In this unit, High School Spanish language students learn about the history and geography of the Dominican Republic as well as the reasons for Dominican immigration to the United States in the 1960’s.

Objectives for this unit:
To identify the Dominican Republic on a map.

To use the internet or library to research the geography and history of the Dominican Republic.

To discuss patterns of immigration from the Dominican Republic to the United States.

To create a biographical sketch of Raphael Trujillo.

To read and discuss selected works by Julia Alvarez in order to appreciate the difficulties of an emigrant’s departure from the Dominican Republic, the problems she encountered as a new arrival in the United States, and the experience of assimilating into a new culture.

The following lesson plans are included in this unit:
1. Geography of the Dominican Republic
2. Visa for a dream
3. Biographical Sketch of El Generalíssimo Rafael Leónidas Trujillo
4. Julia Alvarez
5. A Portrait of El Generalíssimo Rafael Leónidas Trujillo
6. Our Papers
7. "Switching to Santicló"
8. "The Blood of the Conquistadores"
9. Learning English
10. The Gringa and the Dominican
11. Appendix: Grammar Correction Code

Assessment: Most of the lesson plans are assessed using rubrics from the Alternative Assessment Packet available from the PIER Resource Center.