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Basic Spanish 1

Getting Started

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Begoña García Migura, Virginia González, Cristina Navarro, and Prof. Ana Gimeno

4.5

Based on 443 ratings

, see reviews

Begoña García Migura, Virginia González, Cristina Navarro, and Prof. Ana Gimeno

This 7-week Spanish language course is aimed at students who would like to learn conversational Spanish starting with Spanish basics. The course introduces everyday language and includes activities to practice all four language skills: reading comprehension, writing, listening comprehension and speaking.

This course will introduce you to the A1 proficiency level as described in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL, Council of Europe 2001). After completing this course, you will be prepared to introduce yourself, ask basic questions, and conduct a brief conversation in Spanish.

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This 7-week Spanish language course is aimed at students who would like to learn conversational Spanish starting with Spanish basics. The course introduces everyday language and includes activities to practice all four language skills: reading comprehension, writing, listening comprehension and speaking.

This course will introduce you to the A1 proficiency level as described in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL, Council of Europe 2001). After completing this course, you will be prepared to introduce yourself, ask basic questions, and conduct a brief conversation in Spanish.

This course uses reference materials, cultural notes, grammar explanations, functions of language, etc. Students will be able to monitor their progress by taking a number of performance tests and a final achievement test.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Basic conversational skills
The alphabet and numbers

How to describe your nationality, your likes, and your family
Using the verb to be ; basic conjugation

Basic conversational skills
The alphabet and numbers
How to describe your nationality, your likes, and your family
Using the verb to be ; basic conjugation

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides a solid introduction to conversational Spanish, building a foundation for further language learning

Well-structured course with clear learning objectives and a logical progression of topics

Taught by experienced instructors who provide clear and engaging explanations

Suitable for beginners with no prior knowledge of Spanish

Emphasizes practical language skills, equipping learners for real-world communication

May require additional practice and exposure to enhance fluency

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Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.

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Reviews summary

Basic spanish fundamentals for beginners

Learners say this course is a fantastic introduction to Spanish, particularly well-suited for complete beginners. Students praised the clear explanations and the logical step-by-step structure that helps build confidence gradually. The quizzes and exercises were found helpful for practice. However, some students noted a significant lack of opportunities for actual speaking practice, which they felt was a major drawback for a conversational course. A few reviewers also mentioned the pace might be too slow for learners with some prior Spanish knowledge.

Quizzes aided understanding and retention.

"The quizzes and exercises were helpful for practicing."

"Quizzes were useful for checking understanding."

Ideal starting point for those new to Spanish.

"...perfect for a complete beginner like me."

"Perfect for beginners."

"...Highly recommend for anyone starting out."

"Absolutely loved this course! As a complete beginner..."

Explanations were easy to follow and understand.

"The instructor's explanations were very clear..."

"...found the explanations incredibly clear and easy to follow."

"I found the explanations incredibly clear and easy to follow."

Pace might be slow for non-beginners.

"Too basic. If you already know a little Spanish, this might be too slow."

Limited chances to practice speaking skills.

"I wish there were more opportunities for actual speaking practice, maybe via peer review or something similar."

"...the lack of real speaking practice is a major drawback for a 'conversational' course."

"My main critique is the limited opportunity to actually speak and get feedback, which is crucial for language learning."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Basic Spanish 1: Getting Started with these activities:

Read '¡Hola! Spanish for Beginners' by Ana Martín

Show steps

Reading this beginner-friendly book provides a well-structured introduction to Spanish language basics.

View Hola, Amigos! (Lab Manual and Workbook) on Amazon

Show steps

Purchase the book or borrow it from a library.
Read one chapter a day and complete the exercises.
Summarize the key points from each chapter.

Practice Spanish Pronunciation, Vocabulary, and Basic Grammar

Show steps

Start by spending time practicing the alphabet, basic vocabulary, and introductory grammar to establish a proper foundation and reinforce basics.

Show steps

Use an online language learning platform like Duolingo or Babbel for 15 minutes.
Listen to Spanish music with lyrics and try to match the pronunciation.
Read basic Spanish children's books or short stories.

