Contextualization

The project "Vocabulary: Places and Family" aims to deepen your knowledge of Spanish vocabulary, focusing specifically on terminology related to places and family. The study of the Spanish language is valuable, as it is the second most spoken language in the world, with approximately 460 million native speakers. Additionally, Spanish is one of the six official languages of the UN.

The vocabulary you will learn in this project is essential for everyday communication in Spanish-speaking countries. Having a broad vocabulary in Spanish will not only facilitate communication while traveling but also open professional opportunities in sectors that value fluency in Spanish, such as diplomatic, educational, touristic, and business. Understanding the family structure in a Spanish cultural context will allow for a better comprehension of the society and traditions of these countries.

Theoretical Introduction

Before starting the project, it is crucial that you understand how a language can be much more than just a method of communication. When we learn a new language, we also learn about the culture and customs of the country or countries where that language is spoken. Therefore, our goal in this project is much more than just learning new words in Spanish. Our goal is to broaden our knowledge and understanding of the world.

Spanish is a Romance language that originated in the region of Hispania, on the Iberian Peninsula, and was later spread throughout much of the world with the conquests and explorations of the Spanish and Portuguese empires. Because of this, there are variations in how Spanish is spoken and understood in different parts of the world. This leads us to the first key theoretical concept of this project: linguistic variation.

In the context of this project, we are focused on vocabulary related to places and family. Therefore, it is important that you understand the concept of lexical semantics, which is the subdiscipline of linguistics that studies the meaning of words. This is the second key theoretical concept of this project.

Finally, we will address the notion of family and its role in society. This is the third key theoretical concept of this project. The family is one of the oldest and most important institutions in society, and there are variations in family structure and dynamics in different cultures and societies.

Practical Activity

Activity Title: "Our Family, Our World: A Linguistic and Cultural Journey"

Objective:

To deepen the understanding of Spanish vocabulary related to family and places, improve communication in Spanish, and deepen knowledge about Hispanic-American culture.

Detailed Project Description:

Students, in groups of 3 to 5, will create a presentation about a fictional Hispanic city hosting a family reunion. This presentation should involve the creation of:

1. A detailed description of the city (including important locations, buildings, natural landscapes, etc.)
2. A family tree, with short descriptions of each member (name, age, profession, personality, etc.)
3. A detailed script of the family reunion event, including the schedule of activities and descriptions of the locations where they will take place.

Students will also write a document in Spanish of at least 2000 words, detailing the work done, the theory behind the project, the results, conclusions, and the bibliography used.

Required Materials:

• Computer with internet access
• Presentation software (such as PowerPoint, Google Slides)
• Text writing software (such as Word, Google Docs)

Step by Step:

1. Divide into groups of 3 to 5 students.

2. Each group should choose or invent a city and create a detailed description of that city in Spanish.

3. The group should create a fictional family tree, including short descriptions of each member in Spanish.

4. The group should create a detailed script for the family reunion event, including the schedule of activities and descriptions of the locations where these activities will take place, all in Spanish.

5. Using presentation software, the group should prepare a visual presentation that includes images, maps, the family tree, and the script of the family reunion event.

6. The group should write a document in Spanish, detailing the work done, the theory used, the results, conclusions, and the bibliography used.

Project Deliverables:

1. Visual Presentation: The visual presentation will be presented to the class and evaluated based on the clarity of communication, inclusion of relevant vocabulary, and accurate representation of the Hispanic culture portrayed.

2. Written Document: The document should contain four main sections - Introduction, Development, Conclusions, and Bibliography.

• In the Introduction, students should contextualize the fictional city, family, and family reunion in the real Spanish world. Students should also mention the project's objectives.

• In the Development, students should explain the theory behind linguistic variation, lexical semantics, and family structure, and discuss how these theories applied to the project. Students should also detail the methodology used, the activity performed, and the results obtained.

• In the Conclusions, students should highlight the main learnings from the project and discuss the implications of these learnings for understanding Hispanic cultures and communication in Spanish.

• In the Bibliography, students should indicate all sources used in the project.

The document and the visual presentation should be connected, and the visual presentation should be a visual complement to the written discussions in the document.