ALEX Classroom Resources

   View Standards     Standard(s): [WLAN] WILP (0-8) 3 :

3) Present material in oral and written form.

a. Present information on familiar topics using a variety of simple sentences.

b. Present songs, short skits, or dramatic readings.

c. Write about topics of interests.

[WLAN] WILP (0-8) 4 :

4) Investigate, explain, and reflect on the relationship among the products, practices, and perspectives of the target cultures.

a. Engage in conversation demonstrating culturally respectful behavior.

b. Identify and research an area of interest in the target culture.

c. Participate in age-appropriate cultural practices such as games, sports, and entertainment.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 3 :

3) Present information on familiar topics with a variety of words, phrases, and simple sentences in the past time frame.

a. Present basic information about people and activities.

b. Recite songs, short skits, or dramatic readings.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 4 :

4) Identify perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Use appropriate gestures in common interactions.

b. Describe behaviors in a variety of environments.

c. Describe perspectives related to celebration of traditional religious and national holidays.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 9 :

9) Compare products, practices, and perspectives of the target culture and the native culture.

a. Compare daily routines in the target culture and the native culture.

b. Compare celebrations in the target culture and the native culture.

c. Compare games, stories, songs, and rhymes from the native culture and those from the target culture.

In this novice high to intermediate low Chinese activity, students will plan a menu for a Chinese New Year's Eve dinner. They will randomly select from a set of provided food cards and use their selected cards to prepare a menu that aligns with traditional Chinese New Year's traditions. Students will have to be careful though because some foods are considered lucky while others are considered unlucky so understanding the cultural importance of each dish will be important. 

   View Standards     Standard(s): [WLAN] WNHP (0-8) 1 :

1) Exchange simple spoken and written information in the target language, utilizing cultural references where appropriate.

a. Communicate and exchange information on familiar topics using simple sentences.

b. Engage in short social interactions with peers.

c. Exchange some personal information with peers.

d. Write simple descriptions and short messages on familiar topics.

[WLAN] WNHP (0-8) 2 :

2) Demonstrate an understanding of simple spoken or written language presented through a variety of media resources on familiar topics.

a. Report on content of a brief written or spoken message on familiar topics.

Examples: Emails, personal notes, letters, text messages

b. Identify the main idea in various media such as texts, posters, videos, etc.

c. Identify the main characters of a story.

d. Recall details in simple texts that contain familiar vocabulary.

[WLAN] WNHP (0-8) 3 :

3) Present material in oral and written form.

a. Present basic information of familiar topics using simple sentences.

b. Write information about daily life in a letter, blog, or email.

c. Write basic information about learned material.

[WLAN] WNHP (0-8) 4 :

4) Investigate, explain, and reflect on the relationship among the products, practices, and perspectives of the target cultures.

a. Use appropriate gestures and etiquette from the target culture.

b. Observe and analyze patterns of behavior typical of the target culture.

c. Draw conclusions about target culture values based on authentic materials.

[WLAN] WILP (0-8) 1 :

1) Exchange simple spoken and written information in the target language, utilizing cultural references where appropriate.

a. Converse on familiar topics connecting basic sentences to provide information.

b. Ask and answer questions on factual information familiar to the student.

c. Retell information with details about what is read, heard, and seen.

d. Write a series of sentences on familiar topics.

[WLAN] WILP (0-8) 2 :

2) Demonstrate an understanding of simple spoken or written language presented through a variety of media resources on familiar topics.

a. React to news clips, articles, or reports on current issues.

b. Describe main themes with significant details on topics of current interest.

c. Find basic information in an announcement, article, or other text.

[WLAN] WILP (0-8) 3 :

3) Present material in oral and written form.

a. Present information on familiar topics using a variety of simple sentences.

b. Present songs, short skits, or dramatic readings.

c. Write about topics of interests.

[WLAN] WILP (0-8) 4 :

4) Investigate, explain, and reflect on the relationship among the products, practices, and perspectives of the target cultures.

a. Engage in conversation demonstrating culturally respectful behavior.

b. Identify and research an area of interest in the target culture.

c. Participate in age-appropriate cultural practices such as games, sports, and entertainment.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 1 :

1) Communicate and share on familiar topics with a variety of words, phrases, and simple sentences in the past time frame.

a. Use the language to meet basic survival needs.

b. Participate in conversations on familiar topics using a variety of phrases and simple sentences.

c. Ask and answer questions on factual information.

d. Narrate incidents in the past time frame.

e. Describe activities and personal preferences in the past time frame.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics using the past tense.

a. Restate information from audio and visual documents in the target language.

b. Locate key information from announcements and messages connected to daily activities in the target culture.

c. Relate the main themes and significant details on topics from other subjects and products of the cultures.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 3 :

3) Present information on familiar topics with a variety of words, phrases, and simple sentences in the past time frame.

a. Present basic information about people and activities.

b. Recite songs, short skits, or dramatic readings.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 4 :

4) Identify perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Use appropriate gestures in common interactions.

b. Describe behaviors in a variety of environments.

c. Describe perspectives related to celebration of traditional religious and national holidays.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 5 :

5) Identify perspectives through products of the target cultures.

a. Describe products of the target culture.

b. Describe arts, crafts, or graphic representations of the target culture.

c. Describe the cultural elements found in music and short video clips.

d. Listen to, read, and describe the products in a variety of texts.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 7 :

7) Describe information related to diverse perspectives in the target culture.

a. Exchange ideas on various audio and visual documents to interpret content.

b. Identify the main idea of information from authentic websites and materials to interpret topics.

This novice high to intermediate low Spanish activity provides several examples of native speakers discussing their favorite foods. Students are asked to gather information from authentic resources, focusing specifically on the names of dishes, ingredients, the origin of the dishes, and other pertinent information. As an extension students can use the information to create a written or oral presentation comparing the foods from the video with their own favorite foods. Students can also discuss their favorite foods with classmates in an effort to enhance interpersonal communication skills.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics using the past tense.

a. Restate information from audio and visual documents in the target language.

b. Locate key information from announcements and messages connected to daily activities in the target culture.

c. Relate the main themes and significant details on topics from other subjects and products of the cultures.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 4 :

4) Identify perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Use appropriate gestures in common interactions.

b. Describe behaviors in a variety of environments.

c. Describe perspectives related to celebration of traditional religious and national holidays.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 8 :

8) Compare characteristics of the target language and the native language.

a. Use formal and informal forms of language.

b. Compare word order for dates and placement of descriptors.

c. Use high-frequency idiomatic expressions.

d. Use cognates.

This intermediate low Spanish activity offers students an opportunity to experience regular preterit verbs in context. Students will use interpretive listening skills to gather information from an interview of a native speaker from Mexico. The vocabulary focuses on relationships as he describes how he met and proposed to his wife, providing students perspective on the idea of relationships within the target culture. Corresponding worksheets are provided to guide students as they identify preterit verbs used throughout the authentic resource. This resource offers a variety of ways for students to work with the preterit actions creating a timeline of events and writing a narrative that uses a variety of preterit clue words.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics using the past tense.

a. Restate information from audio and visual documents in the target language.

b. Locate key information from announcements and messages connected to daily activities in the target culture.

c. Relate the main themes and significant details on topics from other subjects and products of the cultures.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 4 :

4) Identify perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Use appropriate gestures in common interactions.

b. Describe behaviors in a variety of environments.

c. Describe perspectives related to celebration of traditional religious and national holidays.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 8 :

8) Compare characteristics of the target language and the native language.

a. Use formal and informal forms of language.

b. Compare word order for dates and placement of descriptors.

c. Use high-frequency idiomatic expressions.

d. Use cognates.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics in a variety of time frames.

a. Describe main ideas, identify characters, and state details found in a variety of informational and literary texts.

b. Use background knowledge to understand spoken and written information in the target language.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 4 :

4) Investigate perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Examine how behaviors in the target culture relate to and reflect different types of relationships.

b. Interact through role-play in a variety of familiar environments.

c. Participate in hands-on activities related to cultural practices.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 8 :

8) Compare characteristics of the target language and the native language in a variety of time frames.

a. Compare idiomatic expressions of the target language and the native language.

b. Compare formal and informal registers of language.

c. Compare the use of different time frames in the target and native cultures.

d. Make connections between target language and native language based on knowledge of cognates.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 2 :

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

a. Give main ideas, supporting details, and justify inferences in selected texts.

b. Identify themes, settings, characters, and plot lines found in literary texts.

c. Use background knowledge from other disciplines to understand spoken and written information in the target language.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 4 :

4) Investigate perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Explain how behaviors in the target culture relate to and reflect different types of relationships.

b. Interact through role-play in a variety of familiar and unfamiliar environments.

c. Plan hands-on activities related to cultural practices.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 8 :

8) Compare characteristics of the target language and the native language in a variety of time frames and moods.

a. Explain idiomatic expressions appropriately.

b. Compare and contrast formal and informal registers of language.

