Spanish Language &
Culture Study Library.

Family structures and roles across cultures · Intergenerational relationships and obligations · Community and social networks · Gender roles within family units · Immigration and its effect on family dynamics · Concept of extended family in Spanish-speaking communities · Changing family structures in contemporary society

Bilingualism and multilingualism as identity markers · Code-switching and its social functions · Language endangerment and preservation efforts · Cultural assimilation vs. cultural retention among immigrants · National identity and linguistic diversity in Spanish-speaking nations · Indigenous languages and their relationship to Spanish · Personal and public identity formation through language

Cultural and social standards of beauty across Spanish-speaking regions · Visual arts, literature, music, and architecture as cultural expression · The role of art in reflecting and shaping social values · Fashion, media, and commercial aesthetics · Muralism and public art as political commentary (e.g., Diego Rivera, street art movements) · Traditional vs. contemporary artistic forms · Aesthetic ideals and their evolution over time

Digital communication and social media in Spanish-speaking societies · Access to technology and the digital divide · Medical advances and public health in Latin America and Spain · Biotechnology and ethical debates (GMOs, genetic research) · Technology and education: online learning, digital literacy · Environmental technology and sustainable innovation · Science communication in Spanish-language media

Economic inequality and social mobility in Latin America and Spain · Healthcare access and public health systems · Education quality and access across socioeconomic groups · Housing, urbanization, and rural migration · Work-life balance and labor rights · Mental health awareness and stigma in Hispanic cultures · The role of government and civil society in improving living standards

Climate change and environmental policy in Spanish-speaking nations · Deforestation, water scarcity, and biodiversity loss in Latin America · Political movements and civic participation · Migration driven by environmental or political factors · Social protest, activism, and grassroots organizing · International agreements and their impact on Spanish-speaking countries · Urban environmental challenges: pollution, waste, sustainable cities

Interpersonal writing mode (Section IIA Task 1) · Formal vs. informal register calibration (usted/tú, Estimado/a vs. Querido/a) · Salutation and closing conventions in Spanish correspondence · Addressing all questions and requests in the prompt (one-to-one mapping) · Including at least one relevant follow-up question · Culturally appropriate tone and pragmatic competence · Coherent prose paragraphing (not bullet points) · Time management: 15 minutes total

Presentational writing mode (Section IIA Task 2) · Thesis formulation: clear, debatable claim in the opening paragraph · Three-source integration: print article + visual/data source + audio clip (all three required) · Source citation conventions in Spanish (Según la fuente número uno…, El gráfico muestra que…, De acuerdo con el audio…) · Sustained argumentation vs. source summary · Advanced grammatical structures: subjunctive, conditional, passive voice (se construyó), conditional perfect · Discourse markers and transitions: no obstante, por lo tanto, sin embargo, cabe destacar que, en contraste · Time management: 15 min source review + 40 min writing

Interpersonal speaking mode (Section IIB Task 3) · Five-exchange scripted conversation structure · 20-second response window per turn · Responding to all parts of each exchange prompt · Register matching: formal or informal as established by the conversation context · Spontaneous language production under time pressure · Natural use of fillers and discourse management (bueno, pues, o sea, es que…) · Digital audio recording via College Board DAS portal

Presentational speaking mode (Section IIB Task 4) · 4-minute preparation + 2-minute recorded presentation · Naming a specific Spanish-speaking community (country + region if possible) · Structured comparison: introduction, similarity/difference 1, similarity/difference 2, conclusion · Comparison linking language: A diferencia de…, Al igual que…, En contraste con…, Mientras que…, De manera similar… · Demonstrating substantive cultural knowledge, not stereotypes · Connecting comparison to a specific cultural practice, belief, or value · Digital audio recording via College Board DAS portal