Guide to Levels

Elementary

Course description:
This course is for students who have learned some basic words in Spanish, but need more practice in basic grammar and all skills. In the classes you will learn and practice:

• basic structures for present, past and future
• vocabulary for everyday life, such as hobbies
• functional language, such as asking for directions
• correct pronunciation
• conversation skills
• listening to everyday situations
• reading a range of texts for general understanding and for detail
• writing short personal letters, postcards
• practical language skills, such as filling in forms

The teaching method:
Your lessons will be mainly oral presentation by the teacher, followed by intensive practice with lots of pair and group work to maximize speaking practice. If you want to make progress you will need to participate in every activity. The teachers will use a variety of materials, including pictures, cassettes and videos, and you will also do role-plays, play language games and listen to songs. There will be guided listening and writing practice in class, as well as written homework. There will be regular tests to assess your progress and moving to a higher level will depend on the results you get. Some classes will also focus on developing your independence as a learner by encouraging you to keep a record of your class work, homework, self-study activities and a vocabulary notebook. There will be class discussions on approaches to how you can learn effectively.

Pre-Intermediate

Course description:
The Pre-Intermediate course is for students who have learned some Spanish, but need more practice in accuracy in grammar and all skills.
In the classes you will learn and practice:

• structures for present, past and future
• vocabulary for everyday life, such as jobs
• functional language, such as asking for permission
• correct pronunciation
• conversation skills
• listening to everyday situations
• reading a range of texts intensively and extensively
• writing personal letters, postcards
• practical language skills, such as filling in forms

The teaching method:
Your lessons will be mainly oral presentation by the teacher, followed by intensive practice with lots of pair and group work to maximize speaking practice. If you want to make progress you will need to participate in every activity. The teachers will use a variety of materials, including pictures, cassettes and videos, and you will also do role-plays, play language games and listen to songs. There will be guided listening and writing practice in class, as well as written homework. There will be regular tests to assess your progress and moving to a higher level will depend on the results you get. Some classes will also focus on developing your independence as a learner by encouraging you to keep a record of your class work, homework, self-study activities and a vocabulary notebook. There will be class discussions on approaches to how you can learn effectively.

Intermediate

Course description:
The intermediate course is for students who have learned Spanish for a few years, but need more practice in using grammar accurately and need further practice in all skills.
In the classes you will learn and practice:

• structures such as the passive, present perfect
• vocabulary for a variety of situations
• functional language, such as giving advice
• correct pronunciation
• conversation skills
• listening to a variety of situations
• reading a range of texts intensively and extensively
• writing personal letters, articles
• practical language skills, such as filling in application forms

The teaching method:
Your lessons will be mainly oral presentation by the teacher, followed by intensive practice with lots of pair and group work to maximize speaking practice. If you want to make progress you will need to participate in every activity. The teachers will use a variety of materials, including pictures, cassettes and videos, and you will also do role-plays, play language games and listen to songs. There will be writing practice in class, as well as written homework. There will be regular tests to assess your progress and moving to a higher level will depend on the results you get.

Upper Intermediate

Course description
The upper intermediate course is for students who have learned Spanish for several years, but need more practice in using grammar accurately and need further practice in all skills.
In the classes you will learn and practice:

• structures such as the conditionals, reported speech
• vocabulary for a variety of situations
• functional language, such as negotiating
• correct pronunciation
• discussion skills and presentation skills
• listening to a variety of speakers in different situations, using authentic material
• reading a range of texts intensively and extensively such as newspaper articles
• writing formal letters, articles, reports, summaries

The teaching method:
Your lessons will consist of revision and presentation of language, followed by intensive work in pairs and groups to maximize practice. If you want to make progress you will need to participate in every activity. The teachers will use a variety of materials, including off-air videos, newspaper articles and past examination papers. There will be writing practice in class, as well as written homework. There will be regular tests to assess your progress and moving to a higher level will depend on the results you get.

Advanced

Course description
The advanced course is for students who have already reached a very good standard of Spanish but need more practice in using language accurately in both formal and informal contexts to acquire near-native speaker command of spoken and written Spanish.
In the classes you will learn and practice:

• structures such as the conditionals, reported speech
• vocabulary such as phrasal verbs
• functional language, such as negotiating
• correct pronunciation
• discussion skills, presentation skills and debates
• listening to a variety of situations and accents, using authentic material
• reading a range of texts, such as newspaper articles and extracts from literature
• writing personal and formal letters, articles, reports

The teaching method:
Your lessons will consist of revision and presentation of language, followed by intensive work in pairs and groups to maximize practice. If you want to make progress you will need to participate in every activity. The teacher will use a variety of approaches to help you develop your receptive and productive skills and to foster learner autonomy. You will be expected to research topics and give short presentations and to produce written work in appropriate style and register.