UCOP A-G Approved: Section D – Foreign Language – Grades 9-12 (LOTE 4) (5.0 GPA Weighted Scale)

Spanish 4-Identity & Culture Honors is a rigorous course is designed for students interested in studying various Multicultural writers and the relationship of the selected readings to each writer’s cultural background. The course will utilize literary works representing a variety of cultures, races, and encourage students to see their own culture from another culture’s point of view, and foster critical and deep discussions for rigorous written responses (essays) that cultivate deep critical thinking. This class will feature both fiction and non-fiction literature written by immigrant, LGBTQ and Native Indigenous peoples from the Spanish Speaking World. Throughout this course, instruction will focus on thematic units, historical research and self-analysis. Spanish 4-Identity & Culture Honors will explore four different minority groups in the Spanish Speaking countries and the United States (the Indigenous in Latin America, the immigrants in America, and women and LGBTQ population throughout history), paying particular attention to how the literature explores racism, discrimination, and rises above oppression. In this literature course, students will closely examine the critical relationships of the authors who challenged the discourse of American socio-political policy and commentary to move towards a more socially just and caring world for everyone. As students read, they will analyze how racism and discrimination has shaped the identity of the writer and culture. By participating in class discussions to connect the essential question to the literature, students will learn how racism and discrimination are still present today and how this affects them. By reading different genres of literature, including poems, articles, short stories, historical chronicles, and novels, students will examine the experiences and conditions of each minority group covered in the course and their push towards equality while maintaining their identity.

Students will achieve mastery of all standards identified as Stage III and IV of the World Language Content Standards for California Public School (Language Learning Continuum), with a concerted effort to encourage mastery of all standards identified as Stage I and II as well. Students will read with a critical and analytical focus; identify, describe and utilize a sophisticated literary and rhetorical forms and devices; conceive, write and edit cogent essays in the autobiographical, narrative, reflective, persuasive and technical modes; communicate in speech and writing with clarity, effective style and eloquence; demonstrate mastery of standard Spanish usage, spelling, punctuation and grammar; read at least 1000 pages per year outside of assigned class text to develop an extensive background in a diverse body of high quality literature; engage in intelligent discussion through active listening and constructive discourse; demonstrate tolerance for the points of view and beliefs of other people and cultures and demonstrate the highest level of personal and academic integrity.