The Jesuit Missions / A Bilingual Country; 2 content-based units - Intermediate 2

Two content-based units about a seldom studied yet fascinating country, Paraguay. Please preview.

Teachers think that because they know little about Paraguay, they should stick to Mexico and Spain. But Paraguay is such an interesting country and the story of the Jesuit missions is unique. All the information the teacher needs is included! Live and learn! The Jesuits and a bilingual country! Interesting materials, content-based and culturally relevant.

Unit 1. Treinta comunidades utópicas, los jesuitas en el Paraguay

The experiment the Jesuit priests conducted in Paraguay is unique. They built small towns to protect and evagelize the indigenous people but essentially kept them trapped. How they organized each community is similar to the cults that exist in our days and comparisons are easy to make. The movie, The Mission, is an oldie but a real goodie. Green eggs and ham! Try it, you´ll like it!

Unit includes:

Subject matter: history, religion

Vocabulary: conquest

Grammar: por and para; preterit

Oral practice: paternalism, theocracy

Homework: a religious community

Internet: Key word list to facilitate a search

Answer key

Unit 2. Paraguay, un país bilingüe

The only truly bilingual country in the South America is Paraguay. Here most citizens are bilingual and have been so for generations. Whereas countries like Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador have very large quechua and aymara speaking populations, they have never held them in high esteem nor encouraged these languages to flourish. What makes Paraguay so different? Here is the place to find out.

Units include:

Subject matter: linguistics

Vocabulary: school

Grammar: conditional

Oral practice: repress a language, proper time to learn a language

Homework: learn a language

Internet: Key word list to facilitate a search

Answer key