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Spanish II—Semester A

¿Cómo se dice Shmoop en español?

  • Credit Recovery Enabled
  • Course Length: 18 weeks
  • Course Type: Basic
  • Category:
    • Foreign Language
    • Middle School
    • High School

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Shmoop's Spanish II course has been granted a-g certification, which means it has met the rigorous iNACOL Standards for Quality Online Courses and will now be honored as part of the requirements for admission into the University of California system.

What's the best way to spend the day? Is it going to an epic party? Scrolling through photos of cute puppies on social media? Publicly blasting Keeping Up with the Kardashians while secretly binge-watching every season?

If your answer is yes to any of the above, then this is the right course for you. It just so happens that the first semester of Spanish II is all about celebrations, technology, TV, and home decorating…en español. It's about disfrutando las cosas pequeñas in life, right?

Throughout the course, you'll build up your skills in Spanish by listening to Shmoop-made materials, making videos, engaging in dialogue IRL and on the discussion board, and preparing some sweet projects on everything from planning a party to inventing your own startup.

Along the way, you'll also

  • express opinions, desires, and doubts through the subjunctive.
  • use the conditional tense to talk about hypothetical situations.
  • compare life in the U.S. and in el mundo hispanohablante.
  • participate in discussions about cultural trends and products in Latin America.

And, uh, instead of spending your time watching Keeping Up with the Kardashians, can we suggest watching a telenovela instead? It's got all the drama and chisme…with actual plot.

Technology Requirements

  • Access to a recording device with sound and video, such as a smartphone or webcam
  • Access to an audio uploading service, like Vocaroo, and a video uploading service, like YouTube or Dropbox
  • Headphones to listen to Shmoop's audios and videos

Unit Breakdown

1 Spanish II—Semester A - Hogar, Dulce Hogar

There's no place like el hogar. In the first unit of Spanish II, you'll learn how to describe where you live, your furniture, and your dream house. Not to mention, your final project will be creating a video à la House Hunters—or as we like to call it, Cazadores de Casa.

2 Spanish II—Semester A - Es Tiempo de Celebrar

It's celebration time, 'cuz this unit is all about celebrating the important moments of our lives. Think: relationships, birthdays, weddings, quinceañeras, and cultural holidays. We for one can't wait to break out our sombreros de fiesta and papel picado.

3 Spanish II—Semester A - El Mundo de la Tecnología

Where would we be without the internet, smartphones, and social media? For one, you wouldn't be able to take this excellent Spanish II course online—which is the real tragedy here, arewerite? Whether you're a tech-savvy millennial or cranky Luddite, the 21st century world is all about advancing technology. By the end of this unit, you'll be able to explain your computer preferences, describe your technology habits, and give opinions on redes sociales. Just, uh, stay off Snapchat when you're actually doing this unit.

4 Spanish II—Semester A - La Televisión y el Cine

Get ready to talk about your favorite movies, watch telenovelas, and create a pitch for an original show. Oh, and we've even thrown in some historical context about the "golden ages" of Mexican and Argentine cinema for all you movie buffs out there. Who knows—maybe you'll find a new film to add to your Netflix queue?

Recommended prerequisites:

  • Spanish I—Semester A
  • Spanish I—Semester B

    • Sample Lesson - Introduction

    Lesson 4.07: Los Programas de Televisión

    A photograph of a TV remote
    This device has been the cause of many arguments en la casa de Shmoop.
    (Source)

    With the many, many, many, many, many different kinds of TV shows out there, you're sure to find something for the whole family.

    And sometimes, that's the problem.

    The thing is, with all the programas de televisión that are airing today, and with all the TV streaming services (like Netflix and Hulu), there comes an increased demand for, uh, watching TV. And if everyone in your household has gustos distintos, then you've probably had more than one battle for the remote.

    Still, even if la variedad de TV can make it hard to settle on a single show, it also gives us a lot to talk about—en inglés o español. In this lesson, we're going to take the opportunity to use all our Spanish knowledge to chat about different kinds of TV shows. Not only will it help us practice Spanish (obvs), but it'll also be a good opportunity to use el subjuntivo (your favorite verb mood).

