Destinos (cont'd.) The story begins with a wealthy Mexican patriarch, nearing the end of his life, who reveals a secret he has kept from his family for years. Raquel Rodriguez, a Mexican-American lawyer, is hired to help him learn the answers to some important questions. Raquel's search takes her to Spain, Argentina, Puerto Rico, and back to Mexico, exposing students to the rich and diversified cultural context in which Spanish is spoken worldwide. The situation and context of each episode introduce students to the basic structures, language functions and vocabulary groups that are presented in the programs and resource materials. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES The average student who watches the series, uses the textbook and workbooks, and listens to the audiocassettes can expect to achieve the following goals: Understand most Spanish if spoken slower than normal pace, understand some Spanish spoken at a normal pace, and develop skills and coping strategies for filling in the gaps of imperfect comprehension Be able to ask and answer questions on a variety of everyday topics, describe people and places, narrate recurring (present) events, and achieve some ability in narrating past events Perform many daily routines such as making phone calls, greeting and departing, etc Read almost any simple material, and will have gained somer experience in reading materials written for the native-speaking reader Develop writing skills that enable them to describe and narrate in the present, and to some extend in the past Gain a wealth of cultural knowledge and awareness about the areas of the world in which Spanish is spoken Click for PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS FOR BOTH SEMESTERS