- Online
- $600
This interactive online course consolidates your basic understanding of Spanish. Expand your vocabulary and knowledge of Hispanic culture by reading a variety of authentic documents. Grammar topics may include the preterite and the imperfect, object pronouns and uses of ser and estar. Elevate your writing by learning to express your opinion and using more complex structures. Personalized feedback on weekly written assignments assist you in improving your writing skills.
Course outline
At this level you are able to understand the main points of familiar matters, to produce simple texts of personal interest, to describe experiences, to make plans and briefly give reasons for opinions. At this level you will add a more rigorous approach to vocabulary and grammatical structures and expand on the everyday social and cultural situations you have mastered at the Beginner 2 level. You will begin to learn about more about the past as well nuances of the target language such as pronouns, impersonal construction, and correct levels of language to use in various situations.
Learner outcomes
- develop fundamental writing and reading skills that help to improve your Spanish language proficiency
- reflect on cultural issues and apply your Spanish language skills to real-life situations
- communicate across linguistic and cultural boundaries
Course structure
Each course consists of nine units; each unit is to be completed in one week. The units focus on real intercultural topics and review of grammar points. All courses contain a variety of readings from authentic sources, grammar explanation with practice, glossaries, idiomatic expressions, and interactive activities in forums, wikis, and others. Reading and Writing Spanish online courses are designed so you can interact with and learn from your online classmates and your instructor. We expect that students will require at least 3-4 hours per week to complete the activities. However, if good discussions are under way, you may spend extra time.
Topics to be covered in this course (Temas):
- El Enigma de Nazca
- La música Latinoamericana
- Luisa Cáceres de Arismendi
- Galápagos: Paraíso de Ecuador
- Las presidentas latinas
- La visión del mundo Maya
- Allende y Benedetti: Literatura Latinoamericana
- El presidente que se parece a su pueblo
- El nacedor
Grammar topics to be covered in this course (Gramatica):
- Los comparativos
- Los pronombres personales y objeto directo e indirecto
- Preposiciones y cuantificadores
- El imperativo
- Participios: usos
- Pretérito indefinido
- Pretérito imperfecto
- Las construcciones impersonales
- Revisión
Expected effort
Expect to spend three to four hours per week on your course.
Requisites
Spanish Beginner 2 (0055) or equivalent is required for this course.
Course format
The format of this course is 100% online.
About online learning
Our Reading and Writing courses are purpose-built for online learning using UBC instructional design resources and tools.
Online courses are hosted on the intuitive learning management platform Canvas. Every week, your instructor releases a new module or lesson. Each lesson might include materials such as class notes, readings, links to articles, videos and practice exercises. You may also be asked to post on discussion boards and submit assignments.
Your instructor is there to provide you feedback on your work, and guide online forum discussions. Some may hold virtual office hours. You can also communicate with your instructor through Canvas.
Expect to spend three to four hours per week on your course - you do get out what you put in! You can log in anytime day or night. Some courses, however, might include exercises and assignments with deadlines. Materials will be available for two weeks after the course ends, after which time you will no longer be able to access the course.
We will send you instructions on accessing Canvas before your first class.