Strand

Intermediate or Advanced Spanish Class

Objectives

• To gain a greater appreciation for popular stories in the Hispanic tradition.
• To practice discussing issues that require the use of the subjunctive and conditional tenses in Spanish.
• To practice writing and speaking Spanish with precision and clarity.

Cultural Perspective

Stories about two friends, los dos compadres, are some of the most common and popular stories in Hispanic tradition. The relationship of compadre is a very special friendship relationship in Hispanic culture. Technically, a compadre is the godparent of one’s child. In everyday life, however, two fast friends are also referred to as compadres. Los Dos Compadres stories always contrast two opposite types of individuals. Usually one is rich and the other poor. In these stories the rich man ends up paying for his sins and evil ways, and the poor man has a reversal of fortune that allows him to change places with the rich man. At the center of a Dos Compadres story is a moral lesson about right and wrong.

Pacing

Two class periods

Materials

• Student Activities Sheets
• Generic Writing Rubric

Latino American Experience Research

Students will read one of Los Dos Compadres stories from the Hispanic tradition. They will observe not only the Spanish language used, but also explore the message or moral of the story.

Language Review

• Vocabulary: Students will have the opportunity to read the story, “The True Path to Happiness/El camino verdadero a la felicidad,” and answer several questions for Spanish comprehension.
• Grammar:Students will review the use of present and imperfect subjunctive. They will then have the opportunity to locate some of its uses in the Spanish text. Students will then practice with these forms when writing a brief paragraph that addresses the important question presented to the reader.

Directions

Distribute Student Activity Sheets or have students access them via The Latino American Experience Classroom Resources. After completing the language review, have students refer to the first Student Activity Sheet. Tell students to read all the directions carefully. Remind students that they should work individually and incorporate the use of subjunctive in their writing. Explain to students that their evaluation for this activity will be based on a written reflection and the assessment of the following areas: the correct and consistent use of the subjunctive forms of the verbs, appropriate use of vocabulary, and clarity of expression.

Assessment

In addition to the language assessment mentioned above, use the General Writing Rubrics.

Extension

Have students use The Latino American Experience to research and read other stories from Los Dos Compadres collection. Ask students to write a composition in which the “lessons” of the stories are compared and contrasted. Perhaps there are stories from their own childhood that they could also reflect upon in the composition.

(May be copied for classroom use.)