An introduction to conversational Spanish, in which the linguistic and communicative contents of each course are based on three criteria: a) grammar, b) oral and written expression and comprehension, and c) cultural context. The specific content will be chosen based on usefulness and frequency in everyday communication, especially in a university-level academic setting.
Prerequisites:
None
Learning outcomes:
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
Communicative Outcomes:
Introduce themselves and other people; use formal and informal greetings; give information about themselves
Ask simple questions; give instructions/commands; express likes/dislikes; solicit opinions; ask for help in a specific situation; ask for directions; make comparisons
Express obligations and prohibitions; invite, accept and reject invitations;
Express mood, behavior, appearance; talk about the city, means of transportation, etc
Converse slowly and clearly with a native speaker
Grammar Outcomes:
Know the Spanish alphabet; general phonetics and pronunciation; numbers; tell time
Use personal pronouns; formal/informal second person pronouns (vos or Usted); direct and indirect object pronouns;
Conjugate regular –ar/-er/-ir and common reflexive verbs in the present tense; conjugate common irregular verbs in the present tense; express future and plans using verbal phrases; conjugate the basic subjunctive
Understand ser and estar
Use interrogative vocabulary: quién, qué, cuándo, por qué, dónde, cómo.
Manage vocabulary for countries, nationalities, jobs, food, drink
Lectures will be supplemented with activities and exercises, such as role plays and field studies, designed to actively involve the students in the use of language. Assignments on grammar and vocabulary, quizzes, authentic reading materials, and weekly written and oral assignments will be a regular part of the course as well. Students will complete 3 research projects, a midterm and a final examination.
Required work and form of assessment:
10% Participation
10% Daily Homework
10% Quizzes
10% Research Project 1
10% Research Project 2
10% Research Project 3
20% Midterm exam
20% Final exam
An 80% attendance is required.
content:
(This weekly schedule may be subject to change)
Week 1
Communication: Filling out a form with personal info.
Grammar: The Alphabet. Spanish sounds. Numbers. Present Tense: regular conjugations.
Culture: Countries and nationalities.
Week 2
Communication: Newspapers.
Grammar: The time. Daily routine. Irregular verbs: poder, acostarse, volver. Days of the week, months, seasons.
Culture: differences between Argentine and American youth.
Week 3
Communication: Expressing likes.
Grammar: Verbs: gustar, haber, estar. Irregular verbs: querer, perder, pensar. Adjectives. Food and drinks.
Culture: At the restaurant.
Week 4
Communication: Giving orders. Expressing obligations and prohibitions.
Grammar: The Imperative. Main characteristics and uses. Typical examples.
Culture: Cultural differences - the do’s and don’ts in Buenos Aires.
Week 5 PRESENTATION OF PROJECT 1
(Interview of a Porteño)
Week 6
Communication: Making Invitations
Grammar: Future tense using verb phrases.
Culture: Buenos Aires cultural offering: playhouses, cafés, art exhibitions, etc. MID-TERM EXAM
Week 7
Communication: Talking about an experience. Description.
Grammar: specific vocabulary: means of transportation, the city, objective pronouns
Verbs: Ir and Venir
Culture: Traveling in the city.
Week 8
Communication: Watching an Argentine film
Grammar: Verbal phrases to express future and plans (ir+a+infinitive; pensar+infinitive).
Verb paradigm: the imperfect tense.
Culture: differences within the Spanish language (accents and dialects).
Week 9
Communication: Expressing emotions, wishes and desire.
Grammar: The subjunctive. Basic uses.
Culture: Living with an Argentinean family/Living in a Residence Hall
Week 10 PRESENTATION OF PROJECT 2
(Theme: city/country, students will present on a chosen topic (a museum, food and drink, parks, art, a TV show, traditions, soccer, etc.))
Week 11
Communication: expressing desires, likes, state of being. Giving advice. Talking about past experiences.
Grammar: The negative imperative. Prepositions of place.
Week 12
REVIEW
Week 13 PRESENTATION OF PROJECT 3
(Presentation of a cultural topic of the students’ choice—ex. something learned in a field-study, IES Abroad trip, another IES Abroad course, cultural activity, etc)
Week 14 FINAL
Required readings:
Reading materials are chosen according to Spanish level: signs, magazines and newspaper articles, short stories, reviews, biographies, manuals, poems, lyrics, recipes, papers, short novels, etc.
Beginning Spanish
An introduction to conversational Spanish, in which the linguistic and communicative contents of each course are based on three criteria: a) grammar, b) oral and written expression and comprehension, and c) cultural context. The specific content will be chosen based on usefulness and frequency in everyday communication, especially in a university-level academic setting.
None
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
Communicative Outcomes:
Grammar Outcomes:
Lectures will be supplemented with activities and exercises, such as role plays and field studies, designed to actively involve the students in the use of language. Assignments on grammar and vocabulary, quizzes, authentic reading materials, and weekly written and oral assignments will be a regular part of the course as well. Students will complete 3 research projects, a midterm and a final examination.
10% Participation
10% Daily Homework
10% Quizzes
10% Research Project 1
10% Research Project 2
10% Research Project 3
20% Midterm exam
20% Final exam
An 80% attendance is required.
(This weekly schedule may be subject to change)
Week 1
Communication: Filling out a form with personal info.
Grammar: The Alphabet. Spanish sounds. Numbers. Present Tense: regular conjugations.
Culture: Countries and nationalities.
Week 2
Communication: Newspapers.
Grammar: The time. Daily routine. Irregular verbs: poder, acostarse, volver. Days of the week, months, seasons.
Culture: differences between Argentine and American youth.
Week 3
Communication: Expressing likes.
Grammar: Verbs: gustar, haber, estar. Irregular verbs: querer, perder, pensar. Adjectives. Food and drinks.
Culture: At the restaurant.
Week 4
Communication: Giving orders. Expressing obligations and prohibitions.
Grammar: The Imperative. Main characteristics and uses. Typical examples.
Culture: Cultural differences - the do’s and don’ts in Buenos Aires.
Week 5
PRESENTATION OF PROJECT 1
(Interview of a Porteño)
Week 6
Communication: Making Invitations
Grammar: Future tense using verb phrases.
Culture: Buenos Aires cultural offering: playhouses, cafés, art exhibitions, etc.
MID-TERM EXAM
Week 7
Communication: Talking about an experience. Description.
Grammar: specific vocabulary: means of transportation, the city, objective pronouns
Verbs: Ir and Venir
Culture: Traveling in the city.
Week 8
Communication: Watching an Argentine film
Grammar: Verbal phrases to express future and plans (ir+a+infinitive; pensar+infinitive).
Verb paradigm: the imperfect tense.
Culture: differences within the Spanish language (accents and dialects).
Week 9
Communication: Expressing emotions, wishes and desire.
Grammar: The subjunctive. Basic uses.
Culture: Living with an Argentinean family/Living in a Residence Hall
Week 10
PRESENTATION OF PROJECT 2
(Theme: city/country, students will present on a chosen topic (a museum, food and drink, parks, art, a TV show, traditions, soccer, etc.))
Week 11
Communication: expressing desires, likes, state of being. Giving advice. Talking about past experiences.
Grammar: The negative imperative. Prepositions of place.
Week 12
REVIEW
Week 13
PRESENTATION OF PROJECT 3
(Presentation of a cultural topic of the students’ choice—ex. something learned in a field-study, IES Abroad trip, another IES Abroad course, cultural activity, etc)
Week 14
FINAL
Reading materials are chosen according to Spanish level: signs, magazines and newspaper articles, short stories, reviews, biographies, manuals, poems, lyrics, recipes, papers, short novels, etc.