General Structure of this Course

 

 

      1.   The grammatical structures on which conversational Spanish is based are introduced gradually and are immediately placed in contexts that are relevant to the students and the subjects they are studying in their regular curricula, as well as applicable to common daily life conversations.

 

       2.   Since the majority of the Hispanic population in our region is of Mexican origin rather than other regions, the Spanish in this class will be weighted slightly towards the Spanish used in Mexico. Nevertheless, many expressions from Central America, The Caribbean, South America and Spain will be included.

 

      3.   The students will complete exercises within each section that generally will become progressively more challenging, starting with a basic reinforcement of the grammar concepts and progressing to excesses that require more challenging, cognitive and critical thinking.

 

      4.   Vocabulary lists are there to be learned. The vocabulary that is presented has been carefully selected to correspond to common daily basis conversations.

 

      5.   The students will encounter many dialogs during the year, which they will read repeatedly and practice out laud continually. This, in order to reinforce the structures and to mimic the accent and intonation utilized in Spanish.

              

       6.   The students will listen to fragments of readings in which they will try to “catch” the key phrases and vocabulary used.

             

      7.   The students will be presented with a variety of accents and intonations to help understand what people from different Spanish regions attempt to communicate.

               

      8.   Regular review will help consolidate a grasp of Spanish and boost student's confidence, therefore, students will continuously repeat sections, exercises, vocabulary, and dialogs; even if it is only for a few minutes for several days.

               

      9.   Students will be encouraged to “Don’t be shy!”, “Speak Up!”, “Talk!”, and to use the Spanish that they have learned whenever the opportunity presents itself.

The more they speak it, say it, use it, the more confident, comfortable and natural it will seem to them.