    After all, we need to be able to talk about our feelings when we discuss our favorite TV shows… and the emotions we feel when our dad tries to change the channel on us for the sixth time in one night.

    (These emotions include, but aren't limited to: enojado, traicionado, y decepcionado.)

    Sample Lesson - Reading

    Reading 4.4.07a: Vocabulary

    We may not be able to diffuse fights over the remote, but we can equip you with the vocab you need to talk about your favorite shows. Not only will you be able to become a TV expert en español; you'll also be able to tell other people why your fave programs are so great.

    Who knows? You may become so persuasive that you can convince your entire family to watch the shows you pick.

    Take out your vocabulary notebooks and warm up your vocal chords—it's time to drill the following new terms:

    Nouns

    • el concurso (m): competition
      Plural: los concursos
      El concurso Master Chef Jr. tiene muchos niños talentosos.
      The competition Master Chef Jr. has many talented kids.
    • la serie (f): series
      Plural: las series
      La serie Game of Thrones tiene mucho incesto, ¿no?
      The series Game of Thrones has a lot of incest, no?
    • la telenovela (f): soap opera (traditionally Spanish-language, but can also be used as a translation word for English soaps)
      Plural: las telenovelas
      Mis abuelos quieren ver la telenovela Amor real conmigo.
      My grandparents want to watch the telenovela Amor real with me.
    • el programa educativo (m): educational program
      Plural: los programas educativos
      Reading Rainbow era mi programa educativo favorito cuando era niño.
      Reading Rainbow       was my favorite educational program when I was a kid.
    • el programa de… (m): program of/on…
      Plural: los programas de…
      El programa de PBS es muy informativo.
      The program on PBS is very informative.

    Adjectives

    • de dibujos animados: animated, of animated drawings
      Steven Universe es una serie de dibujos animados.
      Steven Universe is an animated series.
    • de entrevistas: of interviews
      Access Hollywood es un programa de entrevistas con muchas personas famosas.
      Access Hollywood       is an interview program with many famous people.
    • de la vida real: of reality, of real-life
      La serie Keeping Up with the Kardashians tiene situaciones de la vida real.
      The series Keeping Up with the Kardashians has real-life situations.
    • de noticias (el noticiero, las noticias): of news (the news)
      Dudo que los programas de Fox realmente sean de noticias.
      I doubt that the programs on Fox programs are actually news shows.
    • de deportes: of sports
      ESPN tiene muchos programas de deportes.
      ESPN has a lot of sports programs.

    Sample Lesson - Reading

    Reading 4.4.07b: Battle of the Remote (Audio)

    Today's audio features a classic problem: the family in the audio wants to watch TV together, but they just can't decide what to watch. Qué lástima.

    Listen to the audio to feel the ultra-relatable pain of el papá y sus hijas. We can't help them choose a program, but we can learn from their struggle. And that's all that matters, right?

    Battle of the Remote

    And so you have a better idea of who's who, you can follow along with this script:

    CLARA: Ay papá, no me gustan las telenovelas. ¿Por qué no lo cambias?

    PAPÁ: Pero mija, estamos viendo el episodio final de la serie. Es muy importante que lo veamos.

    DANIELA: Sí, papá, pero tú eres el único que quiere verlo.

    PAPÁ: ¿Es cierto?

    CLARA Y DANIELA: ¡Sí!

    PAPÁ: ¡Qué vergüenza! Entonces, puedo verlo en otro momento. ¿Qué quieren ver ustedes? A mí me gusta el drama, o un programa educativo como Plaza Sésamo.

    CLARA: ¡Ay, papá!

    DANIELA: Por favor, ¡no!

    PAPÁ: Ah, pues ¿qué? ¿Las noticias?

    DANIELA: Creo que las noticias son muy aburridos.

    CLARA: Y también los programas de entrevistas, como Oprah y Ellen.

    PAPÁ: Entonces ¿qué quieren ver?

    DANIELA: A mí me gustan los programas de telerrealidad, como Survivor, Big Brother, y Keeping Up With The Kardashians. Son muy graciosos.

    PAPÁ: ¿En serio?

    DANIELA: ¡Claro!

    CLARA: A mí me gustan ver los programas deportivos, especialmente fútbol. Aunque también me fascinan los programas de cocina en Food Network.

