1. Grammar and Conversation

OBJECTIVE
The overall objective of this course is substantial vocabulary expansion and improving communicative competency in describing, giving directions, getting information, narrating and describing in the past, reacting to events through the use of the subjunctive, comparing, narrating in the future, and hypothesizing.

This course has a double emphasis. The first focus is on active mastery of the following proficiency skills. The second focus is on the following grammar skills studied from a linguistic perspective, practiced in context, and recycled throughout the semester.

COMMUNICATIVE OBJECTIVES
Reacting to situations
Expressing likes and dislikes
Talking about the past: narrating and describing
Talking about the future
Talking about doubt, surprise, and complaints
Making judgements and defending opinions
Expressing agreement and disagreement
Indirect discourse
Impersonal expressions
Giving advice and suggestions
Expressing emotion
Persuading and provoking
Colloquial expressions
Vocabulary topics include but are not limited to: human body, house, city, country, painting, sculpture, architecture, weather, personal relationships, leisure, shows, emotions, food

GRAMMAR OBJECTIVES
Ser and Estar + adjective
Superlative adjectives and review of comparatives
Relative pronouns (que, quien, cual)
Adverbs
Para + infinitive
Exclamatory sentences with ¡Qué!
Future: simple, compound, and probability
Ordinal numbers
Hace + time
Present subjunctive after certain triggers: quizá, a lo mejor; noun expressions (me parece que, veo que); decir que; cuando; expressions of contingency (de modo que, a fin de que); expressions with emotion
Si clauses + subjunctive/ indicative
Gustar and similar verbs
Sentences with porque and para que
Justifications (es que..)
Formation and derivation of words
Syntax of oral speech
Present and past perfect tenses (había hecho)
Soler/ acostumbrar + infinitive
Gerund periphrases: llevar + time + gerund, llevar + gerund + desde, estar + gerund + desde (de)

2. Oral Comprehension and Expression

Objectives
1. Listening Comprehension
At the end of this course, the student should be able to comprehend stated information
that refers to the following:
-material needs and social relations of everyday life
-information over personal experiences
-physical sensations and feelings
-personal opinions
2. Oral Expression
At the end of this course, the student should be able to express themselves regarding
the following topics:
-needs, social relations, everyday life and daily routines
-personal experiences
-physical sensations and state of well-being
-opinions and feelings
Topics to be discussed:
1. Spanish and Latin American society: familial relations, neighbors, professional
relationships, friendship, actions toward strangers.
-Greet and say good-by. Present someone and be able to respond when oneself is
presented. Ask for forgiveness. Give thanks. Compare Spanish customs with those
of Latin America and other countries.
2. Living environment: home, neighborhood, city.
-Express and ask for opinions over something. Justify and argue an opnion. Express
value.
3. Rural and Urban spaces. The climate.
-Compare life in a rural setting with that of city life. Express understanding and
ignorance of. Express and ask for preferences. Talk about weather.
4. Means of transportation. Public transportation in Spain.
Describe places and objects. Compare Spanish transportation systems with those of
other Spanish-speaking countries. Express and ask for opinions over something.
5. Everyday life: Public and family schedules
Refer to daily actions in the present and past. Compare Spanish customs with those of
other countries. Discuss future plans.
6. Shopping and business.
Express and ask for likes, preferences, and needs. Give instructions to others.
7. Leisure time: Distractions and entertainment.
-Compare leisure in Spain and Latin America with other countries. Invite someone to
something. -Accept and decline invitations.
8. Sports.
-Compare sports popular in Spain with those of other countries.
9. Health and illness. Traditional and alternative medicine.
-Express and ask about physical sensations and pain. -Express worry and
preoccupation. -Express and ask for opinions over different types of medicine.
10. Holidays and celebrations in Spain and in other countries.
11. Political and administrative organization of Spain and other countries.
-Political parties. Discuss information that is known and ask for clarification or more
information.
12. Public and private health.
-Compare public and private healthcare in Spain with that of other countries.
13. The education system in Spain and Latin America.
-Express permission, obligation, and possibility. Be able to ask and research for
information regarding the education system.
14. Modern arts. Film, literature and music in Spain and Latin America.
-Ask for and express opinions over subjects. Compare the artistic production of Spain
with Latin America and other countries.
15. Ecology and the environment
Speak in favor of or disagreement to ideas generated by peers. Express values.

3. Written Comprehension and Expression

Daily classwork will consist of the following exercises that measure specific skills:

READING
This exercise will measure the capacity for:
Pronunciation
Intonation
Fluidity and speed of oral expression

COMPREHENSION OF TEXTS
This exercise will involve:
Substitution: saying it using different words or a different verb tense
Synonyms and antonyms
Explanation of semantic fields, of unknown/key words, etc.
Correct grammatical construction: explaining the significance of the paragraph

DISCUSSION
Establishment of an individual and collective debate about the content of the text. Suggestions for parallel and related ideas dealing with the text. This debate about the content could include questions related to:
Style
Ideology
Opinion
Personal judgements concerning morals, aesthetics, etc.