This two minute Spanish language video, produced by a Mexican news network, is an authentic resource that introduces students to José Martí, a politician, writer, and fighter for Cuban rights. It is a perfect complement for any lesson or activity focusing on José Martí or his famous literary works including "Cultivo una Rosa Blanca" and "Nuestra America." Students in the novice high to intermediate low range can use this resource to interpret basic information while students in the intermediate mid to intermediate high range should try to comprehend enough information to explain the cultural and historical significance of José Martí and his work.
This three-minute Spanish language video, produced by a Mexican news network, is an authentic resource that takes students on a tour of Barcelona. Novice level students (level 1) can use this authentic resource to recognize arts and other graphic representations of the target culture as they identify the key cultural elements in the video such as the port, La Rambla, the 1992 Olympic Stadium, and Camp Nou Stadium. Intermediate and advanced level students can interpret what is heard to comprehend the target language while identifying (level 2), investigating (level 3) and analyzing (levels 4 & 5) the perspectives of the architectural artwork found throughout Barcelona.
This intermediate low to intermediate mid French musical activity uses the music of La Compagnie Créole to explore the celebration and costumes of Carnival through the song Le Bal Masqué. The included PDF starts with asking students to discuss background information on Mardi Gras and Carnival. After listening to the song students check for understanding by answering comprehension questions. They wrap up the activity by using the conditional tense to describe how they would dress if they were to attend a Carnival celebration. The French lyrics for this song are included in the provided pdf.
In this novice-high to intermediate-low French activity, students will learn to give and follow commands as they use mass transit maps to get from one place to another. With a partner, they will choose from the provided city maps and figure out how to get from point A to point B using the best option for public transportation (bus, metro, train, ferry, walk). Students will then take turns presenting their routes and following the routes created by others showing that they can both give and follow directions/commands in the target language and simulate interactions that are likely to happen in the target language.
This novice high to intermediate mid-French activity allows students to gather information from four different heritage French speakers: Franck, J-C, Stephanie, and Virginie. Students are asked to gather information as the speakers describe their future using the future and conditional tenses. This activity is split into two different audio sections that can be used as a group or separately. There are also French questions to aid in interpersonal conversations as students discuss their future plans. The links to the interviews used in this activity are posted in the comment section below. Each video provides optional French and English transcripts.
Key grammar points in these audio clips include: Future Tense, Conditional Tense
This intermediate low to intermediate mid-Chinese activity allows students to reinforce their weather vocabulary. Students start by reviewing weather terms through a game of charades. A set of full-colored labeled weather cards are included so that students can draw a card and then act out the card they selected. After reviewing vocabulary, students use a prepared weather report worksheet to look up the weather for a target language city of their choice. Students then take turns presenting their findings by simulating weather reporters. An included PowerPoint highlights the can-do statements for this activity.
This intermediate low to intermediate mid-French resource is perfect for reinforcing commands while also teaching students critical thinking skills. This poster illustrates the steps required for identifying fake news, a skill that is important in today's online world. Teachers can print this individually for their students or download a larger file to print in poster format. Classroom activity suggestions include: 1) highlighting the commands used in the poster. 2) Teachers can delete the images and print the images separately. Then, students can work together to match the command/instruction with the image that illustrates it. 3) Teachers can send students to an online target language site and have them follow these steps and record their findings. Then, students write an analysis of the site explaining why or why not it is fake news.
This intermediate low to intermediate mid-Spanish resource is perfect for reinforcing commands while also teaching students critical thinking skills. This poster illustrates the steps required for identifying fake news, a skill that is important in today's online world. Teachers can print this individually for their students or download a larger file to print in poster format. Classroom activity suggestions include: 1) highlighting the commands used in the poster. 2) Teachers can delete the images and print the images separately. Then, students can work together to match the command/instruction with the image that illustrates it. 3) Teachers can send students to an online target language site and have them follow these steps and record their findings. Then, students write an analysis of the site explaining why or why not it is fake news.
This intermediate low to intermediate mid-German resource is perfect for reinforcing commands while also teaching students critical thinking skills. This poster illustrates the steps required for identifying fake news, a skill that is important in today's online world. Teachers can print this individually for their students or download a larger file to print in poster format. Classroom activity suggestions include: 1) highlighting the commands used in the poster. 2) Teachers can delete the images and print the images separately. Then, students can work together to match the command/instruction with the image that illustrates it. 3) Teachers can send students to an online target language site and have them follow these steps and record their findings. Then, students write an analysis of the site explaining why or why not it is fake news.
