Students completing the course will be able to hold spontaneous conversations on everyday topics, understand the gist of one-way communications like radio and television, read for practical information, and write simple correspondence and compositions on familiar topics. Language use is encouraged through communicative activities including videos, audio-cassettes, and computer materials. This course is designed to improve language skills, review the fundamentals of Spanish grammar, build vocabulary, and provide insight into the literature and culture of Spanish-speaking peoples. This course is designed to develop fluency in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing, and to provide a deeper understanding of the literature, history, culture, and outlooks of Spanish-speaking peoples. This course is intended to increase the accuracy of students' Spanish and to increase vocabulary and cultural knowledge through readings and a grammar-review text.
Students read in Spanish, prepare translations and other exercises, and expand vocabulary.
Time is allotted to class discussion of readings and to the treatment of recurrent problems of grammar. The course is intended to improve students' ability to read Spanish prose, as well as their skills in conversational and written Spanish. To this end, students are presented with a variety of materials to stimulate discussion, both written and oral. A major component of this course is an interactive computer program based on a movie version of the short story Instrucciones para John Howell. Written and oral compositions are assigned regularly.