As they communicate real ideas and meanings for relevant real life situations, students are led to understand grammar inductively. In addition, previously taught words and phrases keep reappearing so that students begin to use these structures more quickly and remember them. Step by step, students learn to communicate as they listen to and watch film clips of native speakers, observe and figure out the meaning of pictures, do paired and small group activities, write letters, role play real life situations, etc. Special activities enhance their understanding of culture. As they study thematically organized units, students learn how to greet each other and make small talk, ask for and get information, tell time, read a calendar, describe themselves, talk about school subjects and supplies, read a schedule, learn about holidays, compare leisure time activities and schools in Spanish speaking countries with those in the U.S., discuss their favorite pastimes, extend, accept or decline invitations, go shopping for groceries and clothes, describe meals, give opinions, name animals, etc.
Students learn how to conjugate stem-changing verbs and are introduced to direct object pronouns.
Syllable stress and the sound of each letter is taught in the beginning of the course and reviewed.