This resource provides 6 separate video clips of French speakers, each of which illustrates the task of reacting, recommending, and making requests. Students use interpretive listening skills to identify main ideas and examine how imperative and subjunctive moods are formed and used through these authentic resources. The videos were prepared for intermediate and advanced level learners but could be used with novice learners as a way to introduce them to authentic language. Each video clip provides a French-language transcript and links to grammar reviews and activities for the concepts that are heard in the clip. The concepts covered include conjugations that take the subjunctive, imperative mood, irregular subjunctive, past subjunctive, regular subjunctive, and subjunctive usage.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics using the past tense.

a. Restate information from audio and visual documents in the target language.

b. Locate key information from announcements and messages connected to daily activities in the target culture.

c. Relate the main themes and significant details on topics from other subjects and products of the cultures.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 4 :

4) Identify perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Use appropriate gestures in common interactions.

b. Describe behaviors in a variety of environments.

c. Describe perspectives related to celebration of traditional religious and national holidays.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 8 :

8) Compare characteristics of the target language and the native language.

a. Use formal and informal forms of language.

b. Compare word order for dates and placement of descriptors.

c. Use high-frequency idiomatic expressions.

d. Use cognates.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics in a variety of time frames.

a. Describe main ideas, identify characters, and state details found in a variety of informational and literary texts.

b. Use background knowledge to understand spoken and written information in the target language.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 4 :

4) Investigate perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Examine how behaviors in the target culture relate to and reflect different types of relationships.

b. Interact through role-play in a variety of familiar environments.

c. Participate in hands-on activities related to cultural practices.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 8 :

8) Compare characteristics of the target language and the native language in a variety of time frames.

a. Compare idiomatic expressions of the target language and the native language.

b. Compare formal and informal registers of language.

c. Compare the use of different time frames in the target and native cultures.

d. Make connections between target language and native language based on knowledge of cognates.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 2 :

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

a. Give main ideas, supporting details, and justify inferences in selected texts.

b. Identify themes, settings, characters, and plot lines found in literary texts.

c. Use background knowledge from other disciplines to understand spoken and written information in the target language.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 4 :

4) Investigate perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Explain how behaviors in the target culture relate to and reflect different types of relationships.

b. Interact through role-play in a variety of familiar and unfamiliar environments.

c. Plan hands-on activities related to cultural practices.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 8 :

8) Compare characteristics of the target language and the native language in a variety of time frames and moods.

a. Explain idiomatic expressions appropriately.

b. Compare and contrast formal and informal registers of language.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics using the past tense.

a. Restate information from audio and visual documents in the target language.

b. Locate key information from announcements and messages connected to daily activities in the target culture.

c. Relate the main themes and significant details on topics from other subjects and products of the cultures.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 4 :

4) Identify perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Use appropriate gestures in common interactions.

b. Describe behaviors in a variety of environments.

c. Describe perspectives related to celebration of traditional religious and national holidays.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 8 :

8) Compare characteristics of the target language and the native language.

a. Use formal and informal forms of language.

b. Compare word order for dates and placement of descriptors.

c. Use high-frequency idiomatic expressions.

d. Use cognates.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics in a variety of time frames.

a. Describe main ideas, identify characters, and state details found in a variety of informational and literary texts.

b. Use background knowledge to understand spoken and written information in the target language.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 4 :

4) Investigate perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Examine how behaviors in the target culture relate to and reflect different types of relationships.

b. Interact through role-play in a variety of familiar environments.

c. Participate in hands-on activities related to cultural practices.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 8 :

8) Compare characteristics of the target language and the native language in a variety of time frames.

a. Compare idiomatic expressions of the target language and the native language.

b. Compare formal and informal registers of language.

c. Compare the use of different time frames in the target and native cultures.

d. Make connections between target language and native language based on knowledge of cognates.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 2 :

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

a. Give main ideas, supporting details, and justify inferences in selected texts.

b. Identify themes, settings, characters, and plot lines found in literary texts.

c. Use background knowledge from other disciplines to understand spoken and written information in the target language.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 4 :

4) Investigate perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Explain how behaviors in the target culture relate to and reflect different types of relationships.

b. Interact through role-play in a variety of familiar and unfamiliar environments.

c. Plan hands-on activities related to cultural practices.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 8 :

8) Compare characteristics of the target language and the native language in a variety of time frames and moods.

a. Explain idiomatic expressions appropriately.

b. Compare and contrast formal and informal registers of language.

This resource provides 14 separate video clips of French speakers, each of which illustrates the task of speaking about past actions. Students use interpretive listening skills to identify main ideas and examine how the imperfect, simple past, and compound past tenses are formed and used through these authentic resources. The videos were prepared for intermediate and advanced level learners but could be used with novice learners as a way to introduce them to authentic language. Each video clip provides a French-language transcript and links to grammar reviews and activities for the concepts that are heard in the clip. The concepts covered include: imparfait; passé composé, and passé composé vs imparfait.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics using the past tense.

a. Restate information from audio and visual documents in the target language.

b. Locate key information from announcements and messages connected to daily activities in the target culture.

c. Relate the main themes and significant details on topics from other subjects and products of the cultures.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 4 :

4) Identify perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Use appropriate gestures in common interactions.

b. Describe behaviors in a variety of environments.

c. Describe perspectives related to celebration of traditional religious and national holidays.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 8 :

8) Compare characteristics of the target language and the native language.

a. Use formal and informal forms of language.

b. Compare word order for dates and placement of descriptors.

c. Use high-frequency idiomatic expressions.

d. Use cognates.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics in a variety of time frames.

a. Describe main ideas, identify characters, and state details found in a variety of informational and literary texts.

b. Use background knowledge to understand spoken and written information in the target language.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 4 :

4) Investigate perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Examine how behaviors in the target culture relate to and reflect different types of relationships.

b. Interact through role-play in a variety of familiar environments.

c. Participate in hands-on activities related to cultural practices.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 8 :

8) Compare characteristics of the target language and the native language in a variety of time frames.

a. Compare idiomatic expressions of the target language and the native language.

b. Compare formal and informal registers of language.

c. Compare the use of different time frames in the target and native cultures.

d. Make connections between target language and native language based on knowledge of cognates.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 2 :

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

a. Give main ideas, supporting details, and justify inferences in selected texts.

b. Identify themes, settings, characters, and plot lines found in literary texts.

c. Use background knowledge from other disciplines to understand spoken and written information in the target language.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 4 :

4) Investigate perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Explain how behaviors in the target culture relate to and reflect different types of relationships.

b. Interact through role-play in a variety of familiar and unfamiliar environments.

c. Plan hands-on activities related to cultural practices.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 8 :

8) Compare characteristics of the target language and the native language in a variety of time frames and moods.

a. Explain idiomatic expressions appropriately.

b. Compare and contrast formal and informal registers of language.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics using the past tense.

a. Restate information from audio and visual documents in the target language.

b. Locate key information from announcements and messages connected to daily activities in the target culture.

c. Relate the main themes and significant details on topics from other subjects and products of the cultures.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 4 :

4) Identify perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Use appropriate gestures in common interactions.

b. Describe behaviors in a variety of environments.

c. Describe perspectives related to celebration of traditional religious and national holidays.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 8 :

8) Compare characteristics of the target language and the native language.