This activity is useful for intermediate Spanish learners but can be very beneficial to heritage language learners as well. The poem presented in the lesson is a bridge between two languages. Students whose native language is Spanish and who are English language learners will be able to experience the languages together in one poem. Students whose native language is not Spanish but is other than English will experience a model for writing from their own complex identities in two languages. The activity includes a detailed explanation of the lesson preparation as well as step-by-step instructions for guiding students through the activities and optional extensions. Students begin by writing about someone or something they miss. Intermediate-level Spanish students should write in Spanish. Students will then read and listen to the poem before participating in a group discussion that ties the poem to their original work.
This novice high to intermediate low Spanish activity introduces students to the various regions that make up the country of Spain. Students start by reading an article online and then answering a series of multiple-choice comprehension questions. Students are then directed to an interactive map where they are asked to locate specific information regarding key cities, foods, and weather information. Students can check their work as they complete the provided questions online.
This intermediate low to intermediate-high activity focuses on the controversy surrounding artistic expression and graffiti. Students start by reading an article about the controversy in Colombia and then check their comprehension with a series of multiple-choice questions. Within the article, difficult words are highlighted in blue. If a student places the cursor over these words they will see a definition to assist them. Afterward, students watch a short video clip about Stinkfish, a known graffiti artist from Colombia, and respond to a series of reflection questions in writing or in a group discussion. Students then work individually or in groups to research other graffiti artists in Colombia before sharing their findings with the class. Finally, students make comparisons between the themes of their researched artist and the themes noted in graffiti throughout the United States.
This intermediate low to intermediate-high Spanish language activity centers around El Corte Inglés, one of the most popular department stores in Spain. This activity includes a series of target language articles for students to read as well as comprehension questions to check their understanding of the articles. Students are then given links to several commercials produced by Cortes Inglés and they are asked to identify items in the videos and discuss how the commercials have changed over time. Several extension activities are also included: One asks students to examine a timeline and describe events using the preterit and imperfect. Another introduces students to Pipol in da house - a series of 2-3 minute episodes produced by Corte Inglés featuring a college-aged cast wearing outfits from the store.
This novice high to intermediate low Spanish activity introduces students to foods from Spain. Students start by reading a target language article and answering a series of multiple-choice comprehension questions to check for comprehension. Afterward, students are asked to watch a series of target language videos, each introducing students to a dish that is unique to Spain. Students are asked to select one dish to focus on as they create a presentation for the class. During the presentation, they introduce the dish, where in Spain it is from, the ingredients, and how to prepare the dish. If students are familiar with commands then this activity would allow them to review this grammar topic while using commands in context to explain how to prepare the chosen dish.
This is an intermediate low to intermediate mid reading and listening activity that introduces students to Inca Kola, a popular soda beverage in Peru. The linked article includes 5 multiple choice comprehension questions to check for understanding. Students are then asked to watch 4 different Inca Kola commercials and prepare answers to provided questions. This activity is set up to be completed for homework but can be completed within the classroom if desired.
This intermediate mid to intermediate-high Spanish lesson introduces students to the idea of ecoturismo, specifically focusing on Costa Rica. Students start by watching two short videos that overview the topic (in the target language) and then students respond to a series of multiple-choice comprehension questions to see how well they understood the videos. Students are then asked to work in groups as they research various eco-tours offered throughout Costa Rica and report back to their classmates.
This intermediate mid to intermediate Spanish activity allows students to gather information from an authentic resource, specifically focusing on informal commands. Students start this activity by participating in an interpersonal conversation about their grandparents. Then they use interpretive skills to gather information as a native speaker describes their grandparents and the advice that their grandparents would give. Finally, students work in groups to present a list of affirmative and negative informal commands that grandparents would give to their grandchildren.
This intermediate low to intermediate mid Spanish activity focuses on identifying a person or object that most influenced them in their childhood. Students start by looking at a photo of a mural and participate in an interpersonal conversation about influences in their life. Second, students listen to the provided interview to gather information about what most influenced the speaker's life. Finally, students complete a quick presentational writing activity in which they share the most influential thing in their life. Optional extension activities are also provided.
