SPANISH 104G Beginners Spanish 1
This course is for students who have no previous knowledge of the Spanish language, that is, true beginners. It helps them acquire basic linguistic structures and develop conversational competence. The four language skills ―speaking, listening, reading, and writing― and knowledge of the cultures and traditions of Spain and Spanish America are integrated into the four class hours per week. Language learning is reinforced through in-class practice, audio-visual activities, aural and reading comprehensions, homework assignments, and independent work using a richly populated course website. Attendance at all lectures is strongly recommended in order to benefit from interactive activities which help develop communicative skills and ensure steady progress.
There is extensive exposure to Spanish in class so that students become acquainted with its sounds and rhythm and start building the vocabulary and grammar they need to express themselves in this language. We begin by learning how to greet people, introduce ourselves, and provide basic personal information such as occupation, nationality, and phone number. We journey through the Spanish-speaking world to discover how to talk about locations (e.g. the city and house where we live and the place where we work) and how to give and ask for directions to go from one place to another. We then learn to talk about the food we like and how to order it at a restaurant, how to describe the physical appearance of people as well as their personality, and to narrate the activities of our daily routine. Lastly, we learn how to shop for food and clothing and to describe what people are wearing.
Class activities include interaction in pairs, small groups, or with the whole class. Regular, active participation is therefore expected in class, and must be accompanied by a clear commitment to independent learning and preparation. As a Blended Learning course, students are expected to work independently with specifically designed online lessons on a weekly basis.
Restriction: SPANISH 107. May not be taken if a more advanced language acquisition course in this subject has previously been passed.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Communicate in interactive tasks in Spanish.
- Communicate accurately in basic Spanish.
- Learn and understand the cultural diversity and richness of the Hispanic world.