Languages
& Cultures
How Languages & Cultures Courses Work
Languages & Cultures courses (currently available in Spanish and English) are a cultural exchange program for students that run for 4-8 weeks and are conducted on our secure, teacher-monitored platform through the sharing of asynchronous video. Course themes are cultural and relevant to current languages & culture curricula, are broken up by proficiency level, and provide teachers a way to implement a cultural competence program within their World Languages classroom. These cultural exchange programs run in the USA and all over the world.
Level 1: Explorer Topics
Recommended for students who have completed at least 1 year of high school/secondary study or equivalent in the target language & culture.
The People in Our Lives
There are people that are important in our lives because we enjoy their company and bring happiness into our world. The purpose of this course is to learn about family, friends, and neighbors from another culture and discuss the things that they like to do together. In this course, students discover what life is like for other people in another culture through direct video exchanges with peers from another culture. Additionally, students identify similarities and differences between their own and other cultures around the world.
Animals in Our Lives
Animals bring joy to our everyday lives. We see them in our neighborhoods, our home, and even at our school! The purpose of this course is to learn about pets and exotic animals that are common in our communities, Additionally, students will reflect on some of the responsibilities of having a pet. In this course, students discover what life is like for other people in another culture through direct video exchanges with peers from another culture. Additionally, students identify similarities and differences between their own and other cultures around the world.
Our Favorite Foods
Every culture has a diverse cuisine with foods that are very representative of their country and their communities. The purpose of this course is to learn about the different holiday meals, typical dishes, and snacks from other cultures. Additionally, students investigate practices related to grocery shopping within their own communities. In this course, students discover what life is like for other people in another culture through direct video exchanges with peers from another culture. Additionally, students identify similarities and differences between their own and other cultures around the world.
Level 2: Adventurer Topics
Recommended for students who have completed at least 2 years of high school/secondary study or equivalent in the target language & culture.
What Culture Means to Us
Culture comes to life for students as they exchange videos describing and showing elements of their favorite holidays, festivals, music, clothing, and food. The purpose of this course is to converse about festivities that are unique within our community. In this course, students discover what life is like for other people in another culture through direct video exchanges with peers from another culture. Additionally, students effectively interact to discuss similarities and differences between their own and other cultures around the world and ask questions to elicit further information.
Come See Where We Live!
Have you ever visited a place and noticed that some of the houses or touristic attractions are very representative of that city or neighborhood? In this course, students will converse about homes and other places in their local area that are relevant to them. Additionally, they will plan and present a mini tour of an interesting site in their city. In this course, students discover what life is like for other people in another culture through direct video exchanges with peers from another culture. Additionally, students effectively interact to discuss similarities and differences between their own and other cultures around the world and ask questions to elicit further information.
Our School Day
Every country has its own education system that makes our daily school very unique from other cultures. The purpose of this course is to converse about school schedules, school subjects, and different academic and non-academic extracurricular activities. In this course, students discover what life is like for other people in another culture through direct video exchanges with peers from another culture. Additionally, students effectively interact to discuss similarities and differences between their own and other cultures around the world and ask questions to elicit further information.
Level 3: Trailblazer Topics
Recommended for students who have completed 3 years or more of high school/secondary study or equivalent in the target language & culture.
Music and Society
Music is meaningful to the individual and to society as a whole. It is an artistic form of expression that unites us and communication certain feelings. In this course, students share their feelings about their favorite music, then discuss the importance of music in their society, and the value of music in their celebrations and traditions. They explore similarities and differences in the role of music in their society. Through video exchanges, students will interact at a competent level with their peers to explain cultural practices and perspectives within their own and other cultures.
Global Challenges - Climate Change
Climate change is a widely debated topic in today’s world. Communities take different approaches to address this concerning issue. In this course, students explain some issues and possible solutions related to climate change in their communities. Additionally, they will reflect on some of the government policies that are dealing with this global challenge. Through video exchanges, students will interact at a competent level with their peers to explain cultural practices and perspectives within their own and other cultures.
Future Plans and Professions
Our professional world is constantly evolving, and many careers are changing. Many careers and professions in our communities reflect some of the current professional trends in our community. In this course, students share their knowledge about professions that are popular in their culture and their future career plans. Additionally, they will explain how the current educational system in their communities prepare them for the workforce once they finish their plan of studies. Through video exchanges, students will interact at a competent level with their peers to explain cultural practices and perspectives within their own and other cultures.
