Spoken & Literary Spanish for High Schoolers

This course is only offered in person to students in the Moscow, Idaho area. Meeting place TBD.

Learn to speak Spanish beyond the touristic. Let's talk about not only our families and our gardens, but about our Bibles and mythology and classic literature.

The course will be taught to a small group (seats are limited) in a round-table setting. Although the goals of this course are lofty, do not be intimidated. There will be lots of handholding. Absolutely no previous Spanish is required. What will be necessary is an enthusiastic and dedicated approach, as well as a desire to speak and learn Spanish contextually. An adventurous spirit will also be helpful, and I will help you cultivate that.

If you are signing up for this course because your parents want you to be able to check a box in your list of high school requirements, this is not the class for you.

This course will cover in one year what is covered by most good Spanish courses in two years. The course will be taught in a round-table fashion with a small group, with an emphasis on conversation, especially on conversations that go beyond "una conversación en el parque".

The course is worth two credits (i.e. two "years") in the Kepler Education system.

Semester 1 Objectives:

• Have a good understanding of beginning Spanish grammar and syntax, including the use of various pronoun types and of three principal tenses of the indicative mood, i.e. present, preterit (simple past), and future.
• Be able to speak, within a limited set of topics, in a way that reflects the knowledge above.

Semester 2 Objectives:

• Expand grammar and syntax knowledge to include imperfect past, compound tenses, and subjunctive mood.
• Be confident in saying that your Spanish is indeed conversational, at least in a friendly environment.

Texts

Primary texts will be provided by teacher. Also required: William T. Tardy, Easy Spanish Reader: A Three-Part Text for Beginning Students (2nd edition), McGraw Hill ($14.50 new) Barron’s 501 Spanish Verbs (any edition, $9.99) Bible, version RVR 1960 (Reina Valera 1960), not bilingual