We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Course image
Kieran Ball

Hello and welcome to “3 Minute Spanish - Course 4” The aim of this course is to make Spanish accessible to anybody regardless of age, educational background or "aptitude" for learning. This course leads on from "3 Minute Spanish – Courses 1, 2 and 3" and new language structures are introduced to enable you to communicate in more situations when on holiday abroad.

Read more

Hello and welcome to “3 Minute Spanish - Course 4” The aim of this course is to make Spanish accessible to anybody regardless of age, educational background or "aptitude" for learning. This course leads on from "3 Minute Spanish – Courses 1, 2 and 3" and new language structures are introduced to enable you to communicate in more situations when on holiday abroad.

My method for teaching Spanish is simple but effective. It works for anybody, no matter what your requirements. I have been teaching foreign languages for over ten years and I’ve taught a wide range of students of all ages and backgrounds, including students with learning difficulties, so I know my method is accessible to absolutely anyone, with no exception.

With this course, it’s almost as if you have your very own language tutor at your beck and call. Take it with you wherever you are and have a quick listen to one of the lessons whenever you find yourself with three minutes to spare. You will be amazed at how much your language skills will develop after just a few minutes a day of study. You will start to learn the Spanish language in a simple, logical and fun way.

You will learn a variety of words that you will learn to put together to form sentences that will be useful in any visit to Spain or any other Spanish speaking country, and you'll learn how to put the words together to form sentences, saying exactly what you want.

There is ample opportunity throughout the course to practise what you've learnt, and structured repetition ensures you'll never forget what you've learnt.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Learn some more useful question phrases you can use in lots of situations.
  • Learn some more verbs and start to add different structures to your language.
  • Learn a technique called "building motors" to help speed you along to fluency
  • Learn more in-depth ways to greet people and talk about how you're feeling
  • Learn some new adjectives, adverbs and adverbial phrases
  • Learn about spanish honorifics and how to introduce yourself
  • Learn how to confirm and change reservations
  • Get to know the first "structure" in spanish
  • Learn a few phrases to help you describe things in the past
  • Learn how to talk about illnesses in spanish

Syllabus

Introduction
Introduction a
Introduction b
Introduction c
Read more

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Builds upon previous courses, which may help learners solidify their understanding of basic Spanish concepts and grammar
Introduces new language structures, which enables learners to communicate in more situations while traveling abroad
Teaches learners how to form sentences, which allows them to express themselves effectively in Spanish-speaking environments
Requires completion of the first three courses, which may not suit learners who prefer standalone lessons or have some prior knowledge
Employs structured repetition, which helps learners retain new vocabulary and grammar concepts more effectively over time

Save this course

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

Reviews summary

Accessible bite-sized spanish for beginners

According to learners, this course provides a great continuation for those who have completed the previous 3 Minute Spanish courses. Students appreciate the short, manageable lesson format, which makes it easy to fit language learning into a busy schedule. The focus on practical phrases useful for travel and holidays is highlighted as a key strength. Reviewers often mention the effectiveness of the repetition and the 'Building Motors' technique for helping them remember vocabulary and structures. Some learners note that while it's excellent for building a basic foundation and reinforcing prior knowledge, those seeking more in-depth grammar or extensive speaking practice may find it less comprehensive on its own.
Builds upon previous courses.
"This course is a natural progression from Course 3 and fits well."
"You really need to have taken Courses 1-3 to follow this one easily."
"Great for reinforcing concepts from the earlier parts of the series."
Repetition aids memorization.
"The structured repetition really helps solidify the vocabulary and grammar."
"The 'Building Motors' technique is a clever way to construct sentences."
"I found the simple method surprisingly effective for retaining what I learned."
Focuses on useful everyday situations.
"The phrases taught are incredibly useful for my planned trip to Spain."
"I'm learning words and sentences I can actually use right away on holiday."
"Covers essential conversational topics like greetings and reservations."
Easy to fit into a busy schedule.
"The 3-minute format is perfect for squeezing in lessons throughout the day."
"I love how quick the lessons are, I can learn on my commute."
"Ideal for busy people; you can really just listen for a few minutes at a time."
Good for beginners, might lack depth.
"Provides a solid basic understanding but doesn't go into deep grammar."
"Good for learning phrases, less so for complex sentence structures."
"Excellent starting point, but plan to supplement with other practice methods."

