WHS WL Year 5 (French, Italian, and Spanish)

Experience a classroom conducted primarily in the target language where you will master advanced linguistic concepts and critical thinking. Students engage with high-level authentic materials, including literature, film, and current events, to strengthen their intercultural competence. As you approach Advanced Low proficiency, you will learn to analyze complex global issues and respond thoughtfully to diverse cultural perspectives.                  

Unit

Timeframe

Big Ideas (Statements or Essential Questions)

Major Learning Experiences from Unit 

1 The Individual and Identity

Varied

  • Who am I?

  • How do I identify myself? And why?  

  • What factors affect the identity?  

  • What challenges does the individual face in today’s society? 

  • What is happiness? What affects me? 

  • How can I achieve success? How do I define success? In what forms does success exist?   

Students will demonstrate understanding and self expression in the target language about the following subtopics: 


  • Immigration 

  • Ethnic identity

  • National identity 

  • Assimilation

  • Challenges

  • The definition of happiness

  • Sacrifices

  • The definition of success

2 Culture and Diversity

Varied

  • Do the target cultures offer something valuable to the tourist?  

  • What does it offer?

  • What is culture? In what forms does culture exist?

  • Why are the target cultures considered unique and special?

  • Are there differences among the target cultures?  

  • How are they similar and different?

  • Does the history of a country offer something valuable to the tourist? 

  • What can we learn from our past?

Students will demonstrate understanding and self expression in the target language about the following subtopics: 


  • Tourism

  • Culture

  • History 

  • Geography 

  • Food

  • Tourist sites 

  • Lodging

  • Transportation

3  Contemporary Life

Varied

  • What is life like in the target cultures?

  • How do the people of the target cultures spend their free time? Is it similar or different from the United States?

  • What is the “family” like in the target cultures?  

  • Is family important?

  • What is the educational system like? Is it similar or different from our system?

Students will demonstrate understanding and self expression in the target language about the following subtopics: 


  • Entertainment

  • Pastimes

  • Sports

  • Government

  • Routine

  • Education

  • The home

  • Family

4 World Challenges 

Varied

  • How is our world?

  • How would you describe the world, society and the community where you live?  What benefits does the world offer and what challenges do we face?

  • How can we improve the world for future generations?

  • Is it important that an individual contributes to society?

  • Is there disquality among people?  

  • How can we ensure our society is moving forward in a positive direction?

Students will demonstrate understanding and self expression in the target language about the following subtopics: 


  • Environment

  • Economy

  • Lifestyle

  • Health

  • Poverty

  • Social class

  • Equality

  • Discrimination

5. My Life and Community

Varied

  • What is happiness?

  • How do I define “quality of life''?

  • Who are my friends and why?

  • How do my friends make me feel?

  • Who is important to me?  How do they affect me?

  • What is the ideal friend like? 

  • How does technology exist in today’s society?

  • Is technology a benefit or a hindrance to the individual and society?

Students will demonstrate understanding and self expression in the target language about the following subtopics: 


  • The definition of happiness

  • The quality of life

  • Friendship

  • Personal relationships 

  • Technology and its effect on relationships

6. Beauty and Aesthetics

Varied

  • How does society define beauty?

  • Is there too much emphasis on physical beauty compared to inner beauty?

  • How does beauty exist in the clothing and fashion in today’s society?  

  • Is music an example of beauty? Why?

  • How are leisure activities an example of beauty?

  • Are personal interests an example of beauty, and why?

  • Is art an example of beauty?  

  • In what forms does art exist? 

  • Where do we observe art in our society?

  • What factors define the beauty of art?

  • How is language and literature a form of beauty?

Students will demonstrate understanding and self expression in the target language about the following subtopics: 


  • Clothing

  • Fashion

  • Music 

  • Art

  • Enjoyment

  • Personal interests

  • Creativity

  • Literature

  • Language