fbpx
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Print Preview

Return to previous page

Continuing Studies

Summary

Watch this short video about why our online Language program is one of the best in the country!

We have made this practical low-intermediate course (A2.1) even better with a new curriculum designed for adult language learners. Explore the cultural richness of the Spanish-speaking world through the voices and experiences of speakers from over 10 different countries. Learn to converse in the past tense, express opinions and discuss real-life situations from daily life, work and travel. Our adult-focused approach will improve your speaking, listening, reading and writing abilities. See Outline for more details.

Prerequisite: Spanish 2 or equivalent.

Find out if this is the right level for you with these placement tests: Spanish 2 self-placement test, Spanish 3 self-placement test.

Course format

You will practice speaking in weekly one-hour online sessions led by an experienced instructor, with a maximum of 12 participants.

The live online sessions begin one week after the scheduled course start date to allow time to work through the first unit of learning material in preparation for the live conversation practice.

Online course materials introduce new grammar and vocabulary and teach pronunciation, listening, and reading skills through videos, audio, and interactive exercises. Budget 3-4 hours a week to work through the online asynchronous content.

Course materials become available online on the scheduled course start date and remain accessible for one month after the course ends.

Want to know more about learning a language online? Read Dr. Julie Dahl's blog post about our online course format.

A printable workbook (PDF) is included in the price. All other materials are available through the course platform.

Sections anticipated for spring 2024 (See Upcoming Dates for open sections and more detail):

Tuesdays, April 2–June 18, 8:30–9:30 a.m. CT (No virtual conversation on May 28)

Sections anticipated for summer 2024 (See Upcoming Dates for open sections and more detail):

Wednesdays, April 17–July 3, 5–6 p.m. CT (No virtual conversation on May 29)

Wednesdays, April 17–July 3, 6:15–7:15 p.m. CT (No virtual conversation on May 29)

Mondays, May 6–July 22, 5:30–6:30 p.m. CT (No virtual conversation on May 27)

Mondays, May 6–July 22, 6:45–7:45 p.m. CT (No virtual conversation on May 27)

Course Outline

Course outline

Below are the main themes and outcomes for each unit. Each unit also contains teaching videos, 10-15 listening activities, an extended reading activity, practical exercises and cultural information related to the unit theme.

Unidad 1: ¡A conocernos!

  • Review conversations for getting to know people
  • Common Spanish commands
  • Irregular gerunds
  • Using llevar to express duration
  • Review common irregular verbs in the present tense
  • Reading: La costumbre de la siesta

Unidad 2: ¡A aprender!

  • Vocabulary: parts of speech
  • Discussing study habits and learning strategies
  • Going deeper with gustar and similar verbs
  • Regular verbs in simple past tense (el pretérito)
  • Giving opinions: opinar, creer, pensar, deber
  • Reading: Ricardo Arjona: una vida imposible de definir

Unidad 3: ¡A trabajar!

  • Vocabulary: workplace
  • Discussing where you like to work and what tools you need to work well
  • Direct object pronouns
  • Common expressions that use direct object pronouns
  • Irregular verbs in the preterite
  • Reading: La historia de una inmigrante

Unidad 4: ¡A viajar!

  • Vocabulary: travel and housing
  • Discussing travel preferences
  • Understanding directions
  • Describing past trips with the preterite
  • Polite expressions for asking for information
  • Contrast llevar and traer
  • Contrast ir and venir
  • Reading: Voy de viaje (una carta)

Unidad 5: ¡A repasar!

  • Prepositions of place
  • Impersonal se
  • Personal a
  • Review Unidades 1-4

Unidad 6: ¡A relajarnos!

  • Vocabulary: free time
  • Discussing ways to relax
  • Going deeper with reflexive verbs
  • Discussing changes in emotions
  • Contrasting demonstratives: este, ese, aquel
  • Reading: El poder de la música de Gustavo Dudamel

Unidad 7: ¡A charlar!

  • Vocabulary: chatting and informal conversations
  • Discussing different ways to communicate
  • Indirect object pronouns
  • Forming adverbs with –mente
  • Giving opinions: (no) estar de acuerdo
  • Reading: La cena es para disfrutarla

Unidad 8: ¡A tapear!

  • Vocabulary: food and ordering in restaurants
  • Discussing common Spanish tapas
  • Present perfect tense
  • Regular and irregular participles
  • Contrasting indefinites: algo, alguno, alguien
  • Reading: La paella: un plato que provoca mucho debate

Unidad 9: ¡A comprar en el barrio!

  • Vocabulary: small shops and local businesses
  • Discuss shopping and operating hours
  • Using hace…que to discuss how long something has been going on
  • Using hace to discuss how long ago something happened
  • Time structures with desde
  • Reading: Jubilarse en Cuenca, Ecuador

Unidad 10: ¡A terminar!

  • Discussing moments in the future
  • Review Unidades 6-10

Earn Continuing Education Hours

By participating in this class you will earn:

Instructional Hours 35
University of Wisconsin Continuing Education Units 3.5

Explanation of Continuing Education Hours

Upcoming dates

  • Join our mailing list

    Keep up to date about offerings at Continuing Studies. You'll receive information about upcoming classes and announcements.

  • Hidden
  • Hidden
  • By submitting this form, you agree to receive marketing email from UW–Madison Continuing Studies. Read our privacy policy.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Program Questions?

Contact Christopher Moore at christopher.moore@wisc.edu or 608-262-7389

Registration Questions?

Email registrations@pyle.wisc.edu or call 608-262-2451.

Continuing Studies FAQs

Meet your instructors

Pablo Pastore

(MA, UW-Madison) is a PhD candidate in the Department of Spanish & Portuguese. He holds a BA in Comparative Literature from Universidad de Buenos Aires (2019). Pablo has taught beginner-level Spanish courses at UW-Madison in addition to teaching beginner through intermediate courses for the Continuing Studies program. He enjoys teaching adults of all levels.

Rocío González-Espresati Clement

(PhD candidate, UW-Madison) completed a double BA in Mathematics and Spanish at Rice University, Houston, TX. Originally from Spain, she believes in language as a key tool to fostering healthy relations between individuals, as well as among communities. Diversity thrives through communication and language skills are a necessity for achieving these goals. Rocío's teaching style aims at providing students with skills to handle real- ife situations at all levels, through a comprehensive understanding of language and cultural context.

Bicho Azevedo

(PhD in Second Language Acquisition, UW-Madison) has taught beginning through advanced Spanish language and linguistic courses for over 20 years at different US universities. She enjoys learning from her students as they improve their Spanish skills. 

What Attendees Are Saying

"I had a great time in this class, and I learned a lot. It was exactly what I needed: a low-stress learning environment."
Bryn Sutherland
"I looked forward to class each week because of the instructor."