Immigration Reform is the new priority for Congress and the White House.  Many people have strong opinions about this; maybe you do, too.  If you were to go to a rally or protest about this issue, what sign would you hold? Watch this video and this video in order to hear a few opinions on either side.

Assignment: Make a sign (8.5×11″) that you would hold up at a rally or protest.  The sign should have a slogan or sentence of up to 8 words.  It should be in color, either printed out or lettered by hand.  On a separate sheet of paper, write a 1-paragraph explanation of your sign, giving your reasons for stating what you did.

Due in class, Monday, April 19th.

This is an easy one: take a look at a few videos that people have made about conjugating verbs.  Then, write me an email (or bring me a typed paper) answering the following questions:

1. Which video stuck in your head the most?  Does that match with what you know about your own learning style (visual, auditory, etc.)?
2. What are the 2 things a conjugated verb tells you about the action of the word?
3. If you were making a verb conjugation video, what would you make sure to include?

Here are the links to the videos:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTGZOzWm7Rw&feature=related
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u28IYsPJX0M&feature=related
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il-5ljFlpIc&feature=related
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1s8sVnNNIbs

• Who were The Young Lords?  What activist group of the 1960s and 1970s were they similar to?
• How did The Young Lords find out what actions were considered most necessary to the community?
• What was the purpose of taking over the church for 11 days?  What were the benefits to the Puerto Rican community and to the activists?
• What do you think it was like to be a woman in The Young Lords?  What do you think it was like to be a Black person in The Young Lords?
• Why do you think The Young Lords disbanded?

And most importantly:

• If you were starting an activist movement based on organizing your neighbors, what issues would you organize around, and what tactics would you try first?

Watch this video, then read this article, and you’ll be able to answer the questions.  Email them to me in the body of an email, or bring them in to class Monday on paper.

For everyone who likes conjugating, and especially for those of you who do not:
Watch this video, and just try not to dance!

Next,

• Read through this -AR Verbs lesson, (alternate: you can watch this video instead of or in addition to reading the lesson)
• “Click to generate a unique quiz,”
• Have it graded, then
• Copy and paste the results page into an email to me or print it out and turn it in.  It will look like this:

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Home / Spanish Verb Drills / Spanish Verb Quiz Results

Just -ar verbs Quiz Results

Watch this clip from the HBO series Celebrity Habla, in which 3 people recount some of their early experiences.

What in your own life story did you relate to from any of these 3 people’s stories?  I.e. eccentric relatives, a passion for animals, a feeling of not fitting in, etc.  Tell a story from your own experience that relates.

If you were to generalize from the stories these 3 people shared, what values would you say they share?

Email me your answers in the body of an email, not as an attachment.

Read the back side of the orange sheet we discussed in class. This is the article about how to acquire Italian.
Respond in writing with the following elements:
1. Something you liked
2. Something that surprised you
3. Something you’re willing to do at home, and something you’re willing to do at school in order to acquire Spanish.
G block, as per our agreement, you may turn in your homework either via email or on paper.

If you need to skip a homework for any reason this semester (one time), you can instead research a Brain Break that you think would be perfect for our class.

Here are some sites I would start with:

http://brainbreaks.blogspot.com/

http://www.emc.cmich.edu/brainbreaks/2005/TOC.htm

http://www.proteacher.net/discussions/showthread.php?t=20962#

1. Email me the directions for the Brain Break you found, in the format of numbered steps.
2. Cite your source.
3. Send this IN THE BODY OF AN EMAIL.

You may use this once during the semester.

Where are Hispanics online? Read the article and check out the graphs.

1. What are 2 similarities and 2 differences between your social groups and what you see here?

What are some ways that companies can market their products and services to Latinos? Read the post and comments.

2. What is the main value she talks about here?  Do you have the same value in your family & culture?

3. What difference would this make in marketing to Latinos?

Now, imagine you have a small company.  Decide what product or service your business sells.  Locate your company here in Philadelphia, and use the info you learned from the 2 articles you just read to inform your marketing strategy.

4. What product or service does your company sell?

5. How will you target the Latino communities here in Philly?  Which media will you use (print ads in magazines or newspapers (which ones?), display ads (where?), online presence (what sites?), word of mouth (how will you promote this?), other (describe)?

6. Why is your product or service especially suited to Philly-area Latin Americans?

Email me your responses IN THE BODY OF THE EMAIL by Monday, 2/1/2010.

due: lunes, el once de enero de 2010

¡La música es muy importante!

You are going to explore some Latin music based on your favorite Latino artist. Don’t have a favorite Latino artist yet? Well, it’s high time you got one! You can use one of mine from the list below.

This assignment is simple.

1. Go to pandora.com and create an account if you don’t already have one.
2. Create a new radio station based on your favorite Latino artist, or one of mine.
3. Open a new Word document so you can record the names of the songs and artists that come up, plus your reflections. In the title of this document, include the artist who you based your radio station on.
4. Listen to your radio station for at least 5 songs, and note the song title and artist’s name on your list.
5. Answer these questions:
………..a. Have you heard any of these artists before?
………..b. Which song out of the 5 was the best, and why?
………..c. How did you feel while listening to these songs?
………..d. How is this music different from music you listen to more often?
………..e. What is one artist you will explore more in the future?
6. Email your document to me IN THE BODY OF THE EMAIL by Monday, 1/11/10, by 8:00am.

Some of my favorite Latino artists:

• Seargent García
• Los Super 7
• Mercedes Sosa
• Ibrahim Ferrer
• Susana Baca
• Manu Chao
• Aventura
• Willie Colon
• n’klabe
• Los Aterciopelados

EXTRA CREDIT: 30 POINTS!
1. Translate this Mexican proverb.
2. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
3. What does this proverb have to do with what we’re studying?
THE QUOTE:
Quien con esperanza vive, alegre muere.
DUE BY EMAIL BY MONDAY NOON.