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 3 Minute Spanish - Course 4 | Language lessons for beginners with these activities:
Review Spanish Greetings and Introductions
Solidify your understanding of basic Spanish greetings and introductions before starting the course. This will make it easier to build upon that foundation.
Show steps
  • Review common Spanish greetings like 'Hola', 'Buenos días', 'Buenas tardes', and 'Buenas noches'.
  • Practice introducing yourself and asking others their names in Spanish.
  • Familiarize yourself with polite phrases like 'Por favor' and 'Gracias'.
Read 'Spanish for Dummies'
Supplement your learning with a comprehensive guide to Spanish grammar and vocabulary. This book can serve as a valuable reference throughout the course.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Spanish for Dummies'.
  • Read the chapters covering basic grammar and vocabulary.
  • Complete the exercises at the end of each chapter.
Practice Question Formation
Reinforce your ability to form questions in Spanish. This course covers question phrases, so practice will help you master this skill.
Show steps
  • Create a list of common question words in Spanish (e.g., ¿Qué?, ¿Dónde?, ¿Cuándo?).
  • Write out 10-15 questions using these words, focusing on topics covered in the course.
  • Practice saying the questions aloud to improve pronunciation.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Read 'Easy Spanish Step-by-Step'
Enhance your understanding of Spanish grammar and sentence structure with a step-by-step guide. This book provides a structured approach to learning.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Easy Spanish Step-by-Step'.
  • Work through the chapters sequentially, completing the exercises.
  • Review any concepts that you find challenging.
Create a Spanish Phrasebook
Solidify your vocabulary and grammar knowledge by creating your own personalized Spanish phrasebook. This will help you retain information and prepare for real-world conversations.
Show steps
  • Compile a list of useful phrases from the course and other resources.
  • Organize the phrases by category (e.g., greetings, food, travel).
  • Include translations and notes on grammar and usage.
  • Design and format your phrasebook for easy reference.
Spanish Conversation Exchange
Improve your fluency and pronunciation by practicing with a native Spanish speaker or another learner. This provides valuable real-world experience.
Show steps
  • Find a language partner online or in your local community.
  • Schedule regular conversation sessions.
  • Prepare topics and questions in advance.
  • Provide feedback to each other on grammar and pronunciation.
Plan a Trip to a Spanish-Speaking Country
Apply your Spanish language skills by planning a hypothetical trip. This will help you practice using the vocabulary and grammar you've learned in a practical context.
Show steps
  • Choose a Spanish-speaking country to visit.
  • Research flights, accommodation, and activities.
  • Create a detailed itinerary using Spanish phrases.
  • Practice ordering food, asking for directions, and making reservations in Spanish.