Practice Conjugating Regular and Irregular Spanish Verbs

Show steps

Practice the core building blocks of Spanish grammar by conjugating regular and irregular verbs.

Browse courses on Spanish Verbs

Show steps

Use an online verb conjugation tool like SpanishDict or WordReference.
Create your cheat sheet with common verb conjugations.

Show all three activities

Career center

Learners who complete Basic Spanish 1: Getting Started will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Spanish Teacher

Spanish Teachers help students to develop strong conversational skills, understand basic grammar, and gain proficiency in speaking, writing, reading, and listening in Spanish. This course can help you get started on your journey to becoming a Spanish Teacher, providing you with essential foundational knowledge in Spanish grammar, conversation starters, and basic level Spanish vocabulary. After completing this course, you will be prepared to continue learning Spanish so that you can effectively teach the language to students in a classroom or online setting.

See salaries and explore the career path for Spanish Teacher

Translator

Translators use their knowledge of grammar and vocabulary in two or more languages to accurately convey the meaning of written or spoken communication from one language to another. This course helps you develop the reading comprehension, writing, listening comprehension and speaking skills required by Translators. While this course, on its own, may not be enough to become a Translator, it is an important step towards building a foundation for your future career.

See salaries and explore the career path for Translator

Foreign Language Interpreter

Foreign Language Interpreters help facilitate communication between parties who do not share a common language. They generally specialize in one or two languages, and must have the ability to interpret both spoken and written language. This course can be a helpful first step on your journey to becoming an Interpreter, as it provides training in conversation skills, essential grammar, and reading comprehension in Spanish. A strong showing in this course may also help you build the skills to pass the certification exams required to become a Foreign Language Interpreter.

See salaries and explore the career path for Foreign Language Interpreter

Interpreter

Interpreters help facilitate communication between parties who do not share a common language. Training to become an Interpreter requires proficiency in more than one language, including advanced knowledge of grammar. This makes this course an ideal first step on your journey to becoming an Interpreter, as it provides foundational training in conversation skills, essential grammar, and reading comprehension in Spanish. Completing this course with a strong grade will also help you build the skills needed to pass language proficiency exams and certification exams required to become a professional Interpreter.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interpreter

Teacher

Teachers help students to develop strong conversational skills, understand basic grammar, and gain proficiency in speaking, writing, reading, and listening in a specific subject. While this course is focused on basic Spanish conversation, you can use the skills you learn to eventually teach other subjects, such as your native language, in Spanish-speaking countries.

See salaries and explore the career path for Teacher

Writer

Writers use their strong command of language to communicate ideas and information to readers. This course will help you build a solid foundation in Spanish grammar and vocabulary, which will be invaluable if you are interested in writing in Spanish. After completing this course, you will be prepared to continue your Spanish studies, and you may eventually use these language skills to pursue a career as a Writer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Writer

Editor

Editors work to ensure written material is free of errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. This may involve working with writers to improve clarity and flow. A strong grasp of grammar is essential for an Editor, and this course provides an excellent introduction to the basics of Spanish grammar.

See salaries and explore the career path for Editor

Journalist

Journalists gather, analyze, and report on news and current events. They must be able to communicate effectively in writing and speech. This course will help you develop a basic level of proficiency in Spanish, which will come in handy if you wish to conduct interviews, research stories, or report on events in Spanish-speaking countries.

See salaries and explore the career path for Journalist

Librarian

Librarians help people find and access information. They may also provide instruction on how to use library resources. This course will give you a basic understanding of Spanish grammar and vocabulary, which can be helpful if you are interested in working in a library that serves a Spanish-speaking community.

See salaries and explore the career path for Librarian

Event Planner

Event Planners organize and coordinate events, such as weddings, conferences, and parties. They must be able to communicate effectively with clients and vendors. This foundational course in Spanish grammar and conversation may be helpful if you plan to work as an event planner for Spanish-speaking clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Event Planner

Administrative Assistant

Administrative Assistants provide support to managers and other professionals. They may answer phones, schedule appointments, and manage correspondence. This course in basic Spanish conversation and grammar could be helpful in an administrative role that requires interaction with Spanish-speaking clients or colleagues.

