Spanish Language Program | Course Descriptions

Basic Program

Novice Spanish 910.101 (Level I)

The Beginning level Spanish course is the first in a four-course sequence. In this course you will begin to develop your listening, speaking, reading, and  writing skills in Spanish. Development of these skills is vital for the process of communication. Students entering this course are expected to be beginners, and are expected to achieve the Intermediate Low level in the ACTFL scale (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages).

Intermeidate Low Spanish 910.201 (Level II)

This is the second in a four-course sequence in the SAIS Spanish Program. Students entering this course are expected to be at the Intermediate Low level in the ACTFL scale (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages), and are expected to achieve the Intermediate Mid level. The course objectives are seen in terms of students performing linguistics tasks successfully, gaining self-confidence, relying on themselves and classmates, and expanding their risk-taking in real-life communicative situations. The language students practice in class is realistic –what they would speak in a Spanish-speaking environment.

Intermediate Mid Spanish 910.202 (Level III)

The Intermediate-High Spanish course is third in a four-course sequence. This course provides additional practice to help students attain a higher level of skill development (e.g., listening, speaking, reading and writing) and linguistic accuracy. The course favors a skill-based approach in which students gain mastery of the language through the use of authentic materials taken from various sources (e.g., periodicals, video and radio documentaries). The selection of the materials is based on the complexity of the tasks and the students' professional and personal interest. The teaching of grammar and vocabulary is integrated to the skill-based activities, and it is incorporated in the class activities as an aid to overcome any communicative problems. The teaching techniques are student-centered, with the instructor as the facilitator, and the goal of teaching to make students independent users of Spanish.

Intermediate High I Spanish 910.204 (Level IV)

This course will offer an in-depth review of grammar topics in Spanish that continue to cause difficulties for the foreign language learner: the preterite-imperfect contrast, comparatives, "ser" and "estar", the clitic pronouns, the use of the subjunctive, "por" and "para". A program of vocabulary building will be incorporated into the course. It is important to realize, however, that vocabulary and grammar are means to an end; knowing the definition of vocabulary items or being able to recite grammar rules is not using the language.  Therefore, the review will be accomplished through a variety of activities in speaking, reading, listening, and writing. In this way, the students will improve their knowledge of grammar and their proficiency in these necessary language skills. The teaching activities are student-centered, with the instructor serving as facilitator. The goal of this course is to make students independent users of Spanish.

Conversational Spanish 910.301 (Post-Proficiency)

Optional Courses

In addition to the Basic Program, we also provide courses that are beyond the SAIS language requirement scope. These courses are at a higher level of proficiency or tailored to a specific need or interest (e.g., Advanced Spanish, Spanish for Economics, etc.).