    PAPÁ: Quizás podemos llegar a un arreglo y encontrar un programa de telerrealidad y de cocina, que también es educativo y que tiene drama. A ver...¿quieren ver Chopped?

    CLARA Y DANIELA: ¡Perfecto!

    Sample Lesson - Activity

    Activity 4.07a: Different Strokes

    Our family in Reading 4.7b sure had a hard time deciding on something to watch. Why was that? What did each family member really want to watch?

    You're going to tell us right now. We've helpfully listed a bunch of TV show types below. We'd like you to write the name of a family member from Reading 4.7b in each box below, depending on what kind of show each family member said they were interested in.

    So, for example, if Ronaldo said he was interested in las telenovelas, you'd simply write "Ronaldo" in the first box.

    Yeah, we know there's no Ronaldo. We're just saying. If he did exist, we bet he'd be into telenovelas.

    1. la telenovela

      <em>María la del barrio</em> title card

      (Source)

    2. el programa de deportes

      Just two bros having a ball

      (Source)

    3. El programa de telerrealidad

      <em>Kourtney and Kim Take Miami</em> title card

      (Source)

    4. el programa de cocina

      Guy Fieri...

      (Source)

    5. el programa educativo

      Big Bird, Michelle Obama, and Billy Eichner

      (Source)

    6. el programa dramático

      <em>Breaking Bad</em> cast and crew; five white men

      (Source)

    Foreign Language: Oral Comprehension Rubric - 15 Points

    OutstandingProficientDevelopingNeeds Improvement
    Content Understanding

    Response is entirely accurate. Presentation reflects complete understanding of the content.

    (7)

    Response may contain minor errors. Presentation misses some content details.

    (5)

    Response contains significant errors. Presentation lacks major content points, but addresses the topic.

    (5)

    Response contains major errors or demonstrates significant misunderstanding of the content.

    (4)
    Language

    Language in response is clear and exceeds criteria. Speaks confidently with few pauses. No errors.

    (8)

    Language is clear and meets criteria. May contain spelling or grammatical errors. May occasionally pause or hesitate while speaking.

    (6)

    Language is occasionally unclear, but meaning is generally understandable. Contains frequent spelling/grammar errors that don't impede comprehension. Spoken language is often incorrect, with frequent pauses to search for vocabulary, but manages to express ideas

    (6)

    Language is very difficult to understand. Contains frequent spelling or grammar errors that impede comprehension. Spoken language is difficult to understand, with frequent lapses to native language or long pauses.

    (5)

    Sample Lesson - Activity

    Activity 4.07b: When Netflix Suggestions Fail…

    We live in an age where most streaming services will helpfully suggest what we should watch based on our streaming history. Nine times out of ten, they hit the nail on the head. We know we've found some of our favorite shows because of Netflix recs. How else would we have found Criminal Minds, or Law and Order: SVU, or Castle?

    Uh, yeah. Looks like we have a "type."

    Fortunately, so does each member of the family from Reading 4.7b. Today, you're going to do as Netflix does, and recommend TV programs for each family member, based on their preferences.

    Here's how you'll do it: in each box below, write one or two Spanish sentences for the family member listed. Your responses should

    • suggest a television program based on the family member's interest from the audio.
    • explain why you recommend it.

    Por ejemplo:

    Recomiendo que el papá de Clara y Daniela vea el programa dramático Game of Thrones porque depicta un cuento fantástico pero también muy crudo.

    If you haven't seen a single soap opera in your entire life, take to Google and do some research, because poor Papá still needs a suggestion.

    Try and vary your sentence structures, too. (Mamá didn't raise no robot, did she?) For example, don't just stick with the verbs "recomiendo" and "sugiero." What are other ways to suggest something?

    1. Papá: las telenovelas

    2. Papá: los programas dramáticos

    3. Papá: los programas educativos

    4. Clara: los programas deportivos, los programas de cocina

    5. Daniela: los programas de telerrealidad

    Foreign Language: Oral Comprehension Rubric - 15 Points

    OutstandingProficientDevelopingNeeds Improvement
    Content Understanding

    Response is entirely accurate. Presentation reflects complete understanding of the content.

    (7)

    Response may contain minor errors. Presentation misses some content details.

