Spanish
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- May 11, 2021
Spanish for Reading and Translation: Basic
Summary
Develop the skills you need to read and accurately translate Spanish texts to English. Using texts from various disciplines in the social sciences and humanities, you learn the fundamentals of the Spanish language and Spanish-to-English translation. Start with the basics and work your way through progressively more challenging grammatical concepts that appear in the scholarly texts you translate. Along the way, you learn key grammar structures and reading strategies, and build your vocabulary.
While no prior knowledge of Spanish is required, basic to high-intermediate Spanish-speakers can use the course to review essential grammar, build vocabulary and increase accuracy in translation.
Details
Course components
This course uses a free open online textbook and builds on that material through more examples and explanations, as well as a variety of activities and assessments that you access via the Canvas course site:
- Comprehension checks (quick, non-graded self-checks)
- 29 quizzes (in-depth, graded practice that can be repeated)
- Self-practice activities (short texts that you translate and compare to sample translations)
- Written assignments (6 assignments that increase in complexity and are corrected by the instructor with personal feedback)
- Final project (you choose 1 of 3 scholarly texts to translate and turn into the instructor for comments)
Course objectives
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- Read and understand, with the help of a dictionary, scholarly texts pertinent to their field of research
- Identify fundamental Spanish grammatical structures and syntax
- Recognize essential Spanish vocabulary words
- Have increased confidence in translation abilities
Required reading
- Spanish for Reading Knowledge
- Spanish/English dictionary (not a pocket dictionary)
Is this course right for you?
If the following statements accurately describe you, you are a good candidate for our online course:
- I am a skilled reader who is at ease with written instructions and lessons.
- I am a self-directed learner, with the initiative to visit a course site regularly.
- I am comfortable participating in a course in writing.
- I can continue learning independently while waiting for feedback on assignments.
- I am organized and able to meet deadlines.
- I enjoy working on a computer.
- I have 5 to 8 hours weekly that I can devote to this online course.
If these statements do not accurately describe you, please consider taking a in-person class.
Outline
Course organization
This course consists of 13 modules or units. Here you can see the major topics covered in each module.
Modules 1-2
- Alphabet, how to use a dictionary, punctuation and capitalization rules
- Gender of nouns
- Definite and indefinite articles
- Adjective/noun agreement
Module 3
- Introduction to present tense verbs
- Ser, estar, tener
- Adjective placement
Module 4
- More present tense verbs
- Irregular verbs in the present
- Article omission
- Infinitives
Module 5
- Stem-changing verbs
- Demonstrative adjectives
- Prepositions por and para
Module 6
- Reflexive verbs
- Imperfect tense
- Adverbs and prepositional phrases
- Uses of se
Module 7
- Preterite tense (Part 1)
- Negative, positive, and indefinite words
- Pronouns (Direct and Indirect)
Module 8
- Other verbs used to express “to be”
- Present participle and progressive forms
- Irregular verbs in the preterite
Module 9
- Pronouns (Double object, prepositional)
- Pronoun summary
- Verbs like gustar
Module 10
- Structures with hacer
- Past participle and compound tenses
Module 11
- Introduction to the subjunctive
- Forms of the present subjunctive
- Verbs that mean “to become.”
Module 12
- Future tense
- Conditional tense
- Past subjunctive
- Contrary-to-fact sentences
- Begin to review the Final Project instructions
Module 13
- Past perfect subjunctive
- Relative pronouns
- Passive voice
Work on Final Project
Develop the skills you need to read and accurately translate Spanish texts to English. Using texts from various disciplines in the social sciences and humanities, you learn the fundamentals of the Spanish language and Spanish-to-English translation. Start with the basics and work your way through progressively more challenging grammatical concepts that appear in the scholarly texts you translate. Along the way, you learn key grammar structures and reading strategies, and build your vocabulary.
While no prior knowledge of Spanish is required, basic to high-intermediate Spanish-speakers can use the course to review essential grammar, build vocabulary and increase accuracy in translation.
Details
Details
Course components
This course uses a free open online textbook and builds on that material through more examples and explanations, as well as a variety of activities and assessments that you access via the Canvas course site:
- Comprehension checks (quick, non-graded self-checks)
- 29 quizzes (in-depth, graded practice that can be repeated)
- Self-practice activities (short texts that you translate and compare to sample translations)
- Written assignments (6 assignments that increase in complexity and are corrected by the instructor with personal feedback)
- Final project (you choose 1 of 3 scholarly texts to translate and turn into the instructor for comments)
Course objectives
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- Read and understand, with the help of a dictionary, scholarly texts pertinent to their field of research
- Identify fundamental Spanish grammatical structures and syntax
- Recognize essential Spanish vocabulary words
- Have increased confidence in translation abilities
Required reading
- Spanish for Reading Knowledge
- Spanish/English dictionary (not a pocket dictionary)
Is this course right for you?
If the following statements accurately describe you, you are a good candidate for our online course:
- I am a skilled reader who is at ease with written instructions and lessons.
- I am a self-directed learner, with the initiative to visit a course site regularly.
- I am comfortable participating in a course in writing.
- I can continue learning independently while waiting for feedback on assignments.
- I am organized and able to meet deadlines.
- I enjoy working on a computer.
- I have 5 to 8 hours weekly that I can devote to this online course.
If these statements do not accurately describe you, please consider taking a in-person class.
Outline
Course organization
This course consists of 13 modules or units. Here you can see the major topics covered in each module.