a. Use formal and informal forms of language.

b. Compare word order for dates and placement of descriptors.

c. Use high-frequency idiomatic expressions.

d. Use cognates.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics in a variety of time frames.

a. Describe main ideas, identify characters, and state details found in a variety of informational and literary texts.

b. Use background knowledge to understand spoken and written information in the target language.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 4 :

4) Investigate perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Examine how behaviors in the target culture relate to and reflect different types of relationships.

b. Interact through role-play in a variety of familiar environments.

c. Participate in hands-on activities related to cultural practices.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 8 :

8) Compare characteristics of the target language and the native language in a variety of time frames.

a. Compare idiomatic expressions of the target language and the native language.

b. Compare formal and informal registers of language.

c. Compare the use of different time frames in the target and native cultures.

d. Make connections between target language and native language based on knowledge of cognates.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 2 :

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

a. Give main ideas, supporting details, and justify inferences in selected texts.

b. Identify themes, settings, characters, and plot lines found in literary texts.

c. Use background knowledge from other disciplines to understand spoken and written information in the target language.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 4 :

4) Investigate perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Explain how behaviors in the target culture relate to and reflect different types of relationships.

b. Interact through role-play in a variety of familiar and unfamiliar environments.

c. Plan hands-on activities related to cultural practices.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 8 :

8) Compare characteristics of the target language and the native language in a variety of time frames and moods.

a. Explain idiomatic expressions appropriately.

b. Compare and contrast formal and informal registers of language.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics using the past tense.

a. Restate information from audio and visual documents in the target language.

b. Locate key information from announcements and messages connected to daily activities in the target culture.

c. Relate the main themes and significant details on topics from other subjects and products of the cultures.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 4 :

4) Identify perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Use appropriate gestures in common interactions.

b. Describe behaviors in a variety of environments.

c. Describe perspectives related to celebration of traditional religious and national holidays.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 8 :

8) Compare characteristics of the target language and the native language.

a. Use formal and informal forms of language.

b. Compare word order for dates and placement of descriptors.

c. Use high-frequency idiomatic expressions.

d. Use cognates.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics in a variety of time frames.

a. Describe main ideas, identify characters, and state details found in a variety of informational and literary texts.

b. Use background knowledge to understand spoken and written information in the target language.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 4 :

4) Investigate perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Examine how behaviors in the target culture relate to and reflect different types of relationships.

b. Interact through role-play in a variety of familiar environments.

c. Participate in hands-on activities related to cultural practices.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 8 :

8) Compare characteristics of the target language and the native language in a variety of time frames.

a. Compare idiomatic expressions of the target language and the native language.

b. Compare formal and informal registers of language.

c. Compare the use of different time frames in the target and native cultures.

d. Make connections between target language and native language based on knowledge of cognates.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 2 :

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

a. Give main ideas, supporting details, and justify inferences in selected texts.

b. Identify themes, settings, characters, and plot lines found in literary texts.

c. Use background knowledge from other disciplines to understand spoken and written information in the target language.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 4 :

4) Investigate perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Explain how behaviors in the target culture relate to and reflect different types of relationships.

b. Interact through role-play in a variety of familiar and unfamiliar environments.

c. Plan hands-on activities related to cultural practices.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 8 :

8) Compare characteristics of the target language and the native language in a variety of time frames and moods.

a. Explain idiomatic expressions appropriately.

b. Compare and contrast formal and informal registers of language.

This resource provides 21 separate video clips of French speakers, each of which illustrates how to use descriptions in conversation. Students use interpretive listening skills to identify main ideas and examine how descriptions enhance conversation through these authentic resources. The videos were prepared for intermediate and advanced level learners but could be used with novice learners as a way to introduce them to authentic language. Each video clip provides a French-language transcript and links to grammar reviews and activities for the concepts that are heard in the clip. The concepts covered include an introduction to adjectives; introduction to negations, gender, introduction to nouns, irregular adjectives, number - singular and plural, participles as adjectives, present tense, and relative pronouns.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [WLAN] WL1 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics using the present tense.

a. Identify main characters, themes, and ideas from narrative text.

b. Recognize words, phrases and simple sentences in an informational text.

c. Interpret visual and auditory cues.

[WLAN] WL1 (7-12) 7 :

7) Interpret information related to diverse perspectives in the target culture.

a. Exchange ideas on various audio and visual documents to interpret content.

b. Explore authentic websites and materials to interpret topics.

[WLAN] WL1 (7-12) 9 :

9) Identify products, practices, and perspectives of the target culture and the native culture.

a. Identify daily routines in the target culture and the native culture.

b. Identify celebrations in the target culture and the native culture.

c. Identify games, stories, songs, and rhymes from the native culture and those from the target culture.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics using the past tense.

a. Restate information from audio and visual documents in the target language.

b. Locate key information from announcements and messages connected to daily activities in the target culture.

c. Relate the main themes and significant details on topics from other subjects and products of the cultures.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 4 :

4) Identify perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Use appropriate gestures in common interactions.

b. Describe behaviors in a variety of environments.

c. Describe perspectives related to celebration of traditional religious and national holidays.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 5 :

5) Identify perspectives through products of the target cultures.

a. Describe products of the target culture.

b. Describe arts, crafts, or graphic representations of the target culture.

c. Describe the cultural elements found in music and short video clips.

d. Listen to, read, and describe the products in a variety of texts.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 6 :

6) Connect with other disciplines while using the target language, utilizing the past time frame.

a. Exchange information on patterns of behavior typical of their peer group in the target culture.

b. Examine authentic materials containing current events, social announcements, and classified ads.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 7 :

7) Describe information related to diverse perspectives in the target culture.

a. Exchange ideas on various audio and visual documents to interpret content.

b. Identify the main idea of information from authentic websites and materials to interpret topics.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 9 :

9) Compare products, practices, and perspectives of the target culture and the native culture.

a. Compare daily routines in the target culture and the native culture.

b. Compare celebrations in the target culture and the native culture.

c. Compare games, stories, songs, and rhymes from the native culture and those from the target culture.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics in a variety of time frames.

a. Describe main ideas, identify characters, and state details found in a variety of informational and literary texts.

b. Use background knowledge to understand spoken and written information in the target language.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 5 :

5) Investigate perspectives through products of the target cultures.

a. Explain the importance of products of the target culture.

b. Explain arts, crafts, or graphic representations of the target culture.

c. Explain the cultural elements of music and short video clips.

d. Listen to, read, and explain the purpose of products from a target culture.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 7 :

7) Acquire information related to diverse perspectives in the target culture.

a. Compare how current events are reported in target culture and locally.

b. Compare advertisements from target culture and local media.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 9 :

9) Compare products, practices and perspectives of the target culture and the native culture in a variety of time frames.

a. Compare activities and events of the target culture to the native culture.

b. Compare cultural practices in the target culture to the native culture.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 11 :

11) Explore opportunities to use the target language beyond the classroom environment in a variety of time frames.

a. Investigate authentic materials to learn more about topics studied in class.

b. Explore the internet to find authentic websites on current events.

c. Plan a school event which promotes the target culture.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 2 :

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

a. Give main ideas, supporting details, and justify inferences in selected texts.

b. Identify themes, settings, characters, and plot lines found in literary texts.

c. Use background knowledge from other disciplines to understand spoken and written information in the target language.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 5 :

5) Investigate perspectives through products of the target cultures.

a. Analyze the importance of products of the target culture, related to arts, crafts, and graphic representations.

b. Analyze the cultural elements of music and short video clips.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 7 :

7) Acquire information related to diverse perspectives in the target culture in a variety of time frames and moods.

a. Explain how current events are reported in target culture and at home.

b. Compare and contrast advertisements from target culture and local media.

c. Explain the importance of influential figures from the perspective of the target culture.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 9 :

9) Compare products, practices, and perspectives of the target culture and the native culture in a variety of time frames and moods.

a. Compare and contrast personal experiences of the target culture to the native culture.

b. Explain cultural practices in the target culture.

c. Compare products in the target culture to the native culture.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 11 :

11) Explore opportunities to use the target language beyond the classroom environment in a variety of time frames and moods.

a. Analyze authentic materials to learn more about topics studied in class.

b. Explore the internet to find authentic websites of current events and cultural interests.

c. Plan a community event which promotes the target culture.

