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.

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.

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.