Intermediate

Intermediate Spanish Grammar

Intermediate Spanish is third in a four-course sequence. This course provides additional practice to help students attain a higher level of skill development (e.g., listening, speaking, reading and writing) and linguistic accuracy. The course favors a skill-based approach in which students gain mastery of the language through the use of authentic materials taken from various sources (e.g., periodicals, video and radio documentaries). The selection of the materials is based on the complexity of the tasks and the students’ professional and personal interest.

In order to acquire the four skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing), students must also possess knowledge of vocabulary (both general and specific) and grammar. It is important to realize, however, that vocabulary and grammar are means to an end; knowing the definition of vocabulary items or being able to recite grammar rules is not using the language. Students must learn vocabulary and grammar in order to improve and accelerate the skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Therefore, the teaching of grammar and vocabulary is integrated to the skill-based activities, and it is incorporated in the class activities as an aid to overcome any communicative problems.

The teaching techniques are student-centered, with the instructor as the facilitator, and the goal of teaching to make students independent users of Spanish. The teaching of Spanish is situational and classes will take into account and profit from the natural context of a foreign student living in Lima. All class sessions will be conducted exclusively in Spanish.