[WLAN] WL5 (7-12) 2 :

2) Understand the main idea and a few details in texts on a variety of topics related to everyday life and personal interests in various time frames and moods using varied vocabulary and more complex sentence structure.

a. Relate main themes and significant details in ads, reports, or announcements presented on TV, radio, video, or in live presentations.

b. Describe the main themes and significant details on topics found in print media.

c. Follow short instructions to complete a task.

[WLAN] WL5 (7-12) 5 :

5) Analyze perspectives through products of the target cultures.

a. Analyze the importance of products of the target culture, related to government, education, religion, and economics.

b. Interact with music and short video clips.

c. Listen to, read, and analyze the function of products used in selected texts.

[WLAN] WL5 (7-12) 7 :

7) Acquire information related to diverse perspectives in the target culture using varied vocabulary and more complex sentence structure.

a. Evaluate the importance of current events in target culture.

b. Present a concept studied in another academic subject.

c. Debate global issues as represented in target language news sources.

[WLAN] WL5 (7-12) 9 :

9) Compare products, practices, and perspectives of the target culture and the native culture using varied vocabulary and more complex sentence structure.

a. Compare and contrast customs and traditions of the target culture to the native culture.

b. Compare and contrast behaviors related to health and wellness.

c. Compare and contrast the importance placed on individual needs versus community needs.

[WLAN] WL5 (7-12) 11 :

11) Explore opportunities to use the target language beyond the classroom environment in a variety of contexts.

a. Research target language resources for personal enrichment and entertainment.

b. Create or join school, community, or international groups that organize cultural events and/or social activities.

c. Explore the internet to find sites of personal interest where they can use the target language to maintain and increase communication skills.

This website offers direct links to 11 different Chinese language newspapers. These authentic materials in the target langauge were published for Chinese speakers and provide lots of interpretive reading practice for students as they explore current events from throughout China.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 1 :

1) Communicate and share on familiar topics with a variety of words, phrases, and simple sentences in the past time frame.

a. Use the language to meet basic survival needs.

b. Participate in conversations on familiar topics using a variety of phrases and simple sentences.

c. Ask and answer questions on factual information.

d. Narrate incidents in the past time frame.

e. Describe activities and personal preferences in the past time frame.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics using the past tense.

a. Restate information from audio and visual documents in the target language.

b. Locate key information from announcements and messages connected to daily activities in the target culture.

c. Relate the main themes and significant details on topics from other subjects and products of the cultures.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 3 :

3) Present information on familiar topics with a variety of words, phrases, and simple sentences in the past time frame.

a. Present basic information about people and activities.

b. Recite songs, short skits, or dramatic readings.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 4 :

4) Identify perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Use appropriate gestures in common interactions.

b. Describe behaviors in a variety of environments.

c. Describe perspectives related to celebration of traditional religious and national holidays.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 5 :

5) Identify perspectives through products of the target cultures.

a. Describe products of the target culture.

b. Describe arts, crafts, or graphic representations of the target culture.

c. Describe the cultural elements found in music and short video clips.

d. Listen to, read, and describe the products in a variety of texts.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 8 :

8) Compare characteristics of the target language and the native language.

a. Use formal and informal forms of language.

b. Compare word order for dates and placement of descriptors.

c. Use high-frequency idiomatic expressions.

d. Use cognates.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 1 :

1) Exchange information on familiar topics with a variety of words, phrases, and simple sentences in a variety of time frames.

a. Exchange basic information about self, others, and special interests.

b. Ask for and provide information on familiar topics.

c. Use language to handle tasks related to personal needs.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics in a variety of time frames.

a. Describe main ideas, identify characters, and state details found in a variety of informational and literary texts.

b. Use background knowledge to understand spoken and written information in the target language.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 3 :

3) Present information on familiar topics in a variety of time frames using varied vocabulary and more complex sentence structure.

a. Express needs, wants, and preferences.

b. Present information based on topics of interest or personal experiences.

c. Give oral presentations using a variety of formats.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 8 :

8) Compare characteristics of the target language and the native language in a variety of time frames.

a. Compare idiomatic expressions of the target language and the native language.

b. Compare formal and informal registers of language.

c. Compare the use of different time frames in the target and native cultures.

d. Make connections between target language and native language based on knowledge of cognates.

This intermediate-mid to intermediate-high French lesson focuses on describing plazas and giving directions.  A Google slide presentation guides the teacher and students through the lesson. First students are provided a map and asked to work in pairs to describe how to get from one place to another. (The map can easily be changed to reflect your own hometown.) Afterward, students are provided one of six plaza cards depicting photos of popular plazas in France, Belgium, Morocco, and Canada. Using guiding questions students, discuss various aspects of each plaza and compare them with locations found within their own culture.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [WLAN] WL1 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics using the present tense.

a. Identify main characters, themes, and ideas from narrative text.

b. Recognize words, phrases and simple sentences in an informational text.

c. Interpret visual and auditory cues.

[WLAN] WL1 (7-12) 7 :

7) Interpret information related to diverse perspectives in the target culture.

a. Exchange ideas on various audio and visual documents to interpret content.

b. Explore authentic websites and materials to interpret topics.

[WLAN] WL1 (7-12) 9 :

9) Identify products, practices, and perspectives of the target culture and the native culture.

a. Identify daily routines in the target culture and the native culture.

b. Identify celebrations in the target culture and the native culture.

c. Identify games, stories, songs, and rhymes from the native culture and those from the target culture.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics using the past tense.

a. Restate information from audio and visual documents in the target language.

b. Locate key information from announcements and messages connected to daily activities in the target culture.

c. Relate the main themes and significant details on topics from other subjects and products of the cultures.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 4 :

4) Identify perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Use appropriate gestures in common interactions.

b. Describe behaviors in a variety of environments.

c. Describe perspectives related to celebration of traditional religious and national holidays.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 5 :

5) Identify perspectives through products of the target cultures.

a. Describe products of the target culture.

b. Describe arts, crafts, or graphic representations of the target culture.

c. Describe the cultural elements found in music and short video clips.

d. Listen to, read, and describe the products in a variety of texts.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 6 :

6) Connect with other disciplines while using the target language, utilizing the past time frame.

a. Exchange information on patterns of behavior typical of their peer group in the target culture.

b. Examine authentic materials containing current events, social announcements, and classified ads.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 7 :

7) Describe information related to diverse perspectives in the target culture.

a. Exchange ideas on various audio and visual documents to interpret content.

b. Identify the main idea of information from authentic websites and materials to interpret topics.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 9 :

9) Compare products, practices, and perspectives of the target culture and the native culture.

a. Compare daily routines in the target culture and the native culture.

b. Compare celebrations in the target culture and the native culture.

c. Compare games, stories, songs, and rhymes from the native culture and those from the target culture.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics in a variety of time frames.

a. Describe main ideas, identify characters, and state details found in a variety of informational and literary texts.

b. Use background knowledge to understand spoken and written information in the target language.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 5 :

5) Investigate perspectives through products of the target cultures.

a. Explain the importance of products of the target culture.

b. Explain arts, crafts, or graphic representations of the target culture.

c. Explain the cultural elements of music and short video clips.

d. Listen to, read, and explain the purpose of products from a target culture.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 7 :

7) Acquire information related to diverse perspectives in the target culture.

a. Compare how current events are reported in target culture and locally.

b. Compare advertisements from target culture and local media.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 9 :

9) Compare products, practices and perspectives of the target culture and the native culture in a variety of time frames.

a. Compare activities and events of the target culture to the native culture.

b. Compare cultural practices in the target culture to the native culture.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 11 :

11) Explore opportunities to use the target language beyond the classroom environment in a variety of time frames.

a. Investigate authentic materials to learn more about topics studied in class.

b. Explore the internet to find authentic websites on current events.

c. Plan a school event which promotes the target culture.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 2 :

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

a. Give main ideas, supporting details, and justify inferences in selected texts.

b. Identify themes, settings, characters, and plot lines found in literary texts.

c. Use background knowledge from other disciplines to understand spoken and written information in the target language.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 5 :

5) Investigate perspectives through products of the target cultures.

a. Analyze the importance of products of the target culture, related to arts, crafts, and graphic representations.

b. Analyze the cultural elements of music and short video clips.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 7 :

7) Acquire information related to diverse perspectives in the target culture in a variety of time frames and moods.

a. Explain how current events are reported in target culture and at home.

b. Compare and contrast advertisements from target culture and local media.

c. Explain the importance of influential figures from the perspective of the target culture.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 9 :

9) Compare products, practices, and perspectives of the target culture and the native culture in a variety of time frames and moods.

a. Compare and contrast personal experiences of the target culture to the native culture.

b. Explain cultural practices in the target culture.

c. Compare products in the target culture to the native culture.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 11 :

11) Explore opportunities to use the target language beyond the classroom environment in a variety of time frames and moods.

a. Analyze authentic materials to learn more about topics studied in class.

b. Explore the internet to find authentic websites of current events and cultural interests.

c. Plan a community event which promotes the target culture.