See salaries and explore the career path for Administrative Assistant

Customer Service Representative

Customer Service Representatives provide support to customers by phone, email, or chat. They must be able to communicate effectively and resolve customer issues. This course in Spanish conversation and grammar could be helpful if you are interested in working as a Customer Service Representative for a company that serves Spanish-speaking customers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Customer Service Representative

Sales Representative

Sales Representatives sell products or services to customers. They must be able to communicate effectively and persuade customers to make a purchase. This course in Spanish conversation and grammar may be helpful if you are interested in working as a Sales Representative for a company that sells products or services to Spanish-speaking customers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Representative

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers develop and execute marketing campaigns to promote products or services. They must be able to communicate effectively with customers and stakeholders. This course in Spanish conversation and grammar could be helpful if you are interested in working as a Marketing Manager for a company that markets products or services to Spanish-speaking customers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Human Resources Manager

Human Resources Managers oversee all aspects of human resources, including recruitment, hiring, training, and employee relations. They must be able to communicate effectively with employees and management. This course in Spanish conversation and grammar could be helpful if you are interested in working as a Human Resources Manager for a company with Spanish-speaking employees.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Manager

Reading list

We've selected seven books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Basic Spanish 1: Getting Started.

Cover image

Cover image

Complete Spanish Workbook For Adult Beginners

Save

This textbook is commonly used at academic institutions in the United States and is particularly useful for additional reading or as a reference tool.

Complete Spanish Workbook For Adult Beginners:...

Cover image

Cover image

Sociolingüística y Pragmática Del Español

Save

Is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions and by industry professionals and useful reference tool for intermediate Spanish learners.

Sociolingüística y pragmática del español...

(Español) Sociolingüística y pragmática del español: segunda...

Cover image

Cover image

Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish

Save

Is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions and by industry professionals and useful reference tool for basic grammar and vocabulary.

Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish: A Creative and...

Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish: A Creative and...

Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish: A Creative and...

Cover image

Cover image

Las variedades de la lengua española y su enseñanza

Save

Is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions and by industry professionals and useful reference tool for intermediate Spanish learners.

Las variedades de la lengua española y su enseñanza

Las variedades de la lengua española y su enseñanza

Cover image

Cover image

Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Verb Tenses,...

Save

Is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions and useful reference tool for basic grammar and vocabulary.

Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Verb Tenses,...

Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Verb Tenses,...

Cover image

Cover image

501 Spanish Verbs, Tenth Edition

Save

Is commonly used as a reference tool for Spanish verb conjugations.

501 Spanish Verbs, Tenth Edition

501 Spanish Verbs, Tenth Edition

Cover image

Cover image

Easy Spanish Step-By-Step

Save

Is commonly used for beginning Spanish language learners and is useful for additional reading or as a reference tool.

Easy Spanish Step-By-Step

Advanced Spanish Step-by-Step: Master Accelerated...

Easy Spanish Step-By-Step

(Español) Advanced Spanish Step-by-Step: Master Accelerated...

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Course image

Rating

4.5

Effort

4 to 5 hours per week for 7 weeks

Level

Introductory

Via

edX

Institution

Universitat Politècnica de València

Instructors

Begoña García Migura

Virginia González

Cristina Navarro

Prof. Ana Gimeno

Language

English

Transcripts

English Español

This course belongs to a collection called Basic Spanish. It's comprised of three courses:

Basic Spanish 3: Getting there
Basic Spanish 1: Getting Started (viewing)
Basic Spanish 2: One Step Further

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides a solid introduction to conversational Spanish, building a foundation for further language learning

Well-structured course with clear learning objectives and a logical progression of topics

Taught by experienced instructors who provide clear and engaging explanations

Suitable for beginners with no prior knowledge of Spanish

Emphasizes practical language skills, equipping learners for real-world communication

May require additional practice and exposure to enhance fluency

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