First, click the link to the article “How Bad Is It?” by John Cassidy from this week’s New Yorker.

Then, draft an email in which y ou will respond to the text that you read. You will need to title your email exactly this way: Lastname, Firstname; English 9 or 11; Response to Cassidy 8/12/11. Send it to Mr. Vaughan at spanishatlhs@gmail.com before class ends today.

Answer the following questions in the text of the email, allowing no less than a paragraph (5-7 sentences) per question. Do not attach a .doc or .docx file to your email. Make sure your asnwers are numbered correctly and that everything is as grammatically perfect as you can make it.

1. Summarize, in 10 words or less, Cassidy’s article.

2. Cassidy insinuates that there are many inadequate theories in politics today about the economy and how to fix it. What are some of those theories, and why does he think they are inadequate?

3. What is the political bias that Cassidy shows throughout the article? How could you tell? Is that bias a helpful aspect to his text? Why or why not?

4. What, according to Cassidy, needs to happen to fix the jobs problem plaguing the American economy these days?

5. In your opinion, is the economy “that bad”?

6. How does the jobs/economic crisis affect you personally? (If you do not wish to discuss your personal life, then elborate on that question from the perspective of someone you know, or perhaps describe its effects on Lexington.)

So we have had a ton of Spanish over the past few days (which is, of course, fitting–given that this is a Spanish class)! I thought it would be nice to pause and reflect a little on a subject that is near and dear to everyone’s heart: learning Mandarin Chinese.

Now hear me out.

This really does have to do with this class. Or so says Newsweek‘s Jerry Guo, in an article published a few months ago. His argument is, well…you will see for yourself.

Here is your assignment:

First, read this article from Newseek that has to do with globalization, monolingualism, and American education. Then, open an email (not a .docx) and respond to the following writing prompts. Title your email this way: Writing Assignment on 8/12/11, YOUR NAME (Block  2 or 4).

1. Summarize, in 10 words or less, Guo’s article.

2. Enumerate three examples (at least sentence each) of how and why globalization impacts you directly.

3. Describe the comparison Guo drew between Spanish and Mandarin. What are some advantages to learning either language?

4. What are two concrete methods by which American education can address the problem of monolingualism?

5. Guo talks about the lack of a “culture of teaching language” in our primary (elementary) schools. Why do you think that is? Is it a good thing or a bad thing? Why?

6. The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act that Guo discusses did not, admittedly, help foreign language education. But it did favor other subjects and academic disciplines. What were those subjects, and why do you think NCLB favored them?

Email these to Mr. Vaughan (spanishatlhs@gmail.com) by the end of class today.

Let’s talk about Semana Santa! Once you have read the travelogue I passed out in class, click here to see the pictures associated with it.

Once finished, draft an email. You will send this to me (spanishatlhs@gmail.com) with the following title: YOUR NAME, # Block, Semana Santa Reflection.

Answer the following questions:

1. Which of the celebratory traditions in San Miguel de Allende did you find most interesting? Why?

2. Why do you think that so many of the celebratory traditions were simply re-enactments of biblical stories? Why tell the same stories over and over?

3. Describe the unusual tradition of the “firing of the Judases.” What happened here and why?

4. Have you ever experienced a re-enactment of history in your life? It does not have to be religious. If so, what was it? If not, what events in history do you think are important enough to repeat through drama?

5. Talk about the issue of penitence. What were some of the ways that the Mexicans displayed their penitence in this story? Why did they choose those ways? What did you think about them?

Email this to me by the end of the block today. Have a happy Easter!

I am looking for at least a paragraph (five to seven sentences per) on each one.

1. Which of the political/philosophical ideologies that we discussed this week do you agree with? Why? (You may include events/activities in the life of Che here, too.)

2. Which of the political/philosophical ideologies that we discussed this week do you disagree with? Why? (You may include events/activities in the life of Che here, too.)

3. Using the handout I gave you dealing with Che, the reviews of Diarios de Motocicleta, class discussion, and your own thoughts, write a brief movie review. The review should be critical: discuss what you thought was well done and poorly done. Be honest. Be specific. Do not summarize the movie; instead, reflect upon it and the story it told.

Devote at least one paragraph to the tensions between the Che that we got see in the film and the Che of history. Did the movie portray him fairly? Why tell this specific story?

