Learn Spanish
General Information
Spanish is a Romance Language, closely related to French, Italian and Portuguese. There are many linguistic variations in the Spanish-speaking world; Spain alone has several dialects. These differences are mostly confined to pronunciation and vocabulary. Language structure and grammar are fairly standard throughout the Americas and Spain. With a little experience all varieties are mutually intelligible.
At WAL we believe in teaching students to develop communicative competency in the language they are learning. All classes are taught in the language being learned. We place an emphasis on fluency in speaking and writing. In other words, we develop features which give speech the qualities of being natural and normal. Classes are small in size which allows instruction to be individualized. Some students need to work on stress and intonation while other students need to learn how to develop strategies to communicate effectively.
Each class level involves 30 hours of in-class instruction. Classes can be taken for university credit. Classes I thru IV are equivalent to the first year of university instruction. Classes V thru VIII are equivalent to the second year of university study. Seattle Pacific University course numbers are reflected in parentheses.
Textbook, levels I thru IV: Dos Mundos, 7th edition, published by McGraw- Hill.
Textbook, levels V thru VIII: MÁS, published by McGraw-Hill
Please note, textbooks are not available to purchase from WAL.
Spanish I (SPN 1501)
30 hours of instruction
After 30 hours students will be able to function minimally in Spanish. Participants will be able to engage in basic conversational situations including greetings, introductions, and asking for and giving information. Students will be able to count, discuss the weather, describe people, express feelings, and comment on likes or dislikes. Grammatical competency is developed within the context of developing fluency through discourse.
Chapters: Paso A-C, 1-3
This course may be taken for 4 quarter credits
Spanish II (SPN 1502)
30 hours of instruction
Completion of Spanish I or instructor’s permission
All classes begin with a review of the previous class. Entry at this level is by instructor placement. In this class, communication is broadened to include discussions and description of household articles, holidays and professions as well as family, personal interests and future expectations. Participants will also read and write about cultural issues in the Spanish-speaking world. The speech levels of polite agreement or disagreement and descriptions will become more complex as students increase their vocabulary through course readings.
Chapters 4-7
This course may be taken for 4 quarter credits
Spanish III (SPN 1503)
30 hours of instruction
Completion of Spanish II or instructor’s permission
Students are placed in this class because of their fluency and accuracy level. Students learn how to narrate stories and to discuss current events with a degree of sophistication. More detailed cultural information will be introduced as the content material increases in depth and maturity. Participants will develop a greater understanding of historical and contemporary events in the Spanish-speaking world. Students will have opportunities to read, write and discuss possible travel plans for themselves.
Chapters 8-11
This course may be taken for 4 quarter credits.
Spanish IV (SPN 1504)
30 hours of instruction
Completion of Spanish III or instructor’s permission
This level tends to ensure that what has been previously learned is well-integrated to allow for future development. We do not treat skills such as writing, reading, speaking, vocabulary building or listening as individual parts that somehow come together. Rather, language learning is continually integrated to allow the development of fluency. No matter how one learns a language, everyone has certain “holes” in their knowledge. This level utilizes a variety of fluency and accuracy exercises to ensure that the participant is ready for the intermediate levels. New literature and vocabulary are introduced. Reading and writing about current events is included.
Chapters 12-15
This course may be taken for 4 quarter credits.
Spanish V (SPN 2501)
30 hours of instruction
Completion of Spanish IV or instructor’s permission
Students learn descriptive phrases about themselves and others and how to express preferences about a variety of issues. Narration will include past events so students are able to develop a comfort level with the imperfect and the preterit forms in discourse. New grammar and tense knowledge will enable more sophisticated dialog. The cultural material will include details of family life and customs in the Spanish-speaking world.
Chapters 1-3
This course may be taken for 4 quarter credits
Spanish VI (SPN 2502)
30 hours of instruction
Completion of Spanish V or instructor’s permission
In this course participants will be exposed to vocabulary having to do with different professions and, possibly, role playing for employment possibilities. Students will learn how to write letters of recommendation, cover letters for job applications and resume writing. A job interview requires a fairly sophisticated and knowledgeable interviewee who is able to carry on a conversation in a second language. Students will learn how to express emotions, needs, doubts, and expectations in a fairly sophisticated manner. Students will become comfortable with the subjunctive form. Some of the new vocabulary will include technological and scientific language. Discussions and research on social life in the Spanish-speaking world will be continued.
Chapters 4-6
This course may be taken for 4 quarter credits.
Spanish VII (SPN 2503)
30 hours of instruction
Completion of Spanish VI or instructor’s permission
This level places an emphasis on increasing fluency by practicing what has been learned in a variety of contexts. Participants learn to discuss, with confidence, their opinions relating to social issues here and abroad, economic issues and, of course, world wide environmental questions and issues. A special emphasis in this class is on building confidence so fluency begins to feel comfortable and natural.
Chapters 7 – 9
This course may be taken for 4 quarter credits.
Spanish VIII (SPN 2504)
30 hours of instruction
Completion of Spanish VII or instructor’s permission
Discussions and debates occupy a good part of this level. The subject matter will include current events, cultural and social issues. Active listening skills will be increasingly developed and measured as will oral sophistication and discourse level. There will be discussions of a number of contemporary insights into the Spanish-speaking world. By this time student will be expected to write in a more sophisticated manner about a wide variety of topics.
Chapters 10-12
This course may be taken for 4 quarter credits
Intermediate Spanish Conversation
12 hours of instruction/3 weeks
Designed for students at the intermediate to low advanced level. The focus is on increasing comprehension and fluency in the language, vocabulary building and revision of grammar points. Discussion on topics of interest helps students to express their ideas correctly, clearly and effectively. The course is customized to fit the needs of class members. Great for travelers too!
Class meets for three weeks, 6:30 – 8:30pm. Tuition is $165.
Advanced Spanish Conversation
30 hours of instruction/5 weeks
Prerequisite: completion of Spanish VI or instructor's permission
Classes at this level focus on comprehension and fluency in the language, culture, vocabulary building and a review of difficult grammar points. Video and audio materials help students to advance in their comprehension of Spanish. Discussion of topics of interest helps students to express their ideas correctly, clearly and effectively. Practice points include pronunciation, intonation, fluidity and grammatical correctness. The course is customized to fit class members' needs and interests.
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Las Fiestas de Espanol
Join us for a festive morning of cultural conversation and sampling while we explore the traditional holidays of Spanish speaking countries!
When: December 5, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Rate:$45
Classes will meet at Washington Academy of Languages
Please click here to register. For more information, please call us at (206) 682-4463
Additional courses are available, some of which may be taken for university credit. Contact WAL for information.