Spanish Course

Contents overview:

Level 1 – Foundations of Communication

At this introductory level, learners begin with the Spanish alphabet and basic pronunciation rules. They practice greetings and introductions, learn numbers up to 100, and explore how nouns change based on gender and number. Topics also include definite and indefinite articles, personal subject pronouns, and key verbs like ser, estar, and tener in the present tense, along with regular -AR, -ER, and -IR verbs. Students form simple affirmative and negative sentences and use descriptive adjectives that agree with nouns. Vocabulary covers family, personal relationships, days of the week, months, seasons, weather, clothing, colors, and household items. They also learn to tell time, describe daily routines, express likes using gustar, and ask basic questions with words like what, how, where, and when.

Level 2 – Everyday Life and Practical Grammar

Building on the basics, learners expand their ability to describe actions happening right now using the present continuous tense. They work with reflexive verbs to talk about daily habits, and they start using the present perfect to discuss recent past events. Irregular verbs become more familiar, and students learn how to talk about future plans using ir a + infinitive. Comparatives and superlatives help describe and compare, while prepositions of place and time aid in giving directions or setting scenes. Vocabulary covers travel, transportation, food, restaurants, health, body parts, and professions. Learners also express preferences, opinions, and needs using simple phrases and modal structures like tener que or hay que. Basic connectors like and, but, and because help them form more connected speech and writing.

Level 3 – Narration and Opinion in the Past and Future

At this stage, students begin telling stories and sharing past experiences using both the simple past (pretérito indefinido) and the imperfect tense, learning how and when to use each. They explore more verb tenses, including the simple future and conditional, and start using common verbal phrases like seguir + gerundio or volver a + infinitive. Commands (imperatives), both affirmative and negative, are introduced, along with direct and indirect object pronouns. Learners also practice giving advice and making hypotheses using the conditional tense. Vocabulary expands into emotional states, personal anecdotes, entertainment, and literature. They learn to express more nuanced opinions and use more sophisticated connectors such as however, moreover, and on the other hand.

Level 4 – Subjunctive Mood and Formal Expression

This level introduces the present subjunctive and its use in expressing wishes, doubts, emotions, and recommendations. Students work with more complex sentence structures, including subordinate clauses, and refine their understanding of indirect speech in both present and past contexts. Compound tenses in both indicative and subjunctive moods are practiced, as well as the passive voice (ser + participle). Vocabulary themes include politics, economics, and society. Learners explore common idiomatic expressions, nuances of ser vs. estar with adjectives, and ways to present arguments or weigh pros and cons. Attention is given to choosing the right tone depending on whether a conversation is formal or informal, and to using more advanced connectors like therefore, although, and despite.

Level 5 – Advanced Grammar and Argumentation

Here, students deepen their understanding of the subjunctive in more complex and past-tense contexts, along with nuanced uses of indirect speech. They learn to form and use unreal and mixed conditional sentences and explore the passive voice with se constructions. Figurative language, including metaphors, irony, and humor, plays a central role, as does the ability to debate formally, agree or disagree respectfully, and qualify arguments. Writing becomes more structured with argumentative and expository texts. Vocabulary becomes more specialized, covering topics like science and technology, and learners refine their use of verb tenses to enhance storytelling. Reading and interpreting literary texts also becomes more central.

Level 6 – Mastery and Nuance in Language Use

At the highest level, learners focus on the subtleties of language, such as euphemisms, irony, and double meanings. They practice adjusting their vocabulary and tone to suit different registers—whether formal, colloquial, or vulgar—and refine their ability to revise and edit written work for style. Students tackle complex literary and journalistic texts, analyze rhetorical techniques in speech and writing, and examine how the subjunctive is used in high-level language. Spoken communication becomes more fluid, precise, and spontaneous. There is also an introduction to forming and using neologisms, understanding dialectal variations across the Spanish-speaking world, and translating or adapting challenging texts. Learners engage in academic debates and develop critical thinking skills to discuss abstract ideas with sophistication.