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Proficiency-Oriented Language Instruction and Assessment:
A Curriculum Handbook for Teachers



POLIA HandbookTasks and Units

Negotiated Interaction

Task/Unit

Theme

Language

Level

File Size

What Keeps Me Busy? Education Any Novice-High 81 kb
Inside/Outside Circles Social Activities & Cultural Practices Any Inter-Low 93 kb
Senegal by Numbers Cultural Context French Inter-Low 260 kb
Strategic Interaction Social Activities & Cultural Practice Any Inter-Low 94 kb
Wedding Reception Interpersonal Relationship Any Inter-Low/Mid 327 kb
Four Corners Cultural Context Any Inter-Low/Mid 119 kb

From Comprehension to Interpretation

Task/Unit

Theme

Language

Level

File Size

Magazine Scanning Leisure Any Novice-Low/Mid 220 kb
¡Así es la vida! Self Spanish Novice-High 278 kb
"Cómo se come una guayaba" Basic Need Spanish Novice-High 99 kb
Your Passport to the World Cultural Context French Novice-High 66 kb
Evelyn's Room Basic Need German Novice-High 331 kb
Sing-Along and More Leisure: Music Spanish Novice-High 102 kb
Reading Recipes Basic Need French Novice-High 146 kb
Match the Headlines Any German Novice-High to Inter-Low 146 kb
Answering Machine Social Activities Any Inter-Low 115 kb
House Hunt Basic Need Any Inter-Low 252 kb
The Yellow Pages Cultural Contex Spanish Inter-Low 89 kb
McDonald's Survey Social Activities & Cultural Practice Spanish Inter-Low 104 kb
Obituaries Cultural Practice Spanish/German Inter-Low 364 kb
Exploring the Metro Cultural Practice Any Inter-Mid/High 218 kb

From Presentation To Creation

Task/Unit

Theme

Language

Level

File Size

Animals of the World Cultural Context Any Novice-High 263 kb
My Favorite Recipe Basic Need Any Novice-High 182 kb
Fables Through Comics Leisure: Literature German Novice-High 110 kb
Market a Movie Leisure: Film French Novice-High 85 kb
Tic-Tac-Toe Story Grids Any Any Novice-High 132 kb
Lets Go to Costa Rica Cultural Context Spanish Inter-Low 141 kb
Show and Tell Cultural Context Any Inter-Low 133 kb
Guess Who? Self Any Inter-Low 207 kb
Creating Children's Literature Leisure: Literature Any Inter-Low/Mid 99 kb
Campaign Graffiti Responsibilities Any Inter-Low/Mid 153 kb
Circumlocution Any Any Inter-Mid 164 kb
Newscast Leisure Any Inter-High 186 kb

Critical Explorations

Task/Unit

Theme

Language

Level

File Size

TV Commercials Cultural Identities Spanish Novice-High 95 kb
Interpreting the Message of a Song Leisure: Music Spanish Novice-High 300 kb
L'Escalavage au Sénégal: L'lle de Gorée Cultural Context French Inter-Low 161 kb
Gender Roles in Textbooks Interp. Relationship Spanish Inter-Low 123 kb
Dialogue Poems Cultural Context Any Inter-Mid 261 kb
Soul of Senegal Cultural Identities French Inter-Mid 122 kb
Celebrating the Day of the Dead Cultural Practices Spanish Inter-Mid/High 330 kb
Migrant Workers Cultural Identities Spanish Inter-High 680 kb
Las Jóvenes Maquiladoras Responsibilities Spanish Inter-High/Adv 166 kb

Thematic Units

Task/Unit

Theme

Language

Level

File Size

Los Maya y El Norte Cultural Identities Spanish Novice-High 130 kb
Le Baccalauréat Francais Education French Inter-Low 536 kb
Music of Senegal Leisure: Music French Inter-Low 184 kb
Gender Roles Interp. Relationships German Inter-Low 459 kb


A Note on Copyright

Multiple copies of the supplementary materials that accompany the tasks and units (e.g., the authentic texts, song lyrics, handouts and exercises, peer review forms, rubrics for assessment, etc.) can be made for classroom use—in fact, we encourage it! The other materials in the Handbook (e.g., task and unit descriptions, preliminary section that focuses on standards, philosophies and assessment procedures, etc.) are protected by copyright. Permission to copy these materials must be obtained by the Regents of the University of Minnesota and can be sought through the CARLA office. Copyright permission for other materials in the Handbook must be obtained by contacting the respective copyright owners.


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