Spanish 3 A/B

In Spanish 3A, students will be reintroduced to Spanish in common situations, beginning with various daily routines, describing friends and family, childhood memories and activities, and childhood hopes and aspirations. They will discuss and describe art, such as paintings and sculptures, and literature, such as novels and novellas, and give reactions and form opinions about art and literature. Students will also understand the process of selecting and applying to a university, aspirations at the university, and dealing with leaving home and moving into a dormitory. Further, students will describe university life and expectations from the university experience. They will explore the dynamics and challenges of multiethnic and developing societies, environmental and social issues, causes and possible resolutions, and learning about unfamiliar countries using technology. Finally, they will discuss current events reported in the media, different types of classified and other types of advertisement in the media (both print and online), the sections and supplements of a newspaper or magazine, and various jobs available in the media. Students will build on what they learned in Spanish 2 to communicate by listening, speaking, reading, and writing in Spanish as they internalize new vocabulary and grammar. They will also learn about some regions of the Spanish-speaking world where the central characters of each unit are visiting. Students will build on this semester's work as they advance in their Spanish studies: everything that students learn about a language and the cultures in which it is spoken will serve as a foundation for further learning.In Spanish 3B, students will be reintroduced to Spanish in a variety of situations, beginning with multiculturalism, bilingualism, cultural influences on traditions, customs, food, and social experiences, and legends and folklore from different cultures. Students will discuss and describe genres of music, poetry, drama, and short stories, and proverbs from different cultures. They will also explore how geographical features affect the weather, and how the geography and weather affect the clothing, food, and livelihoods of the local population. Students will also understand the history of Venezuela and how the Spanish conquerors and indigenous people shaped the culture of the country, and they will learn about the South American independence movement, including some significant freedom fighters and their struggles to win independence. They will also discuss religions practiced in Argentina, the cultural icons of the country and how they compare to cultural icons from other countries, sports and activities in Argentina, some national symbols, such as the gauchos, and idioms and sayings from Argentina. Finally, students will discuss types of wildlife and natural and agricultural resources found in Costa Rica, the human resources of the country that help overcome economic and natural disasters, and how to write formal and informal letters to share experiences. They will build on what they learned in Spanish 3A to communicate by listening, speaking, reading, and writing in Spanish as they internalize new vocabulary and grammar. Students will also learn about some regions of the Spanish-speaking world where the central characters of each unit are visiting. They will build on this semester's work as they advance in their Spanish studies: everything that they learn about a language and the cultures in which it is spoken will serve as a foundation for further learning.