Modules 1-2
- Alphabet, how to use a dictionary, punctuation and capitalization rules
- Gender of nouns
- Definite and indefinite articles
- Adjective/noun agreement
Module 3
- Introduction to present tense verbs
- Ser, estar, tener
- Adjective placement
Module 4
- More present tense verbs
- Irregular verbs in the present
- Article omission
- Infinitives
Module 5
- Stem-changing verbs
- Demonstrative adjectives
- Prepositions por and para
Module 6
- Reflexive verbs
- Imperfect tense
- Adverbs and prepositional phrases
- Uses of se
Module 7
- Preterite tense (Part 1)
- Negative, positive, and indefinite words
- Pronouns (Direct and Indirect)
Module 8
- Other verbs used to express “to be”
- Present participle and progressive forms
- Irregular verbs in the preterite
Module 9
- Pronouns (Double object, prepositional)
- Pronoun summary
- Verbs like gustar
Module 10
- Structures with hacer
- Past participle and compound tenses
Module 11
- Introduction to the subjunctive
- Forms of the present subjunctive
- Verbs that mean “to become.”
Module 12
- Future tense
- Conditional tense
- Past subjunctive
- Contrary-to-fact sentences
- Begin to review the Final Project instructions
Module 13
- Past perfect subjunctive
- Relative pronouns
- Passive voice
Work on Final Project
Earn Credit Hours
By participating in this class you will earn:
Continuing Education Hours
30
Continuing Education Units, CEU
3
What Attendees Are Saying:
“The professor provided excellent feedback.” — Amy Bauschicher
“The feedback provided throughout the course was invaluable—I don’t think I would have progressed through the term as easily or quickly without the timely and easy to understand feedback that was given.” — Kyle Keeler
Upcoming Dates
All times shown are central time.
Register by phone: 608-262-2451
Register by mail: printable registration form
Schedule
May 11–Aug. 31
Instructor(s)
ERIN PAUL-SCHUETTER
ERIN PAUL-SCHUETTER Erin Paul-Schuetter (PhD, UW-Madison) teaches intermediate and advanced Spanish language courses for Continuing Studies. She also teaches online for credit Spanish language and literature courses for UW Independent Learning.
Fee
$435 | graduate students $335
Location
Complete online
Earn Credit Hours
By participating in this class you will earn:
Questions?
Registration:Questions about this program:
- Christopher Moore
- christopher.moore@wisc.edu
- 608-262-7389
Cancellation Policy:
$25 fee if you cancel before the course opens. If you cancel less than 3 business days but before the course opens and up to 4 business days after the course opens, there will be an 80 percent refund minus a $25 fee. No refunds after 4 business days.
Accessibility Accommodations:
Please email the contact person listed above at least 2-3 weeks prior to the start of class if you require an accessibility accommodation.
What Attendees Are Saying:
“The professor provided excellent feedback.” — Amy Bauschicher
“The feedback provided throughout the course was invaluable—I don’t think I would have progressed through the term as easily or quickly without the timely and easy to understand feedback that was given.” — Kyle Keeler
Have Questions?
Contact:- Christopher Moore
- christopher.moore@wisc.edu
- 608-262-7389
ERIN PAUL-SCHUETTER
ERIN PAUL-SCHUETTER Erin Paul-Schuetter (PhD, UW-Madison) teaches intermediate and advanced Spanish language courses for Continuing Studies. She also teaches online for credit Spanish language and literature courses for UW Independent Learning.
Stay In Touch
Keep up to date about Spanish offerings at Continuing Studies. You'll receive upcoming announcements and information related to Languages.
Upcoming Dates
All times shown are central time.
Available online
May 11 - August 31, 2021
7064-22-LSA
Register by phone: 608-262-2451
Register by mail: printable registration form
Schedule
May 11–Aug. 31
Add to CalendarInstructor(s)
ERIN PAUL-SCHUETTER
ERIN PAUL-SCHUETTER Erin Paul-Schuetter (PhD, UW-Madison) teaches intermediate and advanced Spanish language courses for Continuing Studies. She also teaches online for credit Spanish language and literature courses for UW Independent Learning.
Fee
$435 | graduate students $335
Location
Complete online
Earn Credit Hours
By participating in this class you will earn:
Continuing Education Hours
30
Continuing Education Units, CEU
3
Questions?
Registration:Questions about this program:
- Christopher Moore
- christopher.moore@wisc.edu
- 608-262-7389
Cancellation Policy:
$25 fee if you cancel before the course opens. If you cancel less than 3 business days but before the course opens and up to 4 business days after the course opens, there will be an 80 percent refund minus a $25 fee. No refunds after 4 business days.
Accessibility Accommodations:
Please email the contact person listed above at least 2-3 weeks prior to the start of class if you require an accessibility accommodation.
What Attendees Are Saying:
“The professor provided excellent feedback.” — Amy Bauschicher
“The feedback provided throughout the course was invaluable—I don’t think I would have progressed through the term as easily or quickly without the timely and easy to understand feedback that was given.” — Kyle Keeler
- Christopher Moore
- christopher.moore@wisc.edu
- 608-262-7389
Cancellation Policy:
$25 fee if you cancel before the course opens. If you cancel less than 3 business days but before the course opens and up to 4 business days after the course opens, there will be an 80 percent refund minus a $25 fee. No refunds after 4 business days.
Have Questions?
We have collected answers to common questions in our
FAQs.
You can also contact Customer Service at or
608-262-1156.
Continuing Studies FAQs