[WLAN] WL5 (7-12) 2 :

2) Understand the main idea and a few details in texts on a variety of topics related to everyday life and personal interests in various time frames and moods using varied vocabulary and more complex sentence structure.

a. Relate main themes and significant details in ads, reports, or announcements presented on TV, radio, video, or in live presentations.

b. Describe the main themes and significant details on topics found in print media.

c. Follow short instructions to complete a task.

[WLAN] WL5 (7-12) 5 :

5) Analyze perspectives through products of the target cultures.

a. Analyze the importance of products of the target culture, related to government, education, religion, and economics.

b. Interact with music and short video clips.

c. Listen to, read, and analyze the function of products used in selected texts.

[WLAN] WL5 (7-12) 7 :

7) Acquire information related to diverse perspectives in the target culture using varied vocabulary and more complex sentence structure.

a. Evaluate the importance of current events in target culture.

b. Present a concept studied in another academic subject.

c. Debate global issues as represented in target language news sources.

[WLAN] WL5 (7-12) 9 :

9) Compare products, practices, and perspectives of the target culture and the native culture using varied vocabulary and more complex sentence structure.

a. Compare and contrast customs and traditions of the target culture to the native culture.

b. Compare and contrast behaviors related to health and wellness.

c. Compare and contrast the importance placed on individual needs versus community needs.

[WLAN] WL5 (7-12) 11 :

11) Explore opportunities to use the target language beyond the classroom environment in a variety of contexts.

a. Research target language resources for personal enrichment and entertainment.

b. Create or join school, community, or international groups that organize cultural events and/or social activities.

c. Explore the internet to find sites of personal interest where they can use the target language to maintain and increase communication skills.

This website offers direct links to a variety of German-language newspapers from around Europe. These authentic materials in the target language were published for German speakers and provide lots of interpretative reading practice for students as they explore current events from the German-speaking world. Resources are well organized and provided from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, and Switzerland.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics using the past tense.

a. Restate information from audio and visual documents in the target language.

b. Locate key information from announcements and messages connected to daily activities in the target culture.

c. Relate the main themes and significant details on topics from other subjects and products of the cultures.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 4 :

4) Identify perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Use appropriate gestures in common interactions.

b. Describe behaviors in a variety of environments.

c. Describe perspectives related to celebration of traditional religious and national holidays.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 8 :

8) Compare characteristics of the target language and the native language.

a. Use formal and informal forms of language.

b. Compare word order for dates and placement of descriptors.

c. Use high-frequency idiomatic expressions.

d. Use cognates.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics in a variety of time frames.

a. Describe main ideas, identify characters, and state details found in a variety of informational and literary texts.

b. Use background knowledge to understand spoken and written information in the target language.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 4 :

4) Investigate perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Examine how behaviors in the target culture relate to and reflect different types of relationships.

b. Interact through role-play in a variety of familiar environments.

c. Participate in hands-on activities related to cultural practices.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 8 :

8) Compare characteristics of the target language and the native language in a variety of time frames.

a. Compare idiomatic expressions of the target language and the native language.

b. Compare formal and informal registers of language.

c. Compare the use of different time frames in the target and native cultures.

d. Make connections between target language and native language based on knowledge of cognates.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 2 :

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

a. Give main ideas, supporting details, and justify inferences in selected texts.

b. Identify themes, settings, characters, and plot lines found in literary texts.

c. Use background knowledge from other disciplines to understand spoken and written information in the target language.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 4 :

4) Investigate perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Explain how behaviors in the target culture relate to and reflect different types of relationships.

b. Interact through role-play in a variety of familiar and unfamiliar environments.

c. Plan hands-on activities related to cultural practices.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 8 :

8) Compare characteristics of the target language and the native language in a variety of time frames and moods.

a. Explain idiomatic expressions appropriately.

b. Compare and contrast formal and informal registers of language.

This resource provides 3 separate video clips of French speakers, each of which illustrates the task of asking and responding to questions. Students use interpretive listening skills to identify main ideas and examine how questions are formed and used through these authentic resources. The videos were prepared for intermediate and advanced level learners but could be used with novice learners as a way to introduce them to authentic language. Each video clip provides a French-language transcript and links to grammar reviews and activities for the concepts that are heard in the clip. The concepts covered include:  interrogative and exclamative quel; interrogative pronoun lequel; interrogative pronouns; interrogative words: où, quand, comment; introduction to interrogatives; questions with subject/verb inversion; yes/no questions: est-ce que, n’est-ce pas

   View Standards     Standard(s): [WLAN] WL1 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics using the present tense.

a. Identify main characters, themes, and ideas from narrative text.

b. Recognize words, phrases and simple sentences in an informational text.

c. Interpret visual and auditory cues.

[WLAN] WL1 (7-12) 7 :

7) Interpret information related to diverse perspectives in the target culture.

a. Exchange ideas on various audio and visual documents to interpret content.

b. Explore authentic websites and materials to interpret topics.

[WLAN] WL1 (7-12) 9 :

9) Identify products, practices, and perspectives of the target culture and the native culture.

a. Identify daily routines in the target culture and the native culture.

b. Identify celebrations in the target culture and the native culture.

c. Identify games, stories, songs, and rhymes from the native culture and those from the target culture.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics using the past tense.

a. Restate information from audio and visual documents in the target language.

b. Locate key information from announcements and messages connected to daily activities in the target culture.

c. Relate the main themes and significant details on topics from other subjects and products of the cultures.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 4 :

4) Identify perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Use appropriate gestures in common interactions.

b. Describe behaviors in a variety of environments.

c. Describe perspectives related to celebration of traditional religious and national holidays.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 5 :

5) Identify perspectives through products of the target cultures.

a. Describe products of the target culture.

b. Describe arts, crafts, or graphic representations of the target culture.

c. Describe the cultural elements found in music and short video clips.

d. Listen to, read, and describe the products in a variety of texts.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 6 :

6) Connect with other disciplines while using the target language, utilizing the past time frame.

a. Exchange information on patterns of behavior typical of their peer group in the target culture.

b. Examine authentic materials containing current events, social announcements, and classified ads.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 7 :

7) Describe information related to diverse perspectives in the target culture.

a. Exchange ideas on various audio and visual documents to interpret content.

b. Identify the main idea of information from authentic websites and materials to interpret topics.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 9 :

9) Compare products, practices, and perspectives of the target culture and the native culture.

a. Compare daily routines in the target culture and the native culture.

b. Compare celebrations in the target culture and the native culture.

c. Compare games, stories, songs, and rhymes from the native culture and those from the target culture.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics in a variety of time frames.

a. Describe main ideas, identify characters, and state details found in a variety of informational and literary texts.

b. Use background knowledge to understand spoken and written information in the target language.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 5 :

5) Investigate perspectives through products of the target cultures.

a. Explain the importance of products of the target culture.

b. Explain arts, crafts, or graphic representations of the target culture.

c. Explain the cultural elements of music and short video clips.

d. Listen to, read, and explain the purpose of products from a target culture.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 7 :

