If I Were You…

Thematic Unit Title:  

If I Were You…

Subject: School Cultures
Goals: 1. Communicate in Languages Other than English
2. Gain knowledge and Understanding of Other Cultures
4. Develop Insight into the Nature of Language and Culture
Standards: 1.1 Students engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions.
1.2 Students understand and interpret written and spoken language on a variety of topics.
1.3 Students convey information, concepts, and ideas to listeners and readers for a variety of purposes.
2.1 Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the perspectives and practices of cultures studied and use this knowledge to interact effectively in cultural contexts.
2.2 Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the perspectives and products/contributions of the cultures studied.
4.2 Students recognize that cultures use different patterns of interaction and can apply this knowledge to their own culture.
Contexts\Outcomes: Students engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, exchange opinions and make comparisons about school cultures in the target language.
Progress Indicators Goal 1:
Progress Indicators Goal 2:  

1.1A Express basic needs.
1.1B Express basic courtesies.
1.1C Express state of being.
1.1D Express likes and dislikes.
1.1E Express agreement and disagreement.
1.1F Respond to one-on-one interactions.
1.1G Ask and answer simple questions.
1.1H Make and respond to simple requests.
1.2A Respond appropriately to directions, instructions, and commands.
1.2B Make an identification based on simple oral and/or written descriptors.
1.2C Read and respond to developmentally appropriate material.
1.2D Respond to speech of peers and familiar adults on a given topic.
1.2E Identify aural, visual, and context clues.
1.2F Comprehend and respond to simple personal written communications; such as, notes, invitations, and letters.
1.2G Identify main ideas and key words in oral and written material.
1.3A Give directions, commands, and instructions.
1.3B Give a description orally and in writing using simple phrases.
1.3C Write a personal communication; such as, a note, letter, or invitation.
1.3D Summarize main idea of selected authentic and/or contextualized material.
1.3E Present prepared material to an audience.
2.1A Identify and react to cultural perspectives and practices in the culture studied.
2.1B Recognize and interpret language and behaviors that are appropriate to the target culture.
2.1C Identify some commonly-held generalizations about the culture studied.
2.1D Identify social and geographic factors that affect cultural practices.
2.2A Identify the relationship between cultural perspectives and products/contributions as represented in expressive forms of the culture studied; such as, art, literature, music, dance, etc.
2.2B Identify and explain how the needs, behaviors and beliefs of the culture that are reflected in the products/contributions of the culture.
2.2C Identify the expressive forms of the target culture.
2.2D Identify objects, images and symbols of the target culture.

Progress Indicators Goal 3:
Progress Indicators Goal 4:  

4.2A Identify the similarities and differences between the target culture(s) and the student’s own culture using evidence from authentic sources.
4.2B Identify similar and different behavioral patterns between the target culture(s) and the student’s own culture.
4.2C Identify the contributions of the target culture(s) to the student’s own culture.
4.2D Identify expressive and utilitarian forms of the target culture(s).

Progress Indicators Goal 5:
Essential Skills\Knowledge:  

Topic specific vocabulary (school subjects, calendar, time, numbers, food, sports, transportation)
Cultural school background knowledge
Making grammatical connections with relevant topics such as schedules, likes/dislikes, school transportation, etc.

Assessments: Traditional Quizzes
Written Projects:
Students keep a school journal.
Students write school schedule in target language.
Oral Presentation:
Student groups plan and perform a skit representing school experiences from the target culture meeting rubric criteria.
Instructional Strategies:  

Text reviews of essential skills
Internet:
Students search the Internet to obtain information about the target school cultures.
Students exchange e-mail with students from the target culture comparing school experiences.
Individual:
Each student keeps a journal of school experiences.
Cooperative Learning:
Class discussion comparing, contrasting, and analyzing school experiences of target culture with their own.
Student groups write and perform a skit portraying school experiences from the target culture.

Resources: Textbook
Internet
Library resources
Realia
Videotapes
Community resources
Other Resources: Available ESL Students
Authentic Bus Schedules
International School Catalogues
Updated December 27, 2019 8:12am