About the Course

This course, which is the third installment in the specialization series, aims to deepen learners' understanding of Spanish by introducing new vocabulary and grammar that are essential for discussing sports, pastimes, and politics—core elements of the cultural fabric of Spanish-speaking countries. Additionally, vocabulary related to travel and living arrangements will be covered. The grammatical structures taught will include the progressive tense and past tenses, along with an expanded set of helping verbs.

Course Details at a Glance:

  • Institution: UCDavis
  • Subject: Language
  • Level: Introductory
  • Prerequisites: None
  • Language: English
  • Video Transcript: English
  • Associated Programs: Professional Certificate in Learn Spanish: Basic Spanish Vocabulary

What Students Will Learn

  • Discuss sporting events, leisure activities, and accommodation using specialized vocabulary.
  • Apply progressive tense through using constructions like estar + present participle (e.g., ando, iendo).
  • Utilize and understand helping verbs in different contexts.
  • Express ongoing actions in the past using expressions like hace + time + present tense.
  • Conjugate and use verbs in the preterite past tense to refer to completed actions.
  • Select the appropriate adverb for describing actions and understand the nuances of past narrative tenses, distinguishing between the preterite and imperfect.
  • Produce and use irregular verbs in the preterite tense in conversation and writing.

Course Modules

  • Introduction to Vocabulary: Sports and Politics
  • Travel Vocabulary and Conversations
  • Understanding and Using Progressive Tense
  • The Role of Helping Verbands
  • Temporal Expressions with 'hace'
  • Detailed Study of the Preterite Tense
  • Navigating the Imperfect and Preterite Tenses
  • Irregular Verbs in the Preterite

Who This Course Is For

Individuals with basic knowledge of Spanish who wish to further enhance their linguistic skills, especially those interested in deepening their vocabularies and understanding complex grammatical structures to engage more fully in conversations about culturally relevant topics such as sports, politics, and travel.

Real-world Application

Strengthened command of Spanish through this course will enable learners to better navigate real-world scenarios, such as traveling in Spanish-speaking countries, participating in discussions about current events, or engaging in debates about sports. Additionally, these skills can prove beneficial in professional environments where bilingual communication is valued.