I would love to get some discussions going as to what you thought about the movie (its purpose, entertainment value, etc). So, answer these questions or go your own route. Just make sure you tell me what you really thought about the movie.

Why was the movie made? Why tell this particular story?

Did the movie prove to be inspiring in any way?

What happened to Che and Alberto during this trip?

Why were Che’s experiences so profound to him?

What do you think would have happened to you if you had taken that trip?

Che and Alberto began the trip to “viajar por viajar”—how did they end it?

If I were you, I would find some reviews of the movie online, or just use the handout that I gave you in class. I hope that this movie was powerful to you given the ideals which it describes.

Post your responses to the movie below in the comment box, just like you have done with the other movies.

This is due no later than 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 22.

My best, mr. v

I would love to get some discussions going as to what you thought about the movie (its purpose, entertainment value, etc). So, answer these questions or go your own route. Just make sure you tell me what you really thought about the movie.

Why was the movie made? Why tell this particular story?

Did the movie prove to be inspiring in any way?

What happened to Che and Alberto during this trip?

Why were Che’s experiences so profound to him?

What do you think would have happened to you if you had taken that trip?

Che and Alberto began the trip to “viajar por viajar”—how did they end it?

If I were you, I would find some reviews of the movie online, or just use the handout that I gave you in class. I hope that this movie was powerful to you given the ideals which it describes.

Post your responses to the movie below in the comment box, just like you have done with the other movies.

This is due no later than 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 22.

My best, mr. v

I would love to get some discussions going as to what you thought about the movie (its purpose, entertainment value, etc). So, answer these questions or go your own route. Just make sure you tell me what you really thought about the movie.

Why was the movie made? Why tell this particular story?

Did the movie prove to be inspiring in any way?

What happened to Che and Alberto during this trip?

Why were Che’s experiences so profound to him?

What do you think would have happened to you if you had taken that trip?

Che and Alberto began the trip to “viajar por viajar”—how did they end it?

If I were you, I would find some reviews of the movie online, or just use the handout that I gave you in class. I hope that this movie was powerful to you given the ideals which it describes.

Post your responses to the movie below in the comment box, just like you have done with the other movies.

This is due no later than 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 22.

My best, mr. v

I would love to get some discussions going as to what you thought about the movie (its purpose, entertainment value, etc). So, answer these questions or go your own route. Just make sure you tell me what you really thought about the movie.

Why was the movie made? Why tell this particular story?

Did the movie prove to be inspiring in any way?

What happened to Che and Alberto during this trip?

Why were Che’s experiences so profound to him?

What do you think would have happened to you if you had taken that trip?

Che and Alberto began the trip to “viajar por viajar”—how did they end it?

If I were you, I would find some reviews of the movie online, or just use the handout that I gave you in class. I hope that this movie was powerful to you given the ideals which it describes.

Post your responses to the movie below in the comment box, just like you have done with the other movies.

This is due no later than 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 22.

My best, mr. v

So we have had a ton of Spanish over the past few weeks (which is, of course, fitting–given that this is a Spanish class)! With all of these five-day weeks and stories of little boys sailing to imaginary lands, I thought it would be nice to pause and reflect a little on a subject that is near and dear to everyone’s heart: learning Mandarin Chinese.

Now hear me out.

This really does have to do with this class. Or so says Newsweek‘s Jerry Guo, in an article published a few months ago. His argument is, well…you will see for yourself.

Here is your assignment:

First, read this article from Newseek that has to do with globalization, monolingualism, and American education. Then, open an email (not a .docx) and respond to the following writing prompts. Title your email this way: Writing Assignment on 3/11/11, YOUR NAME (Block 1, 2, 3, or 4).

1. Summarize, in 10 words or less, Guo’s article.

2. Enumerate three examples (a sentence each) of how and why globalization impacts you directly.

3. Describe the comparison Guo drew between Spanish and Mandarin. What are some advantages to learning either language?

4. What are two concrete methods by which American education can address the problem of monolingualism?

5. Guo talks about the lack of a “culture of teaching language” in our primary (elementary) schools. Why do you think that is? Is it a good thing or a bad thing? Why?

6. The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act that Guo discusses did not, admittedly, help foreign language education. But it did favor other subjects and academic disciplines. What were those subjects, and why do you think NCLB favored them?

Email these to Mr. Vaughan (spanishatlhs@gmail.com) by Sunday, March 13 at 11:59 p.m.