The beginning Spanish sequence at Central is designed to provide the vocabulary and grammar students will need in order to communicate at a basic level. Emphasis is also placed on fostering cross-cultural understanding by giving students an awareness of the cultures in which Spanish is spoken. For those students who participate in the Yucatan program in Merida, Mexico , an intensive beginning Spanish course, Spanish 125, is offered. Students take this course six hours per week for a semester while studying in the Yucatan and receive the equivalent of two semesters in one. Spanish 221 and Spanish 222 continue to develop the skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing begun at the beginning level, with particular emphasis on developing oral proficiency.
Classes meet four times a week in addition to two half-hour conversation labs.
Students also learn more about life and culture in Spain and Latin America and are introduced to literary and non-literary readings. Particular attention is given to developing advanced oral and written skills needed for content classes conducted in the language and clarifying difficult grammar concepts. Classes meet four times a week in addition to two half-hour conversation labs. It can be taken at the same time as Spanish 322. They are offered in alternate years and require extensive reading and writing.