    (5)

    Response contains significant errors. Presentation lacks major content points, but addresses the topic.

    (5)

    Response contains major errors or demonstrates significant misunderstanding of the content.

    (4)
    Language

    Language in response is clear and exceeds criteria. Speaks confidently with few pauses. No errors.

    (8)

    Language is clear and meets criteria. May contain spelling or grammatical errors. May occasionally pause or hesitate while speaking.

    (6)

    Language is occasionally unclear, but meaning is generally understandable. Contains frequent spelling/grammar errors that don't impede comprehension. Spoken language is often incorrect, with frequent pauses to search for vocabulary, but manages to express ideas

    (6)

    Language is very difficult to understand. Contains frequent spelling or grammar errors that impede comprehension. Spoken language is difficult to understand, with frequent lapses to native language or long pauses.

    (5)

    Sample Lesson - Activity

    Activity 4.07c: Family Matters

    Watching TV with your family can be a great bonding experience… or a seriously annoying experience.

    We mean, we can't count the number of times we've been watching TV with our little brother, only to have him flick popcorn at us the entire time. And then our sister comes in and tries to grab the remote because there's some 1D Behind the Music thing on. And then our mom tells us to quit yelling at each other, and—

    Ahem. Sorry. We didn't mean to go off about our family's TV habits.

    Instead, we'd rather hear yours.

    For this activity, write a three-to-five sentence Spanish paragraph describing the television interests of you and two family members. Do you have the same tastes? Do you also fight over the TV? Put it all in writing.

    Here's an example of what someone might write:

    Mi hermana mayor, mi hermano menor y yo casi nunca podemos decidir qué mirar, pero no hay mucho problema porque cada uno de nosotros tiene un laptop o un iPad. Por lo general usamos Netflix, Hulu, o Amazon Video. Si tuviéramos sólo una televisión, sin duda nos pelearíamos porque no tenemos nada en común. A mi hermana mayor le gusta ver los programas de telerrealidad del estilo y la moda, como Say Yes to the Dress y What Not to Wear, y a mi hermano menor le gustan los programas deportivos. A mí me gustan el drama juvenil, la comedia y la ciencia ficción, como Teen Wolf y Adventure Time.

    Write your response in the box below.

    Foreign Language: Sustained Writing Rubric - 50 Points

    OutstandingProficientDevelopingNeeds Improvement
    Cultural Understanding

    Response demonstrates a complete understanding of the culture or product being studied. Presentation cites specific details.

    (14)

    Response meets the criteria and demonstrates some understanding of the culture or product being studied, but doesn't include specific details.

    (12)

    Response demonstrates only a basic understanding of culture or product being studied. May miss one or two criteria.

    (12)

    Response contains major errors or demonstrates significant misunderstanding of the culture or product studied.

    (11)
    Analysis

    Response demonstrates a sophisticated ability to describe the significance of cultural products or practices, or to draw connections to own culture.

    (11)

    Response demonstrates some ability to describe the significance of cultural products or practices, or to draw connections to own culture.

    (10)

    Response demonstrates a limited ability to describe the significance of cultural products or practices, or to draw connections to their own culture.

    (10)

    Response doesn't contain analysis or personal reflection.

    (9)
    Organization

    Writing is organized in a clear and coherent format, including a topic or thesis statement.(

    (14)

    Writing is fairly well organized, but may lack a clear topic or thesis statement.

    (12)

    Writing is poorly organized and doesn't follow a logical structure.

    (12)

    Lack of organization impedes understanding.

    (11)
    Language

    Language in response exceeds criteria. Sentence structure is varied. Details are highly specific and recount descriptions using a variety of tenses.

    (11)

    Language in response meets criteria. May contain spelling or grammatical errors. Some variance in sentence structure. Includes some specific details and recounts descriptions using a variety of tenses, with some errors.

    (10)

    Language is occasionally unclear, but meaning is generally understandable. Contains frequent spelling/grammar errors that don't impede comprehension. Relies on a simple sentence structure. Includes few descriptive details and relies on one or two tenses, with many errors.

    (10)

    Language is very difficult to understand. Contains frequent spelling or grammar errors that impede comprehension. Only uses simple sentence structure.

    (9)