Registration for the 2024–25 programme is now closed.
PBS Language Proficiency Programme (LPP): Spanish level 1 and 2
Detailed module information
Modules available
Spanish level 1
Tutor:
Blanca del Cerro-García
Class dates: Starting in week commencing 14 October 2024 and finishing week commencing 10 March 2025.
Class times: Wednesdays from 13:00–15:00.
Frequency of class: Two hours of class contact and approximately 1.5 hours self-study a week are recommended in order to make good progress.
Venue: Fitzroy Building, Plymouth Business School.
Course fee: These classes are free of charge for the first 20 interested students.
Number of students: Maximum 20.
Recommended textbook: Foundations Spanish 1, (Palgrave 3rd edition,2017). ISBN-10:9781137579201 ISBN-13:978-1137579201.
Additional resources: These will be provided for you both in class and in the form of weekly private study learning packages (available on the DLE).
Cancelled classes: any classes that are cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances will be re-arranged by your tutor for a later date.
Description: Level 1 assumes no previous knowledge of the language.
The course introduces some of the basic structures of the language through topics related to social and everyday life in Spain. The focus is on listening, speaking and reading basic materials that introduce grammatical structures which will facilitate manipulation of the language. By the end of the course students will be able to use both the present and the future tense in Spanish. Elements of Spanish culture will be incorporated into the classes.
Methodology: Teaching is communicative with class work emphasising listening, speaking and practice of sentence structure. Self-study consists of reviewing the work done in class and practising language skills as advised by the tutor.
Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR): The learning outcomes for Level 1 are equivalent to level A1.1 of the Common European Framework of Reference, guidelines used across Europe to describe achievements of learners of foreign languages.
Spanish level 2
Tutor:
Blanca del Cerro-García
Class dates: Starting in week commencing 14 October 2024 and finishing week commencing 10 March 2025.
Class times: Wednesdays from 15:00–17:00.
Frequency of class: Two hours of class contact and approximately 1.5 hours self-study a week are recommended in order to make good progress.
Venue: Fitzroy Building, Plymouth Business School.
Course fee: These classes are free of charge for the first 20 interested students.
Number of students: Maximum 20.
Recommended textbook: Foundations Spanish 2, (Palgrave 1st edition,2005). ISBN-10:1403943389 ISBN-13:978-1403943385.
Additional resources: These will be provided for you both in class and in the form of weekly private study learning tasks (available on Moodle).
Cancelled classes: any classes that are cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances will be re-arranged by your tutor for a later date.
Description: Level 2 will assume that you have either completed level 1 or have a pass at GCSE. The course will develop communicative competence improving students’ ability to establish social and working relations with speakers of Spanish, to introduce key aspects of Spanish culture, and to handle useful routine writing and reading tasks. This module will cover the use of Spanish as a means of communication in such situations as may be encountered during daily life or during a period of temporary work in a Spanish speaking country. Vocabulary, grammar and independent learning strategies will be presented for the student to help build a strong foundation for continued Spanish language acquisition beyond this module.
Methodology: Teaching is communicative with class work emphasising listening, speaking and practice of sentence structure. Self-study consists of reviewing the work done in class and practising language skills as advised by the tutor.
Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR): The learning outcomes for Level 2 are equivalent to level A2.1 of the Common European Framework of Reference, guidelines used across Europe to describe achievements of learners of foreign languages.
Syllabus 2024/25
The Spanish language – did you know?
There are more than 580 million Spanish speakers and the number is set to grow. Spanish is the official language in 21 countries and the second most popular tongue for study. According to the 2020 Instituto Cervantes Spanish language review:
- The number of speakers has grown more than 30% and the group of students as a foreign language has expanded by almost 60%.
- Spanish is the second mother tongue in the world by number of speakers, after Mandarin Chinese.
- It is the third language in a global tally of speakers (native, limited proficiency and students of Spanish), after English and Mandarin Chinese.
- After English, Spanish is the most commonly used language in the publication of scientific texts.