This intermediate low to intermediate mid German activity introduces students to the punk rock band Die Ärzte. Students listen to their song "Westerland." Throughout the song, students are asked to used interpretive listening skills to gather information provided on the attached activity sheet. Next, they are asked to read the provided German lyrics and use their comprehension skills to answer a set of questions. A list of useful vocabulary is provided to assist with more difficult phrases. Finally, students are asked to present information about their favorite location, following the model presented in the song. The entire student handout is prepared in the target language.
This Spanish resource is a collection of 19 audio activities on a variety of intermediate-low, intermediate-mid, and intermediate-high topics. Each audio clip provides an interview with a native or heritage speaker, a theme, objectives, before viewing question with keywords, during the video activity, after the video questions, and personal reflection questions. Vocabulary topics covered include family, food, celebrations, school, clothing, shopping, identity, language, hobbies, and weather. Grammar topics covered include ser and estar, present tense, present progressive, preterit, imperfect, and future tenses.
This canvas-based site offers a series of short, interpretive listening assessments in Spanish. There are 3 novice level, 8 intermediate level, and 2 advanced level video clips. Each activity should last no longer than 5 minutes making it a perfect start of a class activity or end-of-class comprehension check. Students listen to heritage or native speakers and then answer 5 multiple choice questions to assess their comprehension. The activities can be integrated into an existing Canvas course or used as a stand-alone activity.
This intermediate-mid to advanced-low Spanish lesson offers an opportunity for students to listen to heritage speakers as they describe their families. Students are able to rely on family vocabulary and knowledge of a variety of tenses to gather information about each speaker. The activities in this lesson are specifically created for students who are considering a career in medicine. This allows students who may be participating in a high school health academy course to connect their language skills with their professional goals. By referring to the video speakers as 'patients' students practice asking questions about family history, listening for health-related facts, and gathering information on simulated patient history forms. While the content covered in this lesson (health vocabulary, family vocabulary, past tenses) is crucial to most Spanish programs, this unique twist allows students interested in the health field to see how these topics can impact their future profession and goals.
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.
This resource provides 3 separate video clips of French speakers, each of which illustrates the task of talking about future events. Students use interpretive listening skills to identify main ideas and examine how the future is 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: regular simple future and irregular simple future
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.
This resource provides 6 separate video clips of French speakers, each of which illustrates the task of expressing hypotheses. Students use interpretive listening skills to identify main ideas and examine how the conditional and past conditional 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 the conditional, conditional past, and si clauses.
This resource provides 12 separate video clips of French speakers, each of which illustrates comparative phrases throughout the conversations. Students use interpretive listening skills to identify main ideas and examine how comparatives and superlatives 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: comparisons with adjectives, superlatives with adjectives, bon/meilleur vs. bien/mieux
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.
This resource provides a large variety of authentic audio and video clips by native speakers from around the Spanish-speaking world. Clips are organized by proficiency level (beginner, novice, intermediate, advanced, and superior) and by topic. Each video clip provides resources to assist in interpretive listening activities including a Spanish language transcript, an optional English translation, a list of related vocabulary, and review of covered grammar points. These audio and video clips make it easy for students to analyze spoken language as they explore various dialects and compare language usage with their own.
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.
This intermediate-low French activity encourages students to talk about daily routines using reflexive vocabulary. A Google slide presentation guides the teacher and students through a warm-up, main activity, and wrap-up. In the warm-up, students observe a series of photos and describe the actions that appear in one of the photos. Classmates then use interpretive listening skills to determine which photo is being described. The main activity is a game in which students roll dice to determine which questions they will need to answer. The question sheet is included but teachers will need to provide 2 dice - one with numbers and one with colors.
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.
This intermediate-low to intermediate-high Spanish activity examines audio and written examples of autobiographies, a concept also covered in other disciplines. Students will interpret auditory and written resources as they listen to the song ¨Autobiografía¨ by Luis Enrique on YouTube and read a written autobiography about his life. This lesson relies heavily on past tenses as students examine Luis Enrique's life and compare the two resources before preparing their own autobiography. By introducing students to authentic musical resources, students are encouraged to continue exploring the artist outside the classroom. All printed resources required for this activity are included on the link.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
