by Laura Jarman
This WebQuest was designed for students to become familiar with an issue of importance to the Spanish-speaking community: immigration. Spanish skills are not required to complete this WebQuest.
Introduction
Imagine that your life as you know it is does not exist. You have no Ipod, no computer, no cell phone, not even new clothes. In fact, you have never bought clothes your entire life; your mother has had to sew them for you. You live in a house that is made of wood scraps. You have no running water or heat. You don't go to school. Instead you work in the fields with your family from sun-up to sun-down, 12 hours a day.
This is the life of thousands of people in Mexico, Cuba, El Salvador and countries all over the world. But you have hope...
Your family has saved cents a day for six years so that they can start a new life in a new country. In this new country, there are lots of jobs, and if people work hard enough, they can have a better life than what you have lived.
But there is a problem. The journey to this new country is long and dangerous, and many people don't want you there. Until you can become legal, you are an illegal person in this new country. At any time, you could be arrested and send back to your home country and back to your old life. Why is it like this?
This is the debate of immigration. This topic is controversial, very present in the media, and very relevant to the Spanish-speaking population of the United States. Many were immigrants to the U.S. and/or have family in Latin countries.
In this project, you will research and learn about different perspectives in the immigration debate and develop a policy recommendation to address the issues of the problem.
You will look at the topic of immigration in a new way with a deeper understanding of its complications and importance.
