Spanish Vocabulary: Meeting People (Coursera)

¡Hola! ¿Como Estas? In this entry level course, you will take the first step toward exploring the foundations of Spanish grammar and pronunciation, and will begin to build a working vocabulary of common Spanish words and expressions. You will be able to talk about yourself, your family and friends in the present tense, and begin to explore the cultural context of the Spanish-speaking world through a series of videos and interactive activities, including speaking, reading and writing exercises. The adventure begins here, so ¡vamanos!

Who is this class for: This course is aimed at anyone interested in learning the Spanish language and/or has the need to learn Spanish for personal, professional or academic purposes, especially if you focus on oral proficiency.

Course 1 of 5 in the Learn Spanish: Basic Spanish Vocabulary Specialization.

Syllabus

WEEK 1

Module 1: Talking About Family and Friends

The first module introduces Spanish grammar and pronunciation and you will begin to build your Spanish vocabulary. By the end of the module, you’ll be able to talk about yourself and your family and will be able to count to 10 in Spanish. We’ll also discuss and practice the “ar” verbs and the useful verb tener. By the end of the module you will have started laying the foundations of your vocabulary.

Graded: Module 1 Review

WEEK 2

Module 2: Talking About the Body

In module 2, you’ll continue to build your Spanish vocabulary and will be able to talk about the body and physical sensations using the verb estar. Building on the vocabulary you learned in the first module, you will also able to count to 100. Throughout the module, we’ll practice conjugating the “ar,” “er” and “ir” verbs in the present tense.

Graded: Module 2 Review

WEEK 3

Module 3: Talking About Places and Weather

In this module you’ll continue to build your Spanish vocabulary as we discuss the topics of places and weather. We’ll continue to practice the “ar,” “er” and “ir” verbs, and we’ll introduce some irregular verbs. By the end of the module, you’ll also be able to make comparisons using possessive adjectives. You’ll engage with a native of Mexico and explore her native city.

Graded: Module 3 Review

Course Peer Review Activity

In the final assignment for this course, you will write a brief introduction about yourself in Spanish (approximately 100-200 words) to tell your peers a little about yourself. You will then record and upload a video of you reading this introduction to the class. Click on the Peer Review activity link below to learn more about this assignment.

Graded: Introduce Yourself