Spanish Vocabulary Project

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/spanish-vocabulary-project

Introduction

### Course Review: Spanish Vocabulary Project on Coursera If you're looking to enhance your Spanish vocabulary and immerse yourself in the culture of a Spanish-speaking nation, the **Spanish Vocabulary Project** on Coursera is an excellent choice. This course not only emphasizes language skills but also promotes cultural understanding through a hands-on project that feels more like an exciting adventure than a traditional class. #### Course Overview The Spanish Vocabulary Project is designed around a unique premise: you’ll imagine applying for an all-expenses-paid educational trip to a Spanish-speaking country of your choice. Throughout the course, you will prepare a comprehensive report introducing yourself to a host family, exploring the rich culture and history of your chosen destination, and crafting a detailed itinerary of your travel plans. By the end of the course, you will not only have honed your Spanish vocabulary but also gained a deeper appreciation for the Spanish-speaking world. #### Syllabus Breakdown 1. **Project Overview** In the first module, you'll learn the course format and outline the project requirements. The opportunity to select a country that excites you sets the tone, making the course immediately engaging and personal. 2. **Milestone 1: Introducing Yourself to Your Host Family** This milestone encourages you to reflect on previous learning, specifically regarding meeting people. Writing a draft introduction helps you practice your writing skills while receiving peer feedback ensures you are on the right track. 3. **Milestone 2: Culture and History of Your Selected Nation** Researching the culture and history of your chosen country enhances your understanding of its social fabric. This project not only allows for vocabulary building but also requires critical thinking as you compare and contrast it with your own culture. 4. **Milestone 3: Your Trip Plan** In this module, you’ll draft an itinerary detailing your travel plans. This task pushes you to explore various locations and activities, making the experience realistic and relatable. 5. **Milestone 4: Final Report and Oral Presentation** The culmination of the course is the final report. By combining your previous drafts into a comprehensive document, you demonstrate your accumulated knowledge and skills. You'll also have the chance to practice your speaking abilities through a concise oral presentation, allowing you to showcase your proficiency in Spanish. #### Learning Experience One of the most compelling aspects of this course is its hands-on approach to learning. Instead of rote memorization, you actively engage with the language and culture, making the learning process enjoyable and relevant. The peer review system fosters a collaborative learning environment, allowing you to receive constructive feedback and improve your work. The emphasis on research helps develop essential skills such as critical thinking and analysis. By engaging with authentic materials, especially Spanish-language sources, learners are directly connected to the culture they are studying. #### Final Recommendation The Spanish Vocabulary Project is more than just a language course; it’s a cultural exploration that prepares you for real-world interactions in a Spanish-speaking context. Whether you’re a beginner looking to build foundational vocabulary or someone aiming to polish your skills, this course offers a well-structured and engaging way to improve your Spanish. I wholeheartedly recommend this course to anyone interested in learning Spanish while gaining insight into the vibrant cultures of Spanish-speaking countries. The unique project format not only teaches language but also sparks curiosity and encourages exploration, making language learning a fulfilling journey rather than a chore. Dive in and take that first step toward your Spanish-speaking adventure today!

Syllabus

Project Overview

Welcome to the final project for Spanish Vocabulary! In this project, you're going to pretend that you are applying for an all expenses paid, extended trip (5-7 weeks) to a Spanish-speaking nation of your choice where you will be staying with a native host family. As part of the "application" process, you need to write a 3-part report and produce a recording of you speaking, summarizing the contents of your report. In this module, you will learn all about the format of the course and be provided with an overview of the entire project and all of the milestones. You'll also choose the Spanish-speaking nation you would like to "visit" for the course project.

The first milestone is all about introducing yourself to the family you'll be staying with. You'll want to reflect on the material learned in the earlier courses of the specialization, particularly Course 1: Meeting People, and prepare a written introduction to your host family. In this module, you'll turn in a first draft of your introduction for feedback and review from a peer before you turn in the final draft in the next module.

In this module, you are to take the feedback you were given on your draft from the last module, improve your paper, and then submit your final assignment for official peer review and grading.

For the 2nd milestone in our course project, you are going to research the history and culture of your selected host nation. Search the internet, preferably relying on Spanish-language websites from that country, to determine things like the current and historical political systems, common foods, entertainment, music, arts, traditions, important historical milestones, etc. You'll also be asked to compare what you learn about your host nation with the country or region in which you presently reside to note similarities and differences. In this module, you'll hand in a draft of your report for feedback and review from a peer before you turn in your final draft in the next module.

In this module, you are to take the feedback you were given on your draft in the last module, improve your paper, and then submit your final assignment for official peer review and grading.

In this module, you will research and write the 1st draft of your trip plan. You'll talk about where you would like to go and what you would like to see and do while in your chosen country. Again, search the internet, preferably relying on websites from that country, to determine what your trip plan will be. In this module, you'll hand in a draft of your report for feedback and review from a peer before you turn in your final draft in the next module.

In this module, you are to take the feedback you were given in the last module, improve your draft, and then submit your final assignment for official peer review and grading. You will also want to begin the process of compiling all of your different milestones into one comprehensive document so that in the final milestone, you'll be prepared to refine your final report and prepare your oral presentation.

In our final milestone for this course, you are going to compile all three of your papers into one, complete report, making any last refinements to make it a strong, and grammatically proficient report. You will also get to demonstrate your proficiency in speaking Spanish by giving a brief, 3-5 minute oral presentation that summarizes the key points and findings from your entire report.