Career center

Learners who complete 3 Minute Spanish - Course 4 | Language lessons for beginners will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Hospitality Worker
Hospitality workers interact with guests from a variety of backgrounds, and this course may be helpful in learning basic Spanish phrases and vocabulary which allows for clearer communication with Spanish speaking guests. This course introduces Spanish phrases related to greetings, health, and making reservations that may be relevant in a hospitality setting. The course helps build a foundation for spoken communication, which is critical for handling guest requests. It provides skills useful for quickly and effectively engaging in basic conversation. This course may be useful for someone looking to work in the hospitality industry to help prepare for interactions with Spanish speaking guests.
Travel Agent
A travel agent provides information about destinations, plans trips, and books travel arrangements so knowing Spanish can be beneficial in communicating with a diverse clientele. This course introduces Spanish phrases for making and changing reservations, asking questions, and discussing feelings, which may be useful when communicating with Spanish-speaking clients. Its focus on practical phrases and building sentences helps in understanding and responding to requests. A travel agent may find the course's emphasis on repetition helpful in memorizing and using key phrases. This course may be very useful to agents who want to communicate more clearly with their Spanish-speaking clientele.
Language Tutor
A language tutor helps others learn a new language, and this course, with its emphasis on an accessible teaching method, can be very useful. The course is designed for beginners and focuses on building a strong foundation in Spanish through practical phrases, which can be helpful to replicate in tutoring. This course may be very useful as it focuses on accessible methods and repetition, and offers practical examples that can be used by a tutor teaching Spanish. The course's focus on a simple and effective methodology can be helpful in planning lessons and teaching practices. A language tutor can use the information given in this course to help their own language learners.
Community Outreach Coordinator
A community outreach coordinator works to connect organizations with the communities they serve. This role may require communication with diverse populations, and basic Spanish language skills can be very useful. This course provides basic conversational Spanish skills, teaching practical phrases for greetings and describing oneself and others, which are essential for community interactions. The course focuses on effective communication in different situations and learning about Spanish honorifics, which can be very helpful. For those considering a career in community outreach, this course may be a good starting point to build language skills useful in building connections.
Flight Attendant
A flight attendant needs to be prepared to interact with people from different backgrounds. This course can be helpful in learning basic Spanish, enabling flight attendants to communicate with Spanish-speaking passengers. The course introduces useful phrases for greetings and describing how one is feeling, which can be very helpful when assisting passengers. Additionally, learning about common expressions and how to discuss health issues can also be helpful in an emergency situation. This course's focus on practical and straightforward Spanish may be useful for flight attendants, who may encounter many travellers from a Spanish-speaking country. A flight attendant may find this course helpful, as it is designed to teach effective communication in everyday situations.
Social Worker
A social worker often interacts with people from various cultural backgrounds, and knowing Spanish may be helpful to communicate with a part of the population. This course introduces basic Spanish conversations, which builds a foundation for communicating with Spanish-speaking individuals. The course teaches phrases for greetings and describing feelings, which are essential for understanding clients and building rapport. Additionally, it covers phrases for discussing health, which is important in social work settings. Social workers may find this course helpful as it focuses on practical Spanish and provides an accessible approach to language learning, building a base in communication.
Tour Guide
A tour guide often interacts with people from different backgrounds and an understanding of the Spanish language may be beneficial, particularly in regions where Spanish is commonly spoken. This course, with its emphasis on practical communication skills and phrases for everyday situations, helps build a foundation for basic interaction with Spanish-speaking tourists. The course focuses on phrases useful for travel, such as confirming reservations and talking about health, that can be helpful when interacting with tourists. For those interested in becoming a tour guide, this course may be helpful as it focuses on communication and provides repetition to solidify learning. It teaches the fundamental skills needed to greet people and engage in simple conversations.
Teacher
Teachers often work with diverse student populations, and knowing Spanish can be beneficial for communicating with Spanish-speaking students and their families. This course introduces basic Spanish conversational skills which may be helpful for communicating with people from Spanish speaking backgrounds. The course teaches phrases for greetings, describing feelings, and asking questions, which are all useful in educational settings. The emphasis on structured repetition and practical application of vocabulary and grammar may be beneficial when working with students. For those considering a career as a teacher, this course may be useful to start building language skills in a structured and accessible way.
Bilingual Education Assistant
