Learning Activity

Las Charlas: Hemingway en Cuba

Subject Area

World Languages

Grade(s)

7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Overview

“Las Charlas”, or Chit-Chats, allow the student to take ownership of vocabulary, content, and grammar at the end of a unit. Las Charlas helps to build student confidence in the target language while speaking about a semi-familiar topic. This Charla includes the topic of Hemingway in Cuba. Students are given two resources to explore and learn about Hemingway’s time in Cuba. Students will present a two-minute interpersonal chat with the teacher on the information they have learned.

This activity is a result of the ALEX Resource Development Summit.

World Languages (2017) Grade(s): 07-12 - World Languages

WL17.WL.L4.1

Communicate and share on familiar and new topics in various time frames and moods.

Unpacked Content

UP:WL17.WL.L4.1

Knowledge

Students know:
  • the target language vocabulary for specific topics.
  • a variety of time frames and moods.

Skills

Intermediate Mid Level
Students are able to:
  • start, maintain and end a conversation on a variety of topics.
  • talk about daily activities and personal preferences.
  • use language to handle tasks related to personal needs.
  • exchange information about subjects of special interest.
    • Intermediate high level students are able to:
    • exchange information related to areas of mutual interest.
    • use language to do a task that requires multiple steps.
    • use language to handle a situation that may have a complication.

Understanding

Students understand that:
Intermediate Mid Level
  • effective communication requires knowing how when and why to say what to whom.
  • the purpose of language study is to communicate so one can understand others and be understood.
  • other understandings will depend on the theme being taught.
Intermediate High:
  • effective communication requires knowing how when and why to say what to whom.
  • the purpose of language study is to communicate so one can understand others and be understood.
  • other understandings will depend on the theme being taught.
World Languages (2017) Grade(s): 07-12 - World Languages

WL17.WL.L4.2

Interpret, restate, and react to what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar and new topics.

Unpacked Content

UP:WL17.WL.L4.2

Knowledge

Students know:
  • the target language vocabulary for specific topics.
  • how to communicate in a variety of tenses and moods.

Skills

Intermediate Mid Level
Students are able to:
  • understand basic information from advertisments and announcements, audio or print.
  • understand the main idea(s) of voice messages and videos
  • understand basic statements and questions in an interview.
  • understand questions in a survey or questionnaire.
  • understand information in a variety of print formats (ex: brochures, magazines, labels, etc.).
  • understand information in interpersonal communication.
  • understand main ideas, supporting details, themes, settings, characters and plot lines in literary texts.
Intermediate High Level
Students are able to:
  • understand basic information from advertisments and announcements, audio or print.
  • understand interpersonal exchanges, spoken or in print.
  • understand information in a variety of print formats (ex: brochures, magazines, labels, etc.).
  • understand main ideas, supporting details, themes, settings, characters and plot lines in literary texts.

Understanding

Students understand that:
Intermediate Mid Level
  • effective communication requires knowing how when and why to say what to whom.
  • the purpose of language study is to communicate so one can understand others and be understood.
  • other understandings will depend on the theme being taught.
Intermediate High:
  • effective communication requires knowing how when and why to say what to whom.
  • the purpose of language study is to communicate so one can understand others and be understood.
  • other understandings will depend on the theme being taught.
World Languages (2017) Grade(s): 07-12 - World Languages

WL17.WL.L4.3

Present information on familiar and new topics in various time frames and aspects using varied vocabulary and more complex sentence structure.

Unpacked Content

UP:WL17.WL.L4.3

Knowledge

Students know:
  • the target language vocabulary for specific topics.
  • how to communicate in a variety of tenses and moods.

Skills

Intermediate Mid Level
Students are able to:
  • describe past experiences and events.
  • create announcements for upcoming events.
  • present or write about academic topics.
  • describe steps needed to complete a task.
  • write emails, letters, blog posts, etc. on a variety of topics.
  • present or write about current or past events/issues.
  • present or write about entertainment topics.
Intermediate High Level
Students are able to:
  • write emails, letters, blog posts, etc. on a variety of topics.
  • describe past experiences and events.
  • summarize information from academic topics.
  • describe steps needed to complete a task.
  • explain point of view on a topic or issue.

Understanding

Students understand that:
Intermediate Mid Level
  • effective communication requires knowing how when and why to say what to whom.
  • the purpose of language study is to communicate so one can understand others and be understood.
  • other understandings will depend on the theme being taught.
Intermediate High Level
  • effective communication requires knowing how when and why to say what to whom.
  • the purpose of language study is to communicate so one can understand others and be understood.
  • other understandings will depend on the theme being taught.

Phase

After/Explain/Elaborate
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

In the target language, students will be able to:

  • interpret written and spoken information on Hemingway in Cuba.

  • summarize and describe (verbally) Hemingway in Cuba utilizing the necessary grammatical structures.

Activity Details

*This activity would be best included after students have learned about Cuba or surveyed literary figures in Central America/Caribbean. Students should be familiar with navigating the preterit and imperfect tenses.

1. The teacher will ask the following questions to introduce the topic of Hemingway in Cuba.

 - ¿Quiénes son los autores estadounidenses más conocidos?

 - ¿Hay autores estadounidenses relacionados con Latinoamérica?

 - ¿Qué saben sobre Ernest Hemingway?

*Teacher can write any of the information given by the students on the board.

 2. The teacher will play the following video for the students.
 
Following the video, students will receive an article on Hemingway and the teacher will ask the students to read and prepare for the Charla using the materials given as well as conduct individual research of the life of Hemingway especially in relation to Cuba. 

CHARLA
Instrucciones: Utilizando los materiales de información e investigación individual, prepara una presentación informal y verbal de 2 minutos sobre la vida de Hemingway especialmente en relación con Cuba.
*No se puede usar apuntes durante la charla.

15-20 minutes can be given to complete this preparation. Students will summarize the information learned and prepare ideas to share.

3. Individually the students will share the information learned with the teacher in an informal presentation/interpersonal chat. The teacher may prompt with 2-3 leading questions but the student should volunteer the majority of the new content learned.

 - Examples of prompting questions: Describe la vida de Hemingway en Cuba; su casa, sus pasatiempos, etc.

 *While the teacher is speaking 1-on-1 with a student, an additional individual assignment can be given to the class.

*Students may not use notes during the Charla.

4. The teacher will set a two-minute timer and can note any repeated errors in grammar. The main focus of the activity is fluidity of speech and understanding of content in the time frame given.

Assessment Strategies

Assessment Strategies

Use this activity as a communication proficiency assessment to monitor students’ growth with the preterit and imperfect tenses as well as their ability to read and summarize in a limited time frame.

I have used the following rubric to assess the students’ Charlas:

Rubric in Spanish 

Rubric in English 

Variation Tips

The time length for speaking can be modified based on student proficiency level, however, it should challenge them. Keeping to the specific time frame is important so that all students have the opportunity for the assessment.

Background and Preparation

Background / Preparation

Print the article on Hemingway if your students prefer to read with a printed text rather than digital.

Share both the article and video digitally via teacher webpage or school learning management system.

Prepare rubrics for grading or use the ones suggested above.

Digital Tools / Resources

Youtube Video: Hemingway en Cuba
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU7aThMcFc8

Approved Date

Owner (Author)

sralawrence100
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