Introductory course in Spanish: language skills emphasized through basic listening, speaking, reading, and writing Emphasis is placed on practical vocabulary and the oral use of the language along with proper use of grammar and cultural information.  Language learning is a gradual progress, in which on skill leads to the next, and in which basic skills form the basis for more advanced skills.

COURSE PREREQUISITES:

None.  Most important desire to learn and speak the language.

RATIONALE:

Spanish is a language which is easy to learn and will give you the ability to communicate in writing and speaking with people here as well as the world community through the Internet.  Spanish is an added skill for professions in law enforcement, courts of law, tourism and traveling, medical and legal environments and business.  National and international companies such as Wal-Mart, FBI, and others need your expertise.  Your ability to manipulate and use the language will determine your salary possibilities for advancement.

UNIT GOALS:

Over the duration of this class the student will learn the following items:

• Cognates (words that look alike in Spanish and English and mean the same thing.  Ex.: doctor=doctor)

• Responding to instructions (commands=mandatos).

• Naming (verb llamarse) ¿Quién es?  ¿Cómo se llama?

• Identifying people and things: Subject Pronouns and the verb Ser

• Describing people and things: negation

• Identifying people and things: gender

• Describing people's clothing: the verb Llevar

• Identifying people and things: plural forms

• Learning colors, clothing, and numbers

• Greeting people: ¿Cómo esta usted? Bien, gracias.

• Ways of expressing possession

• Addressing others: informal and polite "you" (tú/usted)

• How to pronounce the letters of the Spanish alphabet

• The use of the word "hay" (there is, there are)

• Describing people and things: adjective-noun agreement

• About aspects of Spanish pronunciation, diphthongs and linking.

• Speaking about things in the classroom

• Ways of expressing possession: verbs Tener, Ser, de and possessive adjective

• Expressing age: verb Tener (¿Cuántos años tiene?)

• Languages and nationalities: el mundo

• Counting numbers 10-1000

• Spelling: the Spanish Alphabet

• Talking about habitual actions: present tense of regular -er and -ir verbs

• Ways to ask questions in Spanish

• Telling time: hours and minutes (¿Que hora es?)

• Expressing likes and dislikes (Me gusta, no me gusta).  Gustar + infinitive: me gusta comer.

• Culture in the  Spanish Speaking World

• About birthdays and dates: months, days of the week, and seasons

• Favorite activities, classes, and sports

• Expressing future plans: ir + a + infinitive (Ir a estudiar)

• Several uses of the Spanish verb Ir (to go): how to talk about where you are going

• Sequencing: ordinal adjectives (first, second, etc.)

• Stating preference and desire: preferir and querer

• Making suggestions: let's vamos a ...

• Describing the weather: common expressions. ¿Qué tiempo hace?

• Talking about location: estar + en, ir + al/a la

• Talking about habitual actions: present tense of Irregular verbs

• Using Irregular verbs: Hacer, Salir, and Jugar

• Describing origin and location: ser de/estar en

• Referring to actions in progress: Present Progressive Tense.  (Estoy hablando... I am talking)

ORAL EXAMS

The students will take a picture and talk as long as possible.  They will describe what they see and relate the content to their own life and experiences.  I will be checking for the following items:

• Fluency

• Transition

• Logical sequencing

• Range of vocabulary

• Structure

• Pronunciation