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.