This assignment is required if you intend to take IB Spanish 4: Literature Focus or IB Spanish 4: Media Focus.

In order to prepare yourself for the level of reading that we expect of you in one of the IB Spanish 4 classes, you need to read, read, read. In addition to any personal reading you may do in Spanish, please understand the following directions for your required summer assignment.

Current students in Spanish 3 who meet the requisite grade of B to enter into a 4th year IB class:
Be sure to do assignments #1 and #2 listed below. You can expect to be tested on the information and vocabulary of "La Gorda de Porcelana" during the first week of September.

Current students in Spanish 3 who do not meet the requisite grade of B to enter into a 4th year IB class:
You will need to do personal work in Spanish over the summer in order to be eligible for the 4th year courses. Speak with your Spanish 3 teacher about what you need to focus on. You will take the Intensive Spanish 3 final examination on September 4, 2011, at 11:00 a.m., on second floor Bancroft.

Admission into either IB Spanish 4: Literature Focus or IB Spanish 4: Media Focus is dependent upon a grade of C on the above-mentioned Intensive Spanish 3 final examination.

Be sure to do assignments #1 and #2 listed below. You can expect to be tested on the information and vocabulary of "La Gorda de Porcelana" during the first week of September.

New students to George School expecting to place into IB Spanish 4: Literature Focus or IB Spanish 4: Media Focus:
Be sure to do assignments #1 and #2 listed below. You can expect to be tested on the information and vocabulary of "La Gorda de Porcelana" during the first week of September.

Assignment #1 

Choose five articles from Spanish-speaking newspapers or magazines, either online or hard copy. The length of each article should be a minimum of six paragraphs (not counting paragraphs of one or two sentences). Here is an example of the length:

http://www.elsiglo.com/mensual/2010/12/14/contenido/310978.asp.

Each article should be of a different topic. Human interest, politics, travel, science, education, or editorial are a few examples. Print or photocopy each article. Complete the provided worksheet which includes a list of five to ten key vocabulary words per article. Choose one that especially interests you. You will present it in class during the first week of school in September. Your teacher will tell you about the details of the presentation. In September, you will turn in to your teacher a folder with your five articles and your completed worksheets. Your teacher may use one of your articles in class for discussion or for an assignment.

Here are two websites that may help you locate your articles if you choose to do this online.

http://www.spanishnewyork.com/spanish-newspapers-in-spanish.html  
http://www.bbc.co.uk/mundo/

Here are two more websites which may help you with your vocabulary, culture, grammar, listening comprehension, and reading comprehension. 

http://www.colby.edu/~bknelson/SLC/index.php
http://zachary-jones.com/zambombazo (more pop culture based)

IB Spanish 4 Summer Assignment Worksheet

Assignment #2
To be completed if you have NOT yet read "La Gorda de Porcelana."

Read "La Gorda de Porcelana" by Isabel Allende, learn the vocabulary, and write the answers to the questions. Bring your answers to class on the first day of class.

La Gorda de Porcelana
ejercicios: La Gorda de Porcelana
vocabulario: La Gorda de Porcelana

If you should have any questions about this assignment, please contact Jane Dunlap, Head of the Language Department at jane_dunlap@georgeschool.org.