Spanish 1 is designed for the beginning Spanish student.  No background in Spanish is expected.  Comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing skills are developed simultaneously from simple to more complex sentence structures.  The language skills are presented in a logical progression so that the student learns by practice both in the classroom and at home with the help of on-line tutorials.  The learning process is based on the active participation of each student in a variety of formats.  Students learn essential vocabulary, basic structures of the language, and cultural aspects of Latin America and Spain.  By the end of the course, each student has the ability to do the following:  ask questions and answer  them affirmatively  or  negatively  using  present tenses; arrange proper word order; speak and write clearly; write short compositions; and use common idiomatic expressions.

This course is designed for incoming freshmen who have some experience in Spanish but did not place in Spanish 2 Honors at St. Ignatius. Since these students already have some basic skills in Spanish, they will review and/or learn, at an accelerated pace, the vocabulary and grammar structures taught in a regular level one course. Significant emphasis will be placed on improving students’ speaking and writing skills. They will acquire an expanded vocabulary, a deeper understanding of grammatical concepts, increased reading proficiency, improved oral expression, increased aural proficiency, the ability to write short compositions, and further knowledge of Spanish and Latin American cultures.

Spanish 2 is a language course designed for students who have successfully completed their first year of Spanish.  It is a two-semester course which aims to improve the student’s ability to speak, read, and write in Spanish, to systematically review grammar previously studied, and to master new concepts in Spanish, and to enhance the student’s knowledge of the cultural diversity of the Spanish-speaking world.  The emphasis on improvement of oral skills will be considerable, and the student will be encouraged to speak in Spanish on a variety of topics and in a number of situations ranging from question and answer to oral presentations and/or situations.

Spanish 3 is an intermediate level language course designed for those students who have acquired satisfactory competency during their first two years of language study.  The course builds upon the skills and material covered in Spanish 1 and 2.  It reviews all major grammatical structures and introduces a broader scope of grammatical knowledge.  Emphasis is given to improving oral skills, broadening the range of grammatical structures the student can effectively use in writing and conversation, enriching the student’s vocabulary and deepening his/her awareness of present day social justice issues within the Spanish-speaking world, as well as examining immigration issues facing Latinos.  This class is conducted in Spanish, except when complex grammar concepts require a clearer explanation in English.  Students are expected to speak in Spanish at all times.

This two-semester course is an advanced language course designed for those students who wish to improve and build upon their Spanish skills and delve deeper into the cultures and literature of the Spanish-speaking world.  Prominent topics uncovered will be the volatile history of Latin American dictatorships, the impact and perception of Hispanics/Latinos in the U.S., and the diversity and beauty of art in the Spanish-speaking world.  The course is comprised of an on-going review of all major grammar structures, as well as a thorough study of more complex grammar concepts.  Considerable emphasis is given to broadening his/her cultural awareness of the Spanish-speaking world and increasing his/her ability to comprehend and express him/herself in  both spoken and written Spanish.  In order to maximize interaction with the language, students are expected to speak Spanish at all times.