Going to America for a vacation!

Introduction

You are French, live in Paris and have studied English for a year.

Now you can speak the English language fluently.

It is time for a well-deserved vacation to the United States of America.
You would like to have your American friend who has been learning French in Paris to go with you on this 10-day trip to the US. You want to research and discuss your ideas with your friend. You are considering three activities/destinations; an "entertainment/shopping vacation" in New York City, a "cultural/sight seeing trip" to Washington, DC or a "beach/relaxing time" in Miami. You have $4,000 to spend for this trip.
An entertainment/shopping vacation in NYC
A cultural/sight seeing trip to WDC
A beach/relaxing time in Miami
So, get ready to plan the best vacation you will ever have. 

Task

Research on-line and find out more about the Manhattan area in NYC, the National Mall area in WDC and the South Beach area in Miami. Select a destination from one of these three cities.
Shop on-line for an appropriate transportation with a reasonable cost within your budget.

Find out about hotels or rental properties in NYC, WDC and Miami and select the appropriate accommodations within your budget..

Review the attractions, sight seeing sites, and other activities in each city and create an itinerary.

Check NYC, WDC and Miami public transportation systems and select the best public transportation from your arrival point to your accomodation.

Meet with your friend and discuss all the information you have gathered. Come up with suggestions, pros/cons, discuss your itinerary, and make a decision together. (Role Play).

Process

Watch these brief video clips to get an idea about:

See a short video clip about Times Square, NYC

See more details about New Yor City

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjnhnCsoUso&feature=youtu.be align:center]

See a short video clip about National Mall, WDC

See more details about Washington, DC

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dilTLvbHxc&feature=youtu.be align:center]

See a short video clip about South Beach, Miami

See more details about Miami

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58iT2L4VQj4&feature=youtu.be align:center]

Shop on-line for an appropriate transportation with a reasonable cost within your budget.
Check some hotel or rental apartments in NYC, WDC and Miami.
Check NYC Subway, WDC Metro and Miami Transit and read their information about routes, schedules and fares.

Now, it is time to meet with your friend and discuss all the information you have gathered. Come up with suggestions, pros/cons, discuss your itinerary, and make a decision together. (Role Play). 

Evaluation

Your assessment will be based on how well you presented your information. Instructors will be using this Presentation Rubric to 
evaluate your three skills (Speaking, Listening and Reading).

SUPERIOR GOOD FAIR NEEDS WORK
TASK COMPLETION Task completed properly and effectively, including a sufficient level of detail and flexibility.  Task completed adequately, but the performance lacked some detail and flexibility.  Task partially completed, but provided an insufficient level of consistency to succeed in the task.  Task failed, providing little or no completion of the task.
ELABORATION Clear, detailed descriptions on subjects related to the task are ample to successful performance. Constructing a chain of reasoned argument occasionally contributes to successful performance.  Clear, some detailed descriptions on subjects related to the task are adequate to successful performance. Constructing a chain of reasoned argument occasionally contributes to successful performance.  Descriptions and arguments on subjects related to the task occasionally contribute to succesful performance.  Descriptions and arguments on subjects related to the task seldom contribute to successful performance. 
DELIVERY Natural pace and flow with minimal hesitation or repetition contribute to successful performance.  Smooth pace and flow with occasional hesitation or repetition sometimes hinder task performance.  Unnatural pace and flow cause frequent failure to perform task.  Labored expressions with hesitations generally cause failure of task performance. 
VOCABULARY Full and accurate use and comprehension of target vocabulary and expressions promotes successful performance.  Sporadic errors in use and comprehension of target vocabulary and expressions sometimes obstruct task performance.  Errors in use and comprehension of target vocabulary and expressions often interferes with task performance.  Insufficient and inaccurate use and comprehension of target vocabulary and expressions generally interfere with task performance. 
GRAMMAR  Accurate use and comprehension of target grammatical structures with minimal or no errors contributes to successful performance.  Sporadic errors in use and comprehension of target grammatical structures sometimes impede task performance.  Errors in use and comprehension of target grammatical structures often interrupt task performance.  Limitations in use and comprehension of target grammatical structures frequently cause failure of task performance. 
LISTENING COMPREHENSION Full and accurate comprehension of the central points and important details facilitate successful performance.  Sporadic errors in comprehensionof the central points and important details sometimes impede task performance.  Inaccurate comprehension of the central points and some details often interfere with task performance.  Very limited comprehension of the central points generally interrupts task performance. 
READING COMPREHENSION Fully comprehends the central points, supporting details and some implications throughout the reading activity.  Comprehends central points and some details, but errors in comprehension of implications may occur.  Recognizes topics and partially comprehends the central points, but fails to capture any details.  Comprehends the literal focus of reading, but fails to recognize the topics.