Characteristics of a Good Language Learner

There are 

lots of lists 

of characteristics 

that make a good 

language learner

but the number one (for me) is that you 

keep trying to understand and be understood.

Create a new blog post in your Spanish Blog Portfolio (or send an email to your teacher), title it the same as this blog post, and complete one of the following tasks

1. Look at one of the lists linked above and pick out a characteristic you identify with. What are some things you already do that exhibit that characteristic?
2. Look at one of the lists linked above and pick out a characteristic you don't identify with but wish you did. What are some action steps you can take to develop that characteristic? 
3. If you were going to learn a language other than Spanish, which would it be and why?

Out of School Language Learning

Every once in awhile in class (or as homework) I would provide an article about tips of learning a language or the benefits of learning a language. Today I'll post some ideas on how you can continue to practice when we're not together. 

Recently the New York Times provided some suggestions on how to learn at language at home, and last year they published an article about what they learned by using Duolingo for 500 days (and compared it to other apps).

If you don't want to get on an app there are ways to incorporate another language into your everyday life like changing your phone to be in the target language, following Spanish speakers on your favorite social media platform, or listening to music or watching shows in Spanish.

SpanishPlans.org has a great list of ideas to maintain the language you've learned over the summer break

Create a new blog post in your Spanish Blog Portfolio (or send an email to your teacher), title it the same as this blog post, and complete one of the following tasks

• Create a list of 3 of these things you would do. Include links to songs/playlists you'd listen to, shows you'd watch and/or social media accounts you'd follow. 
• Watch one of these TED talk videos about how to learn a language and summarize it in your own words.
• Look into different (free) language learning apps or extensions you could use (refer to the NYTimes articles How to learn at language at home, and what they learned by using Duolingo for 500 days ) and explain which one you'd be most likely to use and why. 

Current Immigration Articles 2019

Youth at the largest children detention center in the U.S.
source

I've been posting about Immigration since I started this blog nine years ago. The issues around this topic evolve and change often, so here is a collection of recent articles (with audio provided for many of them) related to what is currently happening around different aspects of the topic.

Many of the articles focus on what happens to youth who come to the border.

• Inside the largest migrant shelter for kids in the US
• Migrant Youth Go From A Children's Shelter To Adult Shelter On Their 18th Birthday
• Children of TPS join marchers in Washington
• TPS = Temporary Protected Status - people had permission to come to the U.S. and stay here (many for more than 10 years) but now the government is thinking about telling them they have to go back to their home country.
• A boy travels the migrant caravan to join his mother in the US
• The real border crisis - US immigration system isn't build for families

Here is a interactive website where you can learn about the U.S. and Mexican border.

source

Create a new blog post in your Spanish Blog Portfolio (or send an email to your Spanish teacher), title it the same as this blog post, and answer one of the following questions in complete sentences based on these images.

• Pick one of the articles and listen to it/read it. Summarize what you learning in 3-4 sentences.
• Check out the Border Interactive and pick 3 places to describe in your own words. 
• Listen to the audio for The real border crisis - US immigration system isn't build for families and summarize 3 issues the person who is being interviewed said we need to improve.
• Listen to or read Children of TPS join marchers in Washington and explain what you were do if your family lost TPS (Temporary Protected Status).

No Te Calles

Throughout the history of music there are many protest songs. Here is a recently released song in Spanish.

Create a new blog post in your Spanish Blog Portfolio, title it the same as this blog post, and complete 2 of the following tasks

• This song is about standing up and fighting for something you believe in. If you were to go out to the streets to protest something, what would it be and why? Explain 
• You can follow up by going to this website related to the song and share your reason to be out in the streets and not be silenced.
• Look up the lyrics and identify 5 keywords to translate from Spanish to English.
• Create a brief biography of Ruben Blades in your own words. 
• What other protest songs do you know about? Create a list of at least 3 and what they are fighting for.

100 Billion Words

For the Superbowl this year Google made an advertisement. Check it out below.

Create a new blog post in your Spanish Blog Portfolio, title it the same as this blog post, and answer 2 of the following questions in complete sentences based on these images.

• Check out Google Translate phone app. What are 3 different features you could use the app besides just typing in words?
• Try out one of the features and share how it went.
• Select a time in this video and explain where you think it takes place. What evidence do you use to make that guess?
• According to the ad, what are the most translated words? Why do you think that is?
• Do you think this is a good or effective ad? Explain your answer.

How Y’all, Youse and You Guys Talk

One of the hardest things about being a World Language teacher is that there usually isn't just one direct translation or one way to say something. In fact, there are many examples of different translations for the same word. Did you know we have that in English too?

Create a new blog post in your Spanish Blog Portfolio, title it the same as this blog post, and complete 2 of the following tasks

• Take the quiz here and screen shot your score.
• Is the score reflective of where you are from? Explain. 
• Take screen shots of the weirdest questions and include them in your post. 
• Have you ever experienced a situation where you use one word (in English) and someone didn't know what you meant? Tell the story.

Girls Around the World

I recently posted about This is 18, a photo series from the New York Times that follows girls from various countries. Here are a few more resources where you can learn about girls around the world.

Girlhood Around the World is a series of articles about what life is like for a girl in a different country.

#15girls is a series of articles and radio news pieces that profile teenage girls around the world.

Create a new blog post in your Spanish Blog Portfolio, title it the same as this blog post, and answer one of the following questions in complete sentences based on these images.

• Skim the title of the articles and the summaries. List 5 things that you've learned/realized/wonder about as you preview the articles. 
• Select one of the articles or audio pieces and read/listen to it and summarize the article in 4-5 sentences. 
• Explain how your life would be different if you were in the situation that is highlighted in one of these articles. 
• Explain how your life is similar to the situation that is highlighted in one of these articles.