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 summer 2024 (See Upcoming Dates for open sections and more detail):
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)
Sections anticipated for fall 2024 (See Upcoming Dates for open sections and more detail):
Wednesdays, Sept. 11–Nov. 20, 8:30–9:30 a.m. CT
Tuesdays, Sept. 24–Dec. 10, 5:30–6:30 p.m. CT (No virtual conversation on Nov. 26)
Tuesdays, Sept. 24–Dec. 10, 6:45–7:45 p.m. CT (No virtual conversation on Nov. 26)
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 |
Upcoming dates (2)
Spanish 3
Location: Online
Course #: 7053-C-LAAS-4732-25-LSA
Fee: $279 For registration assistance: 608-262-2451
continuingstudies.wisc.edu/7053-C-LAAS
Fee
$279
Schedule
The course runs May 6–July 22, with 10 live conversation sessions on Mondays, starting May 13. Live conversation small groups are scheduled between 5:30–6:30 p.m. See summary for details. (No virtual conversation session on May 27).
Register through: May 05, 2024
All times shown in central time.
Instructor
Subject Area:
Cancellation Policy
- Cancel before the class start date (the day materials are made available): and receive a full refund minus a $25 administrative fee.
- Cancel after the class start date (the day materials are made available) but before the second virtual conversation session: receive an 80% refund minus a $25 administrative fee.
- Cancel after the second virtual conversation session: no refund.
Spanish 3
Location: Online
Course #: 7053-C-LAAS-4733-25-LSA
Fee: $279 For registration assistance: 608-262-2451
continuingstudies.wisc.edu/7053-C-LAAS
Fee
$279
Schedule
The course runs May 6–July 22, with 10 live conversation sessions on Mondays, starting May 13. Live conversation small groups are scheduled between 6:45–7:45 p.m. See summary for details. (No virtual conversation session on May 27).
Register through: May 05, 2024
All times shown in central time.
Instructor
Subject Area:
Cancellation Policy
- Cancel before the class start date (the day materials are made available): and receive a full refund minus a $25 administrative fee.
- Cancel after the class start date (the day materials are made available) but before the second virtual conversation session: receive an 80% refund minus a $25 administrative fee.
- Cancel after the second virtual conversation session: no refund.