7) Acquire information related to diverse perspectives in the target culture.

a. Compare how current events are reported in target culture and locally.

b. Compare advertisements from target culture and local media.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 9 :

9) Compare products, practices and perspectives of the target culture and the native culture in a variety of time frames.

a. Compare activities and events of the target culture to the native culture.

b. Compare cultural practices in the target culture to the native culture.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 11 :

11) Explore opportunities to use the target language beyond the classroom environment in a variety of time frames.

a. Investigate authentic materials to learn more about topics studied in class.

b. Explore the internet to find authentic websites on current events.

c. Plan a school event which promotes the target culture.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 2 :

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

a. Give main ideas, supporting details, and justify inferences in selected texts.

b. Identify themes, settings, characters, and plot lines found in literary texts.

c. Use background knowledge from other disciplines to understand spoken and written information in the target language.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 5 :

5) Investigate perspectives through products of the target cultures.

a. Analyze the importance of products of the target culture, related to arts, crafts, and graphic representations.

b. Analyze the cultural elements of music and short video clips.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 7 :

7) Acquire information related to diverse perspectives in the target culture in a variety of time frames and moods.

a. Explain how current events are reported in target culture and at home.

b. Compare and contrast advertisements from target culture and local media.

c. Explain the importance of influential figures from the perspective of the target culture.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 9 :

9) Compare products, practices, and perspectives of the target culture and the native culture in a variety of time frames and moods.

a. Compare and contrast personal experiences of the target culture to the native culture.

b. Explain cultural practices in the target culture.

c. Compare products in the target culture to the native culture.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 11 :

11) Explore opportunities to use the target language beyond the classroom environment in a variety of time frames and moods.

a. Analyze authentic materials to learn more about topics studied in class.

b. Explore the internet to find authentic websites of current events and cultural interests.

c. Plan a community event which promotes the target culture.

[WLAN] WL5 (7-12) 2 :

2) Understand the main idea and a few details in texts on a variety of topics related to everyday life and personal interests in various time frames and moods using varied vocabulary and more complex sentence structure.

a. Relate main themes and significant details in ads, reports, or announcements presented on TV, radio, video, or in live presentations.

b. Describe the main themes and significant details on topics found in print media.

c. Follow short instructions to complete a task.

[WLAN] WL5 (7-12) 5 :

5) Analyze perspectives through products of the target cultures.

a. Analyze the importance of products of the target culture, related to government, education, religion, and economics.

b. Interact with music and short video clips.

c. Listen to, read, and analyze the function of products used in selected texts.

[WLAN] WL5 (7-12) 7 :

7) Acquire information related to diverse perspectives in the target culture using varied vocabulary and more complex sentence structure.

a. Evaluate the importance of current events in target culture.

b. Present a concept studied in another academic subject.

c. Debate global issues as represented in target language news sources.

[WLAN] WL5 (7-12) 9 :

9) Compare products, practices, and perspectives of the target culture and the native culture using varied vocabulary and more complex sentence structure.

a. Compare and contrast customs and traditions of the target culture to the native culture.

b. Compare and contrast behaviors related to health and wellness.

c. Compare and contrast the importance placed on individual needs versus community needs.

[WLAN] WL5 (7-12) 11 :

11) Explore opportunities to use the target language beyond the classroom environment in a variety of contexts.

a. Research target language resources for personal enrichment and entertainment.

b. Create or join school, community, or international groups that organize cultural events and/or social activities.

c. Explore the internet to find sites of personal interest where they can use the target language to maintain and increase communication skills.

This website offers direct links to over 30 French-language newspapers from around the globe. These authentic materials in the target language were published for French speakers and provide lots of interpretative reading practice for students as they explore current events from the French-speaking world. Resources are well organized and provided from Canada, France, Tunisia, and Switzerland

   View Standards     Standard(s): [WLAN] WL1 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics using the present tense.

a. Identify main characters, themes, and ideas from narrative text.

b. Recognize words, phrases and simple sentences in an informational text.

c. Interpret visual and auditory cues.

[WLAN] WL1 (7-12) 7 :

7) Interpret information related to diverse perspectives in the target culture.

a. Exchange ideas on various audio and visual documents to interpret content.

b. Explore authentic websites and materials to interpret topics.

[WLAN] WL1 (7-12) 9 :

9) Identify products, practices, and perspectives of the target culture and the native culture.

a. Identify daily routines in the target culture and the native culture.

b. Identify celebrations in the target culture and the native culture.

c. Identify games, stories, songs, and rhymes from the native culture and those from the target culture.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics using the past tense.

a. Restate information from audio and visual documents in the target language.

b. Locate key information from announcements and messages connected to daily activities in the target culture.

c. Relate the main themes and significant details on topics from other subjects and products of the cultures.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 4 :

4) Identify perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Use appropriate gestures in common interactions.

b. Describe behaviors in a variety of environments.

c. Describe perspectives related to celebration of traditional religious and national holidays.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 5 :

5) Identify perspectives through products of the target cultures.

a. Describe products of the target culture.

b. Describe arts, crafts, or graphic representations of the target culture.

c. Describe the cultural elements found in music and short video clips.

d. Listen to, read, and describe the products in a variety of texts.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 6 :

6) Connect with other disciplines while using the target language, utilizing the past time frame.

a. Exchange information on patterns of behavior typical of their peer group in the target culture.

b. Examine authentic materials containing current events, social announcements, and classified ads.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 7 :

7) Describe information related to diverse perspectives in the target culture.

a. Exchange ideas on various audio and visual documents to interpret content.

b. Identify the main idea of information from authentic websites and materials to interpret topics.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 9 :

9) Compare products, practices, and perspectives of the target culture and the native culture.

a. Compare daily routines in the target culture and the native culture.

b. Compare celebrations in the target culture and the native culture.

c. Compare games, stories, songs, and rhymes from the native culture and those from the target culture.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics in a variety of time frames.

a. Describe main ideas, identify characters, and state details found in a variety of informational and literary texts.

b. Use background knowledge to understand spoken and written information in the target language.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 5 :

5) Investigate perspectives through products of the target cultures.

a. Explain the importance of products of the target culture.

b. Explain arts, crafts, or graphic representations of the target culture.

c. Explain the cultural elements of music and short video clips.

d. Listen to, read, and explain the purpose of products from a target culture.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 7 :

7) Acquire information related to diverse perspectives in the target culture.

a. Compare how current events are reported in target culture and locally.

b. Compare advertisements from target culture and local media.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 9 :

9) Compare products, practices and perspectives of the target culture and the native culture in a variety of time frames.

a. Compare activities and events of the target culture to the native culture.

b. Compare cultural practices in the target culture to the native culture.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 11 :

11) Explore opportunities to use the target language beyond the classroom environment in a variety of time frames.

a. Investigate authentic materials to learn more about topics studied in class.

b. Explore the internet to find authentic websites on current events.

c. Plan a school event which promotes the target culture.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 2 :

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

a. Give main ideas, supporting details, and justify inferences in selected texts.

b. Identify themes, settings, characters, and plot lines found in literary texts.

c. Use background knowledge from other disciplines to understand spoken and written information in the target language.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 5 :

5) Investigate perspectives through products of the target cultures.

a. Analyze the importance of products of the target culture, related to arts, crafts, and graphic representations.

b. Analyze the cultural elements of music and short video clips.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 7 :

7) Acquire information related to diverse perspectives in the target culture in a variety of time frames and moods.

a. Explain how current events are reported in target culture and at home.

b. Compare and contrast advertisements from target culture and local media.

c. Explain the importance of influential figures from the perspective of the target culture.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 9 :

9) Compare products, practices, and perspectives of the target culture and the native culture in a variety of time frames and moods.

a. Compare and contrast personal experiences of the target culture to the native culture.

b. Explain cultural practices in the target culture.

c. Compare products in the target culture to the native culture.

[WLAN] WL4 (7-12) 11 :

11) Explore opportunities to use the target language beyond the classroom environment in a variety of time frames and moods.

a. Analyze authentic materials to learn more about topics studied in class.

b. Explore the internet to find authentic websites of current events and cultural interests.

c. Plan a community event which promotes the target culture.

