WRITING PROMPT
Write a letter to the host family you are about to go stay with in Cuernavaca, Mexico. They will
want to know a lot about you since you will be spending the month of January living with them.
The more they know about you, the easier your transition to life with them will be. You will want
to mention many of the following things: introduce yourself, tell them about your interests,
where you’re from (describe your city, the weather, etc.), your family/friends and what you’d
like to do while you’re in Mexico. Make sure to ask them a question, or two, as well. (24 puntos)
RÚBRICA para ESCRIBIR
Exceeds Expectations
Meets Expectations
6 puntos
5 puntos
Does Not Meet
Expectations
4-0 puntos
Comprehensibili A native speaker would
ty
understand this letter.
A sympathetic native
Several parts would be
speaker would
difficult for a
understand this letter.
sympathetic native
speaker to understand.
Intercultural
Communicative
Competency
Demonstrated
Attempted to make
Did not attempt to
knowledge of the host
cultural connections
make any cultural
culture by making
between both cultures.
connections.
several cultural
connections between
both cultures.
Range of
Demonstrated a strong
Used a good range of
Vocabulary use was
Vocabulary
grasp of a large range
vocabulary to
barely enough to
of vocabulary.
communicate ideas but
communicate the
would have been even
message.
clearer with more
vocabulary.
Risk-Taking
Took risks in using
Took risks in using a
Played it very safe.
grammatical forms
range of vocabulary and
Used the very basics to
and/or vocabulary that
grammatical forms.
communicate message.
may not have been
Pablo Muirhead
muirheap@matc.edu
focused on in class.
Writing Prompt - Letter to exchange student
Imagínate que un estudiante mexicano vendrá a vivir en Milwaukee para estudiar en MATC por
un semestre. ¿Qué debe saber para prepararse para su experiencia? ¿Qué le recomiendas hacer
para que esté listo para su experiencia? Escríbele un correo electrónico presentándote y
explicándole todo lo que debe saber.
RÚBRICA para ESCRIBIR
Exceeds Expectations
Meets Expectations
10-9 puntos
8-7 puntos
Does Not Meet
Expectations
6-0 puntos
Comprehensibility A native speaker would
understand this letter.
A sympathetic native
Several parts would be
speaker would
difficult for a
understand this letter.
sympathetic native
speaker to understand.
Intercultural
Communicative
Competency
Demonstrated strong
Attempted to make
Did not attempt to
cross-cultural
cultural connections
make any cultural
awareness by making
between both cultures.
connections.
Demonstrated a strong
Used a good range of
Vocabulary use was
grasp of a large range
vocabulary to
barely enough to
of vocabulary and
communicate ideas but
communicate the
wrote about all of the
would have been even
message. Only wrote
themes listed.
clearer with more
about a couple of the
vocabulary. Wrote
themes.
several cultural
connections between
both cultures.
Range
about most of the
themes.
Pablo Muirhead
muirheap@matc.edu
Risk-Taking
Took risks in using
Took risks in using a
Played it very safe.
grammatical forms
range of vocabulary and Used the very basics to
and/or vocabulary that
grammatical forms.
communicate message.
may not have been
focused on in class.
Writing Prompt
EL CORREO ELECTRÓNICO DE MARIA (de la película María llena de gracia)
Take on the role of María and write an email home to your mother and sister in Colombia.
Remember that you are having cultural experiences with which they are unfamiliar. In your email,
make sure to help them understand by comparing and contrasting both your U.S. and your
Colombian experiences. Include the following information:
o
o
o
o
o
o
What the weather in December is like (compare and contrast),
What the people are like (compare and contrast),
What the food is like (compare and contrast),
What work is like (compare and contrast),
If you think they should come live with you in the U.S. or not,
What your hopes are for your immediate future (Espero que…).
Exceeds Expectations
Meets Expectations
10-9ntos
8-7untos
Does Not Meet
Expectations
6-0 puntos
Comprehensibility A native speaker would understand
this letter.
A sympathetic native speaker
Several parts would be
would understand this letter.
difficult for a sympathetic
native speaker to understand.
Range
Demonstrated a strong grasp of a
Used a good range of
Vocabulary use was barely
large range of vocabulary and
vocabulary to communicate
enough to communicate the
wrote about all of the themes
ideas but would have been even
message. Only wrote about a
listed.
clearer with more vocabulary.
couple of the themes.
Wrote about most of the
themes.
Risk-Taking
Pablo Muirhead
Took risks in using grammatical
Took risks in using a range of
Played it very safe. Used the
forms and/or vocabulary that may
vocabulary and grammatical
very basics to communicate
not have been focused on in class.
forms.
message.
muirheap@matc.edu
Intercultural
Communicative
Competency
Pablo Muirhead
Demonstrated strong cross-
Attempted to make cultural
Did not attempt to make any
cultural awareness by making
connections between both
cultural connections.
several cultural connections
cultures.
between both cultures.
muirheap@matc.edu