Spanish (Beginners A)

This course is suitable for complete beginners. It is useful for people wishing to learn Spanish for travelling to Spain or Latin America, or for personal interest or development. Beginners A and Beginners B will provide students with an introduction to the language, laying the foundations for further study.

This is not an intensive course, but it will require some home study and weekly homework. The class will continue on to the next level if there are sufficient enrolments. The course materials will be provided in class.

What your course will cover

A general introduction to Spanish:

• Greetings: Buenos días, buenas tardes, hola, adiós, ¿cómo estás? ¿qué tal?
• Introducing yourself: soy argentino, pero vivo aquí en Barcelona ¿Y tú? ¿de dónde eres?
• Introducing people: este es Alfonso y esta es Ana. Mucho gusto.
• Asking/giving personal details: ¿cuál es tu número de teléfono? mi celular es ...
• Talking about your family: mi padre se llama Enrique, tengo dos hermanas ¿Y usted?
• Asking general questions: ¿dónde trabajas? ¿estás casada?
• Asking/saying where things are: ¿Dónde está mi mochila? está detrás de la silla
• Saying what you like to do: soy aficionado/a al cine.
• Classroom phrases: No entiendo, ¿puede repetir por favor?
• Describing things/people: Elena es alta, el puente es alto

You will learn the following grammar:

• The Spanish alphabet, spelling, and numbers 0-1000
• Definite article: el gato, los gatos; indefinite article: un gato, unos gatos
• Grammatical gender: la mesa, el libro; Grammatical number: las mesas, los libros
• Agreement Noun-adjective: la mesa cuadrada, el libro interesante
• Present tense of regular verbs: trabajar, beber, vivir
• Some irregular verbs: ser, estar, ir and tener
• Sentences, negative sentences & questions: bebo café, no bebo café, ¿tú bebes café?
• Interrogative pronouns: ¿dónde? ¿qué? ¿quién? ¿por qué? ¿cuándo? ¿cuál?
• Subject personal pronouns: yo, tú, él, ella, usted, nosotros/as, vosotros/as, ellos/as, ustedes
• Informal and polite ‘you’ in Spanish: ‘tú’ ‘vosotros-as’ and ‘usted’ ‘ustedes’.

What you can hope to achieve

• Learn basic vocabulary and grammar.
• Basic reading, speaking, writing and listening skills.
• Better understanding of some aspects of the lifestyle and culture of Spanish-speaking countries.

What to bring

• Pen and notebook for work done in class.
• A folder for your many handouts – an expandable A4 folder with plastic sleeves is recommended.

Important information

• Most language classes fill up quickly. However, your class could be cancelled if not enough people enrol. If you are concerned about buying a book that may be of no use to you then please check the viability of your class with adult education before purchasing your text.

Please note that children must not attend this class unless it is a specified parent/child activity.