Course Syllabi – Spanish classes
Spring 2017
Course details:
 Mondays, 6:30-8:30 pm
 January 23 – April 3, 2017 (10 weeks – skip date 3/16)
 cost $100
We are offering only Beginner level courses, in more detail, in response to student feedback.
For a detailed description of the syllabus for each level, click here. (link to the document)
Synopsis of levels: (for the webpage)
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B1a is about building a foundation for future levels. You will learn the basics: letters, numbers, question words,
plurals, pronouns, and the present tense use of the most common verbs. You will learn to speak about time,
dates, family, simple personal info and you will learn some basics of Latino culture and custom.
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B1b expands on low beginner level skills. You will continue in the present tense, learning present irregular verbs,
and you will expand into the present continuous. You will learn simple vocabulary and phrases for specific
locations, such as restaurants, shopping, and travelling, and you will learn more complex information about
Latino culture and custom.
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B2a builds strongly into high beginner level skills with present stem-changers, continuous irregular, near future,
and informal commands. You will learn how to give and take directions, how to ask for help, how to make plans,
and how to talk about your home. Culture includes gender perception, extended families, and travel/tourism.
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B2b rounds out and reinforces the high beginner level skills by encouraging correct grammar usage, contextural
vocabulary, and pronunciation. Use of reflexive verbs, prepositions, pronouns, demonstratives, and comparitives
is covered and the preterite tense is introduced. Open discussion in Spanish on simple, cultural topics will occur.
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Course Syllabi – Spanish classes
Spring 2017
OVERALL EMPHASIS for Spanish Program:
Conversation all the time, FUN, Latino culture, bridging cultural divides
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Beginner Spanish 1A
Topics Covered:
Grammar
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Alphabet
Pronunciation
Question words
Present: ser, estar, tener
o Introduce 10 regular verbs
Articles
Formal v. informal “you”
Gender
Pronouns
Affirmative/Negative statements
Plurals
Concepts
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Greetings, leavings, basic introductory conversation (Q&A: very small talk)
Days/months
Telling time
Numbers 1-1000
Family members
Personal info (address, DOB etc.)
Culture
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Holidays
Concept of time
How addresses work in US
Overall idea for B1a
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B1a is about starting to build a foundation for what students will learn later.
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Course Syllabi – Spanish classes
Spring 2017
Beginner Spanish 1B
Topics Covered:
Grammar
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Present regulars
Present irregulars: querer, decir, ir, poder, venir, ver, pensar
o Introduce 10 common irregular verbs
Haber
Saber v. conocer
Matching gender/number
Possessives
Gustar
Present continuous regulars
Hay (for simple explanation of location)
Concepts
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Getting to know you – in more detail than B1a
Weather
Jobs/the workplace
Food/restaurants
Shopping
Body parts/ the doctor’s office
Vocabulary/simple phrases for use in specific locations (i.e. travel, directions, small talk)
Culture
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Folk medicine
Food, markets, and cooking
Overall idea for B1b
B1b is still very much building a foundation.
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Course Syllabi – Spanish classes
Spring 2017
Beginner Spanish 2A
Topics Covered:
Grammar
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Prepositions
Present continuous irregulars
Present stem changers
Near future
Forming questions (“What are you going to do?)
Commands, informal
Concepts
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Giving directions/cities
Calling a phone system
Chores/the home
Making plans
Travel/tourism
Phrases/simple conversation for use in specific locations (i.e. travel, directions, workplace, small talk)
Asking for help
Culture
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Machismo/feminismo
Extended family
Overall idea for B2a
B2a is about APPLICATION of what students have learned up to now.
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Course Syllabi – Spanish classes
Spring 2017
Beginner Spanish 2B
Topics Covered:
Grammar
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Preterite regulars, plus ir and ser
Demonstratives
Object pronouns
Direct/indirect object
“Gustar” verbs
Differentiating similar verbs
o Ser v. estar
o Traer v. llevar
o Venir v. ir
o Salir v. dejar
Reflexive verbs
Forming questions (“What did you do?”)
Common phrases about time in the past
Comparitives
Common phrases to Central America vs. South America (not Spain)
Concepts
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Telling short stories
Simple discussion on specific topics – not just Q&A – based on the grammar taught, the culture below, and
students’ interests
Conversation for use in specific locations (i.e. travel, directions, workplace, small talk)
Culture
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Education
Religion
Sports
Overall idea for B2b
B2b is about:
Reinforcing, in context, over and over, in many different scenarios, what was learned in B1a, B1b, and
B2a – making sure students are speaking CORRECTLY. Emphasize correct pronunciation.
Preparation for more advanced discussion out in the real world.
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