PTM #4 - “El Amor de Dios” and Farewell

Ending our year on a proper note is important. Throughout our studies of Spanish, we have attempted to place our study in perspective. We study Spanish for many reasons. We study it to develop the gifts God has given us. We study it to learn more about God and His beautiful gift of language, which He gives us to communicate and fellowship with each other and with Him. He has given us language so that we might learn more how to love. God speaks much in the Bible about loving our neighbor, which includes any "strangers" which God places in our path. Caring for the stranger is of great concern to our God as it shows and witnesses the new and charitable heart that God has planted in us as well as He uses those interactions to grow and teach us as well about Him. However, may we not forget the origin of this love. It ought never be for self-glory or done in a way that diminishes the utmost need we have for God's love FIRST. If we are given the opportunity to discuss our faith with those of another language. It is important that we know where to place the origin of our love for God and our love for our neighbor squarely on God. It is through this love of God that we are not consumed. May we be ready and desirous to proclaim that love of God to all nations, tribes, tongues -- anyone that God puts in our path and with whom He opens that door. In His love for us, He more and more works in our hearts to change us to be like unto Him. I would like to end the year with this short Spanish award-winning film. While it doesn't directly speak to learning another language, it does speak to compassion in our hearts, which is the driving force behind the hospitality and Christian charity we show to the "stranger". In this way, God is glorified in us and, if it be His will, He may use even this in His grand plan. That is the power of God's love.  Please watch the EdPuzzle video below. You only need to watch it (make sure you do so in EdPuzzle so that it is tracked - don't link to YouTube). Beneath the EdPuzzle video is a farewell video from me as well as a link to a private (not shared with others) FlipGrid where you can leave any last thoughts on the class, the year, farewells (as teacher/student), and whatnot (this is optional, but definitely appreciated). Before that, enjoy this short film and remember, while watching, the framework of God's love then reflected in us in our treatment of those who are different than us (whether that be language differences, physical differences, cultural differences, etc.). Now here we are, at the end. THE END. This is it. Please watch my farewell video. I can't even say how grateful I am for the time that we've had together in class and for the work that you've put into Spanish. To use a maybe-out-dated phrase: "It's been real" :) Don't forget, if you would like, I have a FlipGrid link below that you can use to leave any last thoughts on the class, the year, farewells, etc. Below is the embedded link for the FlipGrid:

El Escape Cubano - Chapter 9

Chapter 9 - ¿Es Real?

The story has taken a tragic turn. Gloria's father has disappeared; reality has sunk in. He is not coming back, drowned among the tossing waves. Yet, Miguel and his company aboard the raft haven't had time to truly process this. They've lost their food and their journey and prospects are looking grim. This is where we begin this chapter.

Having now read/followed along to this chapter, please provide a brief chapter summary by answering the Google Classroom Question.

La Autoridad del Creador (PTM #3)

We have come a ways in our understanding of how we can witness our faith to those "neighbors" or "strangers" that God puts in our path -- neighbors of all types, including those that speak a different language. Our calling to love our neighbor isn't nullified by that fact. We started by looking at how we can use language cognates to speak about the attributes of God. That information is below for you to review.

We then discussed the particular trait of God known as His immutability (inability to change - He is always the same!) This is a particularly important one to be able to speak about since there is great comfort in the knowledge that our God is forever faithful in Himself and His promises. Below, you will find that information for you to review. Now, we are going to look at the authority of God as the Creator. This is important because it lays the groundwork or everything else. If God does not have authority over us as our Creator, then, truly, He has no authority in our lives whatsoever. However, if He is our Creator as He truly is, that has major implications to the service that we owe Him. With the authority of God as our Creator fixed in our mind, we are going to participate in a simulated activity where you will be imagining and including yourself in a conversation with a fictional co-worker named Roberto. Follow the directions on the Google Form below to complete this activity.

El Escape Cubano - Chapters 7 & 8

Chapter 7 - El Remo

At the end of the previous chapter, Miguel and Gloria fell off the raft as they were dancing. This is where this chapter begins.

Chapter 8 - Silencio

Tragedy has struck and bitter reality lurks all around them, darkness creeps in. Miguel and Gloria will need to support each other and those remaining in their company, trying to keep hope alive.

And here we end our story for now. Two more weeks and we will have finished. Next week, we will cover chapter 9 before we conclude the story the following week. Again, our main focus is on reading/listening comprehension. Please answer the Google Classroom question with a brief summary of the 2 chapters as well as a brief reaction to the struggles these characters are facing (perhaps, think about what you would feel and/or do if you were in their shoes).

El Escape Cubano - Chapters 5 & 6

Capítulo 5 - Enojado

We rejoin Miguel on the raft with his father as well as the family of Fabio, including Gloria, the girl who Miguel has a ¨crush¨ on. They have just left Cuba on the raft and are headed towards Florida.

Capítulo 6 - Llueve

The story continues in chapter 6. Miguel is very angry at his father (possibly with cause? - albeit his father has a defense for his actions which might justify it?). As the title indicates, rain is on the way. Remember ¨llueve¨ is from the verb ¨llover¨, meaning ¨to rain¨.

Now that you have read & followed-along to chapters 5 and 6, please give some thought to the story in a response to the Google Classroom Question, addressing the following: a short 3-5 sentence summary of the chapters as well as a short prediction of what might happen next, given how chapter 6 ends.

El Escape Cubano - Chapters 3 & 4

Our story continues where it left off last time. Miguel went home with his father after meeting with his friend Fabio. However, he was never able to talk with Fabio about his father´s planned escape. This is where we pick up with chapter 3.

