holiday events mostly accurately

Gives the dates and names of most of the chosen holidays correctly
Compares the events on the calendars of both countries mostly accurately

Chooses the selected countrys holiday events with some accuracy

Gives the dates and names of some of the chosen holidays correctly

Compares the events on the calendars of both countries with some accuracy

Chooses the selected countrys holiday events inaccurately

Gives the dates and names of very few of the chosen holidays correctly

Compares the events on the calendars of both countries inaccurately

Task 3: Compare Student Exchange Programs

(4 points)d Distinguishe

Criteria

Writes a complete, well thought-out essay that conveys information accurately and
meaningfully

Compares the exchange programs of all three countries accurately

Chooses a country, discusses qualifications, and provides reasons for the choice
comprehensively

(2 points)Developing (3 points)Proficient
(1 point)gBeginnin

Writes a complete essay that mostly conveys information accurately and meaningfully
Compares the exchange programs of all three countries mostly accurately
Chooses a country, discusses qualifications, and provides reasons for the choice adequately

Writes an essay that conveys information somewhat accurately

Compares the exchange programs of all three countries with some accuracy

Chooses a country, discusses qualifications, and provides reasons for the choice partially

Writes an essay with inaccurate or insufficient information

Compares the exchange programs of all three countries inaccurately
Chooses a country, discusses qualifications, and provides reasons for the choice inadequately

Task 4: Write a School Newspaper Article

(4 points)Distinguished

Criteria

Chooses words that convey the intended sense accurately

Uses a wide variety of words and phrases

Writing contains no grammar or spelling errors

(1 point)Beginning (2 points)Developing points)Proficient (3

Chooses words that convey the intended sense with reasonable accuracy
Uses a moderate variety of words and phrases
Writing contains a few grammar or spelling errors

Chooses words that convey the intended sense roughly

Uses a limited set of words and phrases
Writing contains several grammar or spelling errors

Chooses words that do not convey the intended sense

Uses a very limited set of words and phrases
Writing contains many grammar or spelling errors