A bilingual education assistant supports teachers and students in educational settings where Spanish is spoken. This course introduces basic conversational Spanish to build a foundation for simple communication. The course offers an introduction to basic vocabulary and phrases useful in a variety of contexts, including greetings, describing feelings, and discussing health, all of which may be relevant to working in a bilingual classroom. The course’s emphasis on structured repetition and practical application of vocabulary and grammar may be beneficial when assisting students learning a new language. For those considering a career as a bilingual education assistant, this course may be useful to help build language skills in a structured and accessible way.
Customer Service Representative
Customer service representatives interact with customers to provide support and information; in many areas, this involves communicating in Spanish. This course introduces fundamental Spanish vocabulary and sentence structure, which can be useful for communicating with Spanish-speaking customers. The course emphasizes practical phrases for greetings, expressing feelings, and describing situations, all of which can be relevant to customer interactions. A customer service representative will find the course's approach of building sentences may help them in their ability to understand and respond to customers. The course focuses on verbal communication, which may be helpful for those in customer service roles. This course may be useful to those who want to improve their ability to serve Spanish-speaking customers.
International Sales Representative
An international sales representative often needs to communicate with clients from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Knowing Spanish can be beneficial when dealing with clients in Spanish-speaking countries. This course teaches basic Spanish phrases which can be useful in initial interactions and day to day conversations. The course emphasizes practical phrases for greetings and describing situations, which may be useful in establishing rapport with potential clients. For those who may be travelling on business, this course teaches phrases about how to confirm reservations. This course may be useful for an international sales representative, as it builds a foundation in conversational Spanish.
Immigration Officer
Immigration officers often communicate with people from a variety of backgrounds. This course introduces basic Spanish conversational skills that can assist in interacting with Spanish-speaking individuals. The course focuses on practical phrases for greetings, describing situations, and asking questions, which are all useful in immigration settings. The course's emphasis on structuring sentences and basic vocabulary may allow the officer to interact with Spanish speakers with more clarity. This course may be a starting point for those considering a career as an immigration officer, as it provides a base in Spanish communication useful for communicating with individuals from different countries.
Translator
A translator converts written or spoken material from one language to another, and a strong understanding of the Spanish language is crucial for this role. This course provides a foundation in the Spanish language, teaching how to form sentences and use a variety of words. While this course is aimed at beginners, it may be useful in understanding the basics of Spanish sentence structure and vocabulary, which can be useful to a translator's work. Skills in grammar and syntax are critical for effective translation, and this course builds a basis in those areas with a focus on structures and phrases. The course's emphasis on repetition may also be beneficial in memorizing key vocabulary and language patterns. Those interested in becoming a translator might find this course useful as a good starting point.
Market Research Analyst
A market research analyst gathers information about consumer preferences and market trends, and having Spanish language skills can be beneficial for research in Spanish-speaking markets. This course introduces basic Spanish language skills, which can be very helpful in communicating with research participants. The course emphasizes practical phrases and vocabulary, which may be useful for conducting interviews or surveys. The course explains how to put words and sentence structures together, which are foundational for conducting analysis in Spanish. This course may be beneficial for analysts who hope to work in Spanish speaking markets, as it emphasizes practical communication.
Interpreter
An interpreter provides real-time translation of spoken language, and a strong foundation in Spanish is essential for this role. This course, while aimed at beginners, may be useful in understanding the basic structures of the Spanish language. The course's teaching of sentence construction and vocabulary, and its focus on conversational phrases for various settings, may be helpful for building a base for an interpreter's work. The course also offers opportunities for practice, which may help an interpreter in developing fluency. Those interested in working as an interpreter may find foundational courses such as this one useful before progressing to more advanced studies.

Reading list

We've selected two 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 3 Minute Spanish - Course 4 | Language lessons for beginners.
Offers a structured approach to learning Spanish, breaking down complex concepts into manageable steps. It's particularly helpful for understanding Spanish grammar and sentence structure. This book is valuable as additional reading to reinforce the concepts taught in the course. It is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions.
Provides a comprehensive overview of basic Spanish grammar and vocabulary. It's a great resource for beginners who want to build a solid foundation in the language. While not required, it serves as a useful reference tool throughout the course and beyond. It is commonly used as a supplementary textbook.

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Similar courses

Similar courses are unavailable at this time. Please try again later.
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser