Course Plan: Spanish for Grade 9 - Family and Friends
Course Introduction
Welcome to the Spanish course "Familia y Amigos" designed for Grade 9 students! This interactive and engaging course will delve into the vibrant themes of family and friendships, essential aspects of daily life and culture reflected in the Spanish language. Students will learn essential vocabulary and phrases while developing their speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills in Spanish.
The course is structured into modules, focusing on various aspects of family and relationships, incorporating culture, traditions, and conversational skills. The goal is to enhance students’ linguistic proficiency and cultural understanding while making learning Spanish enjoyable and relevant.
Course Goals and Aims
Goal
To build a fundamental understanding of the Spanish language focusing on the themes of family and friends, while promoting cross-cultural awareness.
Aims
- Vocabulary Acquisition:
- Learn essential vocabulary related to family, friends, and relationships.
- Conversational Skills:
- Develop proficiency in speaking and listening through dialogues and role-plays.
- Cultural Understanding:
- Explore family structures and traditions in various Spanish-speaking countries.
- Grammar Fundamentals:
- Introduce key grammatical structures relevant to discussing relationships.
- Writing Skills:
- Practice writing descriptive text about family and friends.
Course Outline
Module 1: Introduction to Family Vocabulary (Lessons 1-5)
- Lesson 1: Introduction to Family Terms (nouns, gender)
- Lesson 2: Extended Family Vocabulary
- Lesson 3: Basic Sentence Structure (subject-verb-object)
- Lesson 4: Family Tree Project (visual activity)
- Lesson 5: Vocabulary Quiz and Review
Module 2: Describing Family (Lessons 6-10)
- Lesson 6: Adjectives to Describe Family Members
- Lesson 7: Present Tense of "Ser" vs. "Estar"
- Lesson 8: Writing Descriptive Sentences about Family
- Lesson 9: Role-Playing Family Introductions
- Lesson 10: Mid-module Assessment: Oral Presentations about Family
Module 3: Friends and Social Relationships (Lessons 11-15)
- Lesson 11: Vocabulary Related to Friends
- Lesson 12: Describing Friendships using Adjectives
- Lesson 13: Verbs for Activities with Friends (e.g., salir, hacer)
- Lesson 14: Dialogue Practice - Talking about Friends
- Lesson 15: Friendships in Different Cultures (discussion)
Module 4: Comparisons in Family Dynamics (Lessons 16-20)
- Lesson 16: Comparatives and Superlatives
- Lesson 17: Differences in Family Structures Worldwide
- Lesson 18: Discussions on Stereotypes (Debate)
- Lesson 19: Writing Comparison Essays
- Lesson 20: Assessment on Comparisons in Families
Module 5: Celebrating Family and Friends (Lessons 21-25)
- Lesson 21: Key Celebrations in Spanish-speaking Cultures
- Lesson 22: Vocabulary for Celebrations and Parties
- Lesson 23: Planning a Family Celebration (Group Activity)
- Lesson 24: Stories and Traditions: Sharing Experiences
- Lesson 25: Invite a Spanish-speaking Guest (Cultural Exchange)
Module 6: Relationships and Social Issues (Lessons 26-30)
- Lesson 26: Discussing Relationships: Language of Emotions
- Lesson 27: Conflict Resolution among Friends
- Lesson 28: Understanding Family Issues in Hispanic Culture
- Lesson 29: Group Project: Presentations on Family and Friends
- Lesson 30: Final Assessment: Oral & Written Reflections
References
- Rosen, H. & Hollander, M. (2018). Spanish for Beginners. New York: Educational Publishing.
- Valdés, J. (2019). Cultura y Conversación: Interactions in Spanish. Chicago: Language Press.
- Aldana, I., & Moreno, C. (2020). Familias en el Mundo Hispano. Miami: Global Books.
- Smith, J. (2021). Teaching Spanish Through Cultural Contexts. Boston: Academic Press.
- Instituto Cervantes. (2022). Spanish Language Resources. Retrieved from Instituto Cervantes Website
This course plan aims to create a rich learning environment that fosters not only language acquisition but cultural appreciation among students, ensuring they appreciate the beauty of the Spanish language and the cultures that speak it.