Cultural Adventures
Ideas for French, German, Japanese & Spanish
All Cultural Adventure activities must have a clear connection to a culture where the
language is spoken. The goal is to use the target language as much as possible when
completing these projects.
Cultural Connection Adventures
If you are interested in art, music or theater. . . .
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Learn a song in the target language and perform or record it—approval
required. (10)
Compose your own song including lyrics and perform. (10)
Research an art form unique to the culture. (20)
Learn and perform a dance from the target culture—approval required. (10)
Create a painting or sculpture in the style of a certain artist and explain the
significance of the work. (20)
Visit a major art museum on the internet, see galleries from several time
periods. (10)
Create an artistic, creative map of a country where the language is spoken. (10)
Visit an art museum and focus on items from the target culture. (10)
Build a scale model of a famous monument. (10)
Visit a music store, listen to selections of music and summarize your
impressions. (10)
Research a musician and his/her work. (20)
Research an artist and his/her work. (20)
Research a period of music. (20)
Research a period of art. (20)
Attend a concert or performance. (10)
Study masks and create a mask that relates to a culture being studied. (10)
Create something that represents folk art from the target culture. (10)
Design an original flag, research the design on the flag, country must be
approved in advance. (10)
Dress as someone from the target culture and introduce yourself. (10)
Visit a large DVD store or an internet site for movies, find 10-12 films done in the
target language. Who are the actors/actresses, what are the themes for the films.
(10)
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Shop a target language music club on the Internet. Investigate and report on
artists from the target culture. (10)
Shop Amazon. com on the Internet. Investigate and report on authors from the
target cultures. (10)
If you are interested in literature or creative writing. . .
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Write a poem. (10)
Dress as a historical figure and and talk about your life. (10)
Do a dramatic reading from a children’s book. (10)
Memorize and recite a poem. (10)
Write and illustrate a children’s book that can be shared with children in
in an ESL or elementary program. (20)
Read headline news in the target language and summarize the information. (10)
Read a children’s book in the target language and convey the story in another
format. (20)
Read a one-page article, underline all cognates and provide a summary. (10)
Research a well-known author, read excerpts from several works. (20)
Read an article about the target culture in National Geographic, include your
reaction to the article. (10)
Create an authentic cartoon, comic strip. (10)
Write and perform a mini play that is based on cultural differences. (10)
If you are interested in history or geography. . .
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Follow a news story for several days that relates to the target culture. (10)
Identify a famous American with background in the culture. (10)
Create a map that highlights the influence of the target culture on the United
States. (20)
Research a famous person (not an artist or musician) from the target culture. (20)
Create a project that focuses on geography and ethnic diversity. (10)
Watch a documentary about a historical figure or event. (10)
Follow and explain the currency exchange rate of the target culture over a period
of time. (10)
Create a time line showing where the history of another country and the US
intersect. (10)
Research businesses in Indiana that have connections to other countries. (20)
Research products exported by Indiana businesses. (20)
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Watch a news program in English and in the target language on the same day,
compare similarities and differences. (10)
Research foreign money, identify who is on a coin and bill and explain why. (10)
Research the pro’s and con’s of NAFTA. (20)
Research the EEC in Europe. (20)
Research the origins of a little known holiday, determine if a similar holiday
exists in the US. (10)
Use target language sites on the internet to research another country.(20)
If you are interested in daily life. . .
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Prepare an authentic dish for friends or family, include recipe. (10)
Plan a gourmet meal for your family, include recipes and shopping lists. (10)
Prepare a complete, authentic meal for your family; include recipes, video of
food preparation, background music selected and menu. (20)
Make a cookbook of international recipes from target language countries. (20)
Translate a recipe from the target language to English. (10)
Collect food labels that have the target language and make a collage. (10)
Take a cooking lesson that focuses on the target culture. (10)
Research a cooking school on the Internet, where could you study, what are the
requirements of a program. (10)
Research the cuisine of a country where the language is spoken, what seasonings
and ingredients are most commonly used. (20)
Sample and critique cheeses from various countries. (10)
Watch a TV program in the target language, identify key words. (10)
Watch a soap opera in the target language, summarize the plot. (10)
Watch a feature film on TV or video in the target language and relate the
storyline. (10)
Watch a documentary on a country where the language is spoken. (10)
Record commercials in the target language, report on cultural differences. (10)
Listen to a radio broadcast in the target language. (10)
Research a sport that is played in the target culture. (10)
Access weather forecast on the web for one week and create a vocabulary list of
weather terms. (10)
Cultural Community Adventures
If you are interested in careers that might incorporate a second language. .
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Research careers that require an ability to speak the second language. (10)
Interview a person who uses a second language in their career. (10)
Investigate on the Internet three different university programs that offer study
abroad, compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of each
program. (10)
Research a major in a second language at a university, what classes must you
take, what exams, etc. (10)
Look at the classified ads for jobs requiring a second language in a Sunday
paper or at an online job site, collect 10 ads, investigate 2 of the positions by
calling or writing the companies. (10)
Investigate possibilities of assisting with work on archaeological digs. (10)
If you are interested in experiencing the target culture in your
community . . .
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Eat at an authentic restaurant, report on your experience. (10)
Visit Trader Joes or any other supermarket with an international selection, report
on 12 foreign foods from countries that speak the language, buy and taste a
couple of inexpensive snacks. (10)
Visit a market which specializes in foods from the target culture—approval
required. (10)
Write to a tourist office in another country for information. (10)
Visit a historical monument/area that has connections to the target language/
culture. (10)
Visit an outdoor market—teacher approval required. (10)
Research a branch of your family tree in a foreign country. (10)
Research the influence that the target language/culture has had in an area in
Indiana. (10)
Attend a church service in the target language. (10)
Contact an organization that focuses on the target language in the local
community, find out what type of activities they offer. (10)
Attend a festival that focuses on the target culture. (10)
Attend a foreign language film —must have parental approval in advance of
doing the activity. (10)
If you are interested in speaking with others. . .
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Interview a chef in an ethnic restaurant, what training was involved in the
position. (10)
Interview athletes from the target culture. (10)
Interview others who have traveled to other countries where the target
language is spoken. (10)
Visit an area where the language is spoken and engage others in
conversation. (20)
Interview an exchange student. (10)
Interview a native speaker. (20)
Interview a recent immigrant to this country. (20)
Arrange for a guest speaker for your class. (10)
Begin a pen pal/epal exchange, parental permission required, go to <www.pen
pal.net>. (10)
Tutor another student using the target language. (10)
Volunteer with an organization where you can use your language. (20)
Volunteer to teach English for a local ESL program. (20)
Help translate for someone who doesn’t speak English. (10)
Visit an international grocery store and interview someone in the store. (10)
Spend 30 minutes in an internet chat room that is in the target language, print
copies of the “chat” and highlight your lines, must have parent permission in
advance of doing the activity. (10)
Take part in an exchange program. (20)
Host an exchange student from another culture. (20)
Teach a younger sibling, parent or other family member to speak the target.
language, provide proof that learning has occurred. (20)
Other activities....Secure approval first.
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The points will depend on the quality of your work, time spent, and
evidence of the project or experience carried out. You may work with a
partner on many of the projects, but the points will be split/shared unless
the product and amount of time spent is clearly greater in scope.