[WLAN] WL5 (7-12) 2 :

2) Understand the main idea and a few details in texts on a variety of topics related to everyday life and personal interests in various time frames and moods using varied vocabulary and more complex sentence structure.

a. Relate main themes and significant details in ads, reports, or announcements presented on TV, radio, video, or in live presentations.

b. Describe the main themes and significant details on topics found in print media.

c. Follow short instructions to complete a task.

[WLAN] WL5 (7-12) 5 :

5) Analyze perspectives through products of the target cultures.

a. Analyze the importance of products of the target culture, related to government, education, religion, and economics.

b. Interact with music and short video clips.

c. Listen to, read, and analyze the function of products used in selected texts.

[WLAN] WL5 (7-12) 7 :

7) Acquire information related to diverse perspectives in the target culture using varied vocabulary and more complex sentence structure.

a. Evaluate the importance of current events in target culture.

b. Present a concept studied in another academic subject.

c. Debate global issues as represented in target language news sources.

[WLAN] WL5 (7-12) 9 :

9) Compare products, practices, and perspectives of the target culture and the native culture using varied vocabulary and more complex sentence structure.

a. Compare and contrast customs and traditions of the target culture to the native culture.

b. Compare and contrast behaviors related to health and wellness.

c. Compare and contrast the importance placed on individual needs versus community needs.

[WLAN] WL5 (7-12) 11 :

11) Explore opportunities to use the target language beyond the classroom environment in a variety of contexts.

a. Research target language resources for personal enrichment and entertainment.

b. Create or join school, community, or international groups that organize cultural events and/or social activities.

c. Explore the internet to find sites of personal interest where they can use the target language to maintain and increase communication skills.

This website offers direct links to a variety of Spanish language newspapers from the United States and around the globe. These authentic materials in the target language were published for Spanish speakers and provide lots of interpretative reading practice for students as they explore current events from the Latino world. Resources are well organized and provided from Argentina, Canary Islands, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, Spain, the United States and more. 

   View Standards     Standard(s): [WLAN] WL1 (7-12) 1 :

1) Communicate and share on familiar topics with a variety of words, phrases, and simple sentences in the present time frame.

a. Greet and leave people in a polite way.

b. Exchange basic information about self and others.

c. Exchange basic information about their everyday lives.

[WLAN] WL1 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics using the present tense.

a. Identify main characters, themes, and ideas from narrative text.

b. Recognize words, phrases and simple sentences in an informational text.

c. Interpret visual and auditory cues.

[WLAN] WL1 (7-12) 3 :

3) Present information on familiar topics with a variety of words, phrases, and simple sentences in the present time frame.

a. Present basic information orally and in writing.

b. Give simple instructions.

c. Tell about familiar objects, experiences, and daily routines.

d. Recite short memorized phrases, poems, and/or rhymes.

[WLAN] WL1 (7-12) 4 :

4) Identify practices of the target cultures.

a. Use basic appropriate gestures in common interactions.

b. Identify behaviors in a variety of environments.

c. Identify typical activities, events, and celebrations of the target cultures.

[WLAN] WL1 (7-12) 9 :

9) Identify products, practices, and perspectives of the target culture and the native culture.

a. Identify daily routines in the target culture and the native culture.

b. Identify celebrations in the target culture and the native culture.

c. Identify games, stories, songs, and rhymes from the native culture and those from the target culture.

[WLAN] WL1 (7-12) 11 :

11) Identify opportunities to use the target language beyond the classroom environment.

a. Plan real or imaginary travel.

b. Attend or view cultural events in person or virtually.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 1 :

1) Communicate and share on familiar topics with a variety of words, phrases, and simple sentences in the past time frame.

a. Use the language to meet basic survival needs.

b. Participate in conversations on familiar topics using a variety of phrases and simple sentences.

c. Ask and answer questions on factual information.

d. Narrate incidents in the past time frame.

e. Describe activities and personal preferences in the past time frame.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics using the past tense.

a. Restate information from audio and visual documents in the target language.

b. Locate key information from announcements and messages connected to daily activities in the target culture.

c. Relate the main themes and significant details on topics from other subjects and products of the cultures.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 3 :

3) Present information on familiar topics with a variety of words, phrases, and simple sentences in the past time frame.

a. Present basic information about people and activities.

b. Recite songs, short skits, or dramatic readings.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 4 :

4) Identify perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Use appropriate gestures in common interactions.

b. Describe behaviors in a variety of environments.

c. Describe perspectives related to celebration of traditional religious and national holidays.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 9 :

9) Compare products, practices, and perspectives of the target culture and the native culture.

a. Compare daily routines in the target culture and the native culture.

b. Compare celebrations in the target culture and the native culture.

c. Compare games, stories, songs, and rhymes from the native culture and those from the target culture.

This is a novice mid to high Spanish language activity that encourages students to interact with an authentic text and engage in conversations using travel vocabulary. In this detailed activity, students begin by playing a premade Kahoot game that encourages a review of travel-related vocabulary. Students then participate in a Spanish language Buzz Feed quiz to determine what type of things they like and dislike on vacation. Finally, students engage in interpersonal conversations about their travel styles. A Google slide presentation is provided to guide teachers through this activity.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [WLAN] WNHP (0-8) 1 :

1) Exchange simple spoken and written information in the target language, utilizing cultural references where appropriate.

a. Communicate and exchange information on familiar topics using simple sentences.

b. Engage in short social interactions with peers.

c. Exchange some personal information with peers.

d. Write simple descriptions and short messages on familiar topics.

[WLAN] WNHP (0-8) 2 :

2) Demonstrate an understanding of simple spoken or written language presented through a variety of media resources on familiar topics.

a. Report on content of a brief written or spoken message on familiar topics.

Examples: Emails, personal notes, letters, text messages

b. Identify the main idea in various media such as texts, posters, videos, etc.

c. Identify the main characters of a story.

d. Recall details in simple texts that contain familiar vocabulary.

[WLAN] WNHP (0-8) 4 :

4) Investigate, explain, and reflect on the relationship among the products, practices, and perspectives of the target cultures.

a. Use appropriate gestures and etiquette from the target culture.

b. Observe and analyze patterns of behavior typical of the target culture.

c. Draw conclusions about target culture values based on authentic materials.

[WLAN] WILP (0-8) 1 :

1) Exchange simple spoken and written information in the target language, utilizing cultural references where appropriate.

a. Converse on familiar topics connecting basic sentences to provide information.

b. Ask and answer questions on factual information familiar to the student.

c. Retell information with details about what is read, heard, and seen.

d. Write a series of sentences on familiar topics.

[WLAN] WILP (0-8) 2 :

2) Demonstrate an understanding of simple spoken or written language presented through a variety of media resources on familiar topics.

a. React to news clips, articles, or reports on current issues.

b. Describe main themes with significant details on topics of current interest.

c. Find basic information in an announcement, article, or other text.

[WLAN] WILP (0-8) 4 :

4) Investigate, explain, and reflect on the relationship among the products, practices, and perspectives of the target cultures.

a. Engage in conversation demonstrating culturally respectful behavior.

b. Identify and research an area of interest in the target culture.

c. Participate in age-appropriate cultural practices such as games, sports, and entertainment.

[WLAN] WIMP (0-8) 1 :

1) Exchange simple spoken and written information in the target language, utilizing cultural references where appropriate.

a. Use language to handle tasks related to personal needs.

b. Exchange information about daily activities and personal preferences.

c. Support personal opinions with some details.

d. Exchange information about a topic of special interest to the student.

[WLAN] WIMP (0-8) 2 :

2) Demonstrate an understanding of simple spoken or written language presented through a variety of media resources on familiar topics.

a. Interpret/retell stories or events in one's own words.

b. Identify principal characters and explain main ideas and themes in selected texts.

c. Determine the main idea of a text with unfamiliar vocabulary.