The plot continues straight into chapter 4 where Miguel will face a future that he had no desire for and without someone he loves very dearly.

Now that you have read/listened to these 2 chapters, please answer the Google Classroom Question with a short 3-5 sentence summary of the chapters as well as with your personal reaction to the situation that Miguel faces and how this is emblematic of the conflict/problem faced by those who chose to flee Cuba.

Situación: Las Similitudes y Diferencias entre Tú y Luisa de Marsella, Colombia

Antes de empezar el video en FlipGrid, tú necesitas conocer a su amiga nueva, Luisa. - Luisa es de Marsella, Colombia y, en este video, ella habla sobre su vida.  - Necesitas mirar el video (es corto...más o menos 4 minutos) y aprender sobre ella.  - Debes usar los subtítulos en español porque es más fácil para entender la conversación con subtítulos españoles (en "Settings - Subtitles - Spanish (Latin America)". - Mientras miras el video, debes escribir algunas notas en la vida de Luisa porque va a hacer el próximo parte de la tarea más fácil. Ahora, necesitas hacer un video corto via FlipGrid.
REQUISITOS DE TU VIDEO:

• 45-90 segundos en total
• Necesitas imaginar que estás hablando con Marsella. 
• Debes imaginar que la cámara es Luisa y debes decirle a ella las similitudes y diferences entre tú y ella.
• Psst...(and I'll cheat and tell you this in English)...if you want some extra-credit, feel free to coerce a family member into being Luisa to ask you questions. They can read things you've prepared for them. Not required. If you don't have someone to pretend to be Luisa, just tell the camera all the things you would tell Luisa about the similarities and differences between your life and hers.
• NO necesitas responder a los videos de tus amigos. No es un requisito este vez.
• Tienes que divertirte. ¡Es una orden! 🙂

YOU CAN ACCESS THE FLIPGRID ASSIGNMENT BELOW OR THROUGH THE LINK/CODE AVAILABLE ON THE GOOGLE CLASSROOM ASSIGNMENT.

El Escape Cubano - Chapters 1 & 2

Chapter 1 - Conmigo

Please watch the video below while following along with the text in the video and the audio. The glossary for the book is available on the Google Classroom assignment if you'd like to pause and reference it. In this chapter, we will meet our main character, Miguel, and also be introduced to a problem that he will face.

Chapter 2 - Amigo

After watching the video for chapter 1, continue to the video for chapter 2. In this video, Miguel will go to his friend Fabio's house because he has an idea.

El Escape Cubano: Pre-Reading

Part 1: Background of the Conflict

The story we are going to read, El Escape Cubano, introduces us to an area of tension in the Spanish-speaking world and with the United States. Cuba and and the US have had a tumultuous relationship. Watch the video below for a good overview of the conflict.

Part 2: Changes Under President Obama 

Watch the following videos for some information on groundbreaking changes made during the Obama Administration in regards to the official stance towards Cuba and the policy towards those fleeing Cuba, established under President Clinton.

Normalizing Relations

Ending “Wet-Foot, Dry-Foot”

Part 3: A New Direction...A Better Deal

Watch the following video for news on the latest developments in US-Cuba relations after President Trump took office.

The Blessing of Babel's Babble

Last year, we spent some time reading and discussing the blessing in the difficulty of learning a 2nd language. God's providence was clearly on display at the Tower of Babel. However, there is more to it than that, and I would like for you to give some consideration to the following article written by Kathleen Nielson, again refocusing on the pivotal Biblical event that reshaped the world of language forever. She provides a new perspective and also adds a depth to the discussion, helping to capture why we study languages and can be thankful for that study.

Nielson lists 5 main areas in which we can learn about our God and language from the story of Babel: (1) language lets us make beautiful things, (2) language wields great power, (3) languages show God's judgement of fallen humanity, (4) languages show God's mercy, and (5) languages show the hope of redemptive history. I would like for us to reflect on these 5 elements of language and their relation to our our life and our God. In order to do this, I would like for you to address 3 of the following 4 questions in a video response via FlipGrid.com. You can access the assignment below or through the assignment on Google Classroom (this is able to be done on a mobile device).

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

1. Nielson asks the question: "What does this narrative [the Babel narrative] show us about language?" She then uses the 5 main areas of her article as an answer to that question. Of those 5 main areas, which did you find to be the most compelling and why?
2. How does Nielson describe language yielding great power in the story of Babel? What power does learning another language give, especially in the context of a Christian's calling to serve and love the neighbor?
3. Consider the merciful gift of languages. How is there mercy in languages as well as mercy in the Word?
4. Finally, give some thought to Nielson's claims and contemplation about the role of languages in heaven and in praising our God. Explain your thoughts as well as something that you still wonder about.

Las Fiestas en el Mundo Hispano

Introduction

As we begin this unit on "fiestas" or holidays in Spanish-speaking countries, it is worthwhile to look at some of the customs and traditions found elsewhere in the world, not to criticize them necessarily, but to look at them with the eye-of-faith, discerning elements which we share in common with other believers as well as, through those same eyes, viewing the culture of the world as we view the culture of our own country, filled with other problems and issues that aren't always fully in-line with our beliefs. Begin by reading this short introductory article:

La Quinceañera We are going to take a look at one noteworthy celebration that has a major impact on the lives of Spanish-speaking families: the Quinceañera. Wrap-Up Now that you've read about some of the celebrations in the Hispanic world as well as learned a little more about the very important quinceañera, please complete the Google Form to show your understanding and also to voice your reaction to what you've learned.