Beginning Spanish
Authentic Media Supporting Intercultural Awareness and Reflection
Intercambiemos perspectivas features authentic videos and readings that serve as a springboard for intercultural analysis and reflection. These videos were carefully selected to support the chapter themes and promote meaningful communication while helping students develop intercultural awareness.
A GPS for Learning
Using backward design as a GPS for learning, the authors of Experiencias have created a learning experience that focuses on what your students will be able to accomplish with the language. Starting with a guiding question and a sequence of activities, Experiencias Beginning offers the right tools and support to help students acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the desired learning outcomes. Experiencias Beginning provides clear direction and purpose for the lessons, assures alignment between activities and outcomes, and increases engagement and motivation as students see progress toward meaningful use of their language skills.
Focus on High-Frequency Grammar Structures
The grammar syllabus in Experiencias Beginning prioritizes high-frequency grammar patterns and language construction. As a result, learners can quickly acquire essential grammar and begin communicating in Spanish from the very first day of class. Reducing the grammatical load allows for context-driven learning, natural recycling, and an increased focus on oral and written proficiency.
Fostering a Language-Learning Mindset
Metacognitive strategies are essential tools that language learners can use to enhance their understanding of the learning process. In Experiencias Beginning, these strategies aim to foster a “language-learning mindset,” which involves thinking about one’s own thinking, which in turn allows learners to become more aware of their own strengths, weaknesses, and progress. Students become more independent, motivated, and efficient learners, leading to better language acquisition and proficiency levels.
Building Cultural Self-Awareness to Develop Cultural Competence
Experiencias places a strong focus on interculturality from beginning to end. Students develop intercultural competency by reflecting critically on their own values and practices to increase their cultural self-awareness. Experiencias Beginning exposes students to the skills, attitudes, and knowledge necessary to develop intercultural competence. These include self-awareness and identity, active listening, withholding judgment, and perspective taking. Intercambiemos perspectivas uses authentic video and readings to provide real-life examples and contexts for students to analyze and reflect upon, helping them gain insights into differences and similarities between the cultures they are studying and their own.
Experience Learning That Is Personally Meaningful to Students
Authentic tasks and projects at the end of each chapter prompt students to produce new language independently and creatively. Proyectos offers two culminating tasks per chapter, including an oral presentational task in which students answer the guiding question posed in the chapter title. The projects are meaningful and personal. They promote self-expression and give students opportunities to use the language in real-world contexts. In Álbum de países, students compile information that is personally meaningful to them by gathering photos and descriptions of places, people, and issues related to Spanish-speaking countries. The accompanying editable online project rubrics make assessment simple for instructors of all course modalities.