[WLAN] WIMP (0-8) 4 :

4) Investigate, explain, and reflect on the relationship among the products, practices, and perspectives of the target cultures.

a. Role-play culturally appropriate interactions in a variety of daily activities.

b. Use culturally appropriate verbal and nonverbal behavior among peers or mixed groups.

c. Explore, analyze, and present the how and why of common cultural practices and perspectives.

[WLAN] WL1 (7-12) 1 :

1) Communicate and share on familiar topics with a variety of words, phrases, and simple sentences in the present time frame.

a. Greet and leave people in a polite way.

b. Exchange basic information about self and others.

c. Exchange basic information about their everyday lives.

[WLAN] WL1 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics using the present tense.

a. Identify main characters, themes, and ideas from narrative text.

b. Recognize words, phrases and simple sentences in an informational text.

c. Interpret visual and auditory cues.

[WLAN] WL1 (7-12) 4 :

4) Identify practices of the target cultures.

a. Use basic appropriate gestures in common interactions.

b. Identify behaviors in a variety of environments.

c. Identify typical activities, events, and celebrations of the target cultures.

[WLAN] WL1 (7-12) 5 :

5) Identify products of the target cultures.

a. Recognize arts, crafts or graphic representations of the target culture.

b. Identify the cultural elements found in music and short video clips.

c. Listen to, read, and identify the products from the target culture.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 1 :

1) Communicate and share on familiar topics with a variety of words, phrases, and simple sentences in the past time frame.

a. Use the language to meet basic survival needs.

b. Participate in conversations on familiar topics using a variety of phrases and simple sentences.

c. Ask and answer questions on factual information.

d. Narrate incidents in the past time frame.

e. Describe activities and personal preferences in the past time frame.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics using the past tense.

a. Restate information from audio and visual documents in the target language.

b. Locate key information from announcements and messages connected to daily activities in the target culture.

c. Relate the main themes and significant details on topics from other subjects and products of the cultures.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 4 :

4) Identify perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Use appropriate gestures in common interactions.

b. Describe behaviors in a variety of environments.

c. Describe perspectives related to celebration of traditional religious and national holidays.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 5 :

5) Identify perspectives through products of the target cultures.

a. Describe products of the target culture.

b. Describe arts, crafts, or graphic representations of the target culture.

c. Describe the cultural elements found in music and short video clips.

d. Listen to, read, and describe the products in a variety of texts.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 1 :

1) Exchange information on familiar topics with a variety of words, phrases, and simple sentences in a variety of time frames.

a. Exchange basic information about self, others, and special interests.

b. Ask for and provide information on familiar topics.

c. Use language to handle tasks related to personal needs.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics in a variety of time frames.

a. Describe main ideas, identify characters, and state details found in a variety of informational and literary texts.

b. Use background knowledge to understand spoken and written information in the target language.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 4 :

4) Investigate perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Examine how behaviors in the target culture relate to and reflect different types of relationships.

b. Interact through role-play in a variety of familiar environments.

c. Participate in hands-on activities related to cultural practices.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 5 :

5) Investigate perspectives through products of the target cultures.

a. Explain the importance of products of the target culture.

b. Explain arts, crafts, or graphic representations of the target culture.

c. Explain the cultural elements of music and short video clips.

d. Listen to, read, and explain the purpose of products from a target culture.

This novice-high to intermediate-high German activity provides resources necessary for completing a series of communicative and interpretive tasks as students explore the world of fast food using a variety of authentic resources. Interpretive reading skills are used as students explore a target language menu. Audio files and video files are included for interpretive listening tasks. Other printable resources (including a menu) are included to assist in interpersonal communicative tasks as students practice ordering food. The resources are carefully chosen to introduce students to a wide variety of authentic foods, introducing them to culturally appropriate products. The included activities can be adapted for a variety of levels in middle school and high school German classes.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 1 :

1) Communicate and share on familiar topics with a variety of words, phrases, and simple sentences in the past time frame.

a. Use the language to meet basic survival needs.

b. Participate in conversations on familiar topics using a variety of phrases and simple sentences.

c. Ask and answer questions on factual information.

d. Narrate incidents in the past time frame.

e. Describe activities and personal preferences in the past time frame.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics using the past tense.

a. Restate information from audio and visual documents in the target language.

b. Locate key information from announcements and messages connected to daily activities in the target culture.

c. Relate the main themes and significant details on topics from other subjects and products of the cultures.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 3 :

3) Present information on familiar topics with a variety of words, phrases, and simple sentences in the past time frame.

a. Present basic information about people and activities.

b. Recite songs, short skits, or dramatic readings.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 4 :

4) Identify perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Use appropriate gestures in common interactions.

b. Describe behaviors in a variety of environments.

c. Describe perspectives related to celebration of traditional religious and national holidays.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 6 :

6) Connect with other disciplines while using the target language, utilizing the past time frame.

a. Exchange information on patterns of behavior typical of their peer group in the target culture.

b. Examine authentic materials containing current events, social announcements, and classified ads.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 7 :

7) Describe information related to diverse perspectives in the target culture.

a. Exchange ideas on various audio and visual documents to interpret content.

b. Identify the main idea of information from authentic websites and materials to interpret topics.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 8 :

8) Compare characteristics of the target language and the native language.

a. Use formal and informal forms of language.

b. Compare word order for dates and placement of descriptors.

c. Use high-frequency idiomatic expressions.

d. Use cognates.

[WLAN] WL2 (7-12) 9 :

9) Compare products, practices, and perspectives of the target culture and the native culture.

a. Compare daily routines in the target culture and the native culture.

b. Compare celebrations in the target culture and the native culture.

c. Compare games, stories, songs, and rhymes from the native culture and those from the target culture.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 1 :

1) Exchange information on familiar topics with a variety of words, phrases, and simple sentences in a variety of time frames.

a. Exchange basic information about self, others, and special interests.

b. Ask for and provide information on familiar topics.

c. Use language to handle tasks related to personal needs.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 2 :

2) Interpret what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar topics in a variety of time frames.

a. Describe main ideas, identify characters, and state details found in a variety of informational and literary texts.

b. Use background knowledge to understand spoken and written information in the target language.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 3 :

3) Present information on familiar topics in a variety of time frames using varied vocabulary and more complex sentence structure.

a. Express needs, wants, and preferences.

b. Present information based on topics of interest or personal experiences.

c. Give oral presentations using a variety of formats.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 4 :

4) Investigate perspectives through practices of the target cultures.

a. Examine how behaviors in the target culture relate to and reflect different types of relationships.

b. Interact through role-play in a variety of familiar environments.

c. Participate in hands-on activities related to cultural practices.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 6 :

6) Connect with other disciplines while using the target language in a variety of time frames.

a. Compare characteristics of countries where target language is spoken.

b. Present information on topics across disciplines.

c. Describe the importance of influential figures from the target culture, past and present.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 7 :

7) Acquire information related to diverse perspectives in the target culture.

a. Compare how current events are reported in target culture and locally.

b. Compare advertisements from target culture and local media.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 8 :

8) Compare characteristics of the target language and the native language in a variety of time frames.

a. Compare idiomatic expressions of the target language and the native language.

b. Compare formal and informal registers of language.

c. Compare the use of different time frames in the target and native cultures.

d. Make connections between target language and native language based on knowledge of cognates.

[WLAN] WL3 (7-12) 9 :

9) Compare products, practices and perspectives of the target culture and the native culture in a variety of time frames.

a. Compare activities and events of the target culture to the native culture.

b. Compare cultural practices in the target culture to the native culture.

This Spanish unit provides activities to go along with the TPRS book Esperanza by Carol Gaab. The unit resources are available free but the book must be purchased. This linked unit includes a pre- and post-assessment that measures how well students feel they can meet the Can Do Statements associated with the unit. Activities in this unit include KWL using Padlet, Smashboards (with rubrics) to illustrate each chapter and an interactive choice board that provides a variety of differentiated assessment options. The unit also includes a project using Thinglink in which students research places in Guatemala and present their findings in a formal presentation. Throughout the unit, students will participate in interpersonal conversations, presentational writing, presentational speaking, grammar explorations, cultural explorations of products, practices, and perspectives, and connect with other classes as they explore topics like the Civil War in Guatemala, immigration, amnesty, and civil rights.