Beginning Spanish Language 1 (Lengua Española - Nivel Básico 1)

Beginning Spanish Language (Lengua Española. Nivel Básico)
6 ECTS

Note: Students may NOT be enrolled in any advanced-level Spanish courses. This course is for true beginners only.

Lengua Española. Nivel Básico

Overview:

The first basic course is aimed towards achieving level A1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. By completing this course, the student will be able to: - Start using the language to solve basic communication tasks, in class and in everyday situations. - Understand, interact and express themselves in these situations in oral and written standard Spanish. - Approach the most relevant social aspects of everyday life and recognize the most common ways of social interaction. - Acquire the necessary knowledge for those situations through practice. - Make the most of the initial motivation, search for opportunities to practice (including through social media, etc.) and train the use of strategies to improve communication and make learning easier.

Description of Course (subject to change): 

Unit 1:

• Introduce yourself.
• Questions to communicate.
• Gender. The three conjugations (-ar, -er, -ir). Verbs "ser", "llamarse", "tener".
• Numbers. Nationalities. Jobs. The Alphabet.

Unit 2 : 

• Expressing intentions. Explain the reasoning behind things. Talk about what we know how to do in different languages.
• Simple present. Prepositions ("a-con-de-por-para-porque"). Definite articles ("el-la-los-las"). Personal pronouns. Evaluate ("bien-bastante bien-regular-mal").
• Languages. Leisure activities

Unit 3: 

• Describe places. Express being and location. Talking about the weather.
• Uses of "Hay". The verb "Estar". The superlative. Indefinite Articles ("un-una-unos-unas"). Quantifiers ("muy-mucho-mucha-muchos-muchas"). Interrogative form ("qué-cuál/es-cuántos/as-dónde-cómo").
• The weather. Geography. Tourist destinations.

Unit 4: 

• Identify objects. Express needs. Buy at stores: ask for goods, prices, etc. Talk about preferences.
• Demonstrative pronouns ("este-esta-estos-estas"). "El-la-los-las" +adjective. "Qué" +noun. "Cuál/es". "Tener que" +infinitive. Verb "ir". Verb "preferir".
• Numbers over 100. Colors. Clothing items. Everyday objects.

Unit 5: 

• Talk about appearance and personality. Express and compare tastes and interests. Ask about tastes. Talk about relationships.
• The verb "gustar". Quantifiers ("muy, bastante, un poco"). Possessive pronouns. "También-tampoco".
• Family. Personality adjectives. Music.

Unit 6: 

• Talk about routines. Express frequency. Ask and give the time.
• The simple present of some irregular verbs. Reflexive verbs. "Yo también-Yo tampoco-Yo sí-Yo no". "Primero-después-luego".
• The days of the week. Times of the day. Daily activities.

Unit 7: 

• Bars and restaurants. Order and give information about food. Talk about eating habits.
• Impersonal form ("se"). Verbs "poner, traer".
• Meals throughout the day. Groceries. Cooking. Typical dishes in Spain and in the Hispanic world.

Unit 8: 

• Describe towns, neighborhoods and cities. Talk about what we like most in a place. Ask for and give directions. Express tastes and emphasize an aspect.
• Quantifiers ("algún, ningún, muchos"). Prepositions and location adverbs ("a-en-al lado de-lejos-cerca").
• Services and places in cities. Adjectives to describe a neighborhood.

Unit 9: 

• Talk about past experiences. Talk about skills and abilities. Talk about people's qualities and defects.
• Past tense. "Saber" +infinitive. "Poder" +infinitive.
• Frequency expressions. Personality adjectives.

Assessment System

• Midterm exams. There will be two or three tests throughout the course (30-35%).
• Final exam on the entire content of the course (55-60%).
• Homework, participation and attendance (10-15%).

Attendance policy for SAP courses:
Daily attendance  and active participation is required. To justify any missed classes the student will have to submit their grounds to the Carlos III International School through the student's program coordinator.

Unjustified absences:

Missing class once without justification subtracts 0.3 from the final grade.
Missing class twice without justification subtracts 0.5 from the final grade.
Missing class three times without justification means failing the course.