Note: A placement exam will be required when you arrive on site.

Intermediate

This course is designed for students who have completed or tested out of a minimum of two semesters (or three quarters) of college-level Spanish. However, students must take a placement exam to determine the course level into which they will be able to enroll.

Advanced

This course is designed for students who have completed or tested out of a minimum of four semesters (or six quarters) of college-level Spanish. However, students must take a placement exam to determine the course level into which they will be able to enroll.

The Spanish conversation course is aimed at foreign students interested in furthering their resources and strategies for successful communication in everyday contexts. The course encourages fluent and natural speech by enhancing interaction and the use of adequate oral expression and comprehension strategies in particular contexts.

PROGRAM (first quadrimester)

1. Strategies and resources for:

• Solving lexical problems without interrupting conversation

• Asking for a repetition or explanation

• Catching the attention of the listener, introducing a comment

• Starting to speak, interrupting, asking for an explanation

• Letting someone speak, asking for agreement

2.Expressive strategies and resources:

• Agreement and disagreement

• Recognition, incredulity and doubt

• Surprise, joy and sadness

• Suggestions

• Acceptance

3.Use of colloquial expressions and idioms in conversation (I)

4.Communicative situations and topics for debate:

• Advantages and disadvantages of different occupations

• Health and sport

• Shopping: malls, supermarkets and traditional shops

• Travelling in Spain

• Clothes and fashion

• Technology

• The media

• Living in Spain. The main differences between Spain and other countries

BASIC READING LIST

GENERAL:

Reading pack “Spanish conversation” (Photocopies of communicative situations, social conventions, vocabulary, idioms, texts and articles on topical issues)

SPECIFIC:

FERNÁNDEZ CINTO, J. (1999): Actos de habla de la lengua española, Madrid, CID, Edelsa.

GONZÁLEZ , A. �" ROMERO, C. (1999): Puesta a punto, Madrid, Edelsa.

L�"PEZ, M. R. (1999): Hablemos en clase, Madrid, Ediumen.

L�"PEZ, G. - L�"PEZ, M. R. (2003): Conversemos en clase, Madrid, Ediumen.

PROGRAM (second quadrimester)

1.Strategies and resources for:

• Defining and describing

• Asking for an explanation

• Clarifying and reformulating

2.Expressive strategies and resources:

a. Agreement and disagreement

b. Ignorance or doubt

c. Interest and incredulity

d. Advice and recommendations

e. Turning down requests

f. Gratitude, excuses and good wishes

3.Use of colloquial expressions and idioms in conversation (II)

4.Communicative situations and topics for conversation and debate:

a. Spain: clichés and reality

b. Going out in Barcelona. Barcelona at night

c. Equality between men and women?

d. Life in the country, life in the city

e. Television

f. Travelling abroad: tourists and emigrants

g. Advertising in the consumer society

h. Family: living alone, living together

BASIC READING LIST

GENERAL:

Reading pack “Spanish conversation” (Photocopies of communicative situations, social conventions, vocabulary, idioms, texts and articles on a range of topical issues)

SPECIFIC:

FERNÁNDEZ CINTO, J. (1999): Actos de habla de la lengua española, Madrid, CID, Edelsa.

GONZÁLEZ , A. �" ROMERO, C. (1999): Puesta a punto, Madrid, Edelsa.

L�"PEZ, M. R. (1999): Hablemos en clase, Madrid, Ediumen.

L�"PEZ, G. - L�"PEZ, M. R. (2003): Conversemos en clase, Madrid, Ediumen.