Short course
Spanish: Beginners Conversation
Course status:
Applications being accepted
Dates and time:
12/04/2027 - 28/06/202717:00 - 19:00
Study format:
In-person weekly
Fees:
£315.00
Enhance your Spanish conversational skills in a range of simple everyday situations with our elementary-level conversation class, designed for learners with a basic foundation in the language.
The course focuses on developing listening and speaking skills, expanding vocabulary, and improving grammar accuracy in basic everyday situations.
Through interactive activities and tasks, multimedia resources, and constructive feedback, you'll refine your language and improve your speaking skills.
Is this the right level course for you?
To benefit from the course learners will have done one of the following:
- Completed our Spanish: Beginners level courses (Part 1 and Part 2); or
- Studied Spanish for two terms or 1 year; or
- Achieved or are near Level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for Languages in Spanish.
New students, who have not completed 'Part 1' and 'Part 2', whose proficiency in the language is appropriate for the course level, are very welcome.
Book this course
Book your place online using the button below.
Level and demands
This course is pitched at A1 Level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Find out more about our language levels.
Course aims
To consolidate conversational skills across a variety of practical everyday situations, thereby laying the groundwork for further study.
Course objectives
- Improve Pronunciation, intonation and stress patterns to ensure clear communication.
- Enhance learners’ ability to understand spoken language through various activities, such as listening tasks, pair and small-group scenarios, and structured speaking practice.
- Develop learners’ confidence in spoken communication by engaging in simple conversations on everyday topics.
- Widen the range of vocabulary for practical everyday situations and consolidate the use of key grammar structures in spoken language.
Programme details
Course starts Monday 12 April 2027
This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings in Oxford on Mondays, 5.00-7.00pm.
Please note: There will be no class on 3rd and 31st May due to the Bank Holidays
The weekly schedule below is intended to give an indication of the main topic(s) likely to be covered in each session. Please note that these may sometimes change according to the tutor’s discretion to reflect the interests of course participants.
Week 1: Talking about yourself and your occupation
Week 2: Daily routine and eating habits
Week 3: Leisure and entertainment preferences
Week 4: Travel and holiday experiences
Week 5: Discussing plans and resolutions
Week 6: Shopping and describing clothes
Week 7: Describing physical appearance
Week 8: Talking about the weather and the seasons
Week 9: Talking about health and well-being
Week 10: At the restaurant and ordering food
Key grammar points
– present tense, regular and irregular verbs, ser + profession, dedicarse a + activity.
– Reflexive verbs, time adverbs, comparative forms.
– Pronominal verbs, indirect object, verbs me gusta, me encanta, me interesa.
– Present perfect (pretérito perfecto) haber + past participle
– Near future: voy a + infinitive; quiero, pienso + infinitive
– Demonstrative adjectives: este, ese, aquel; Adjective-noun agreement
– Verbs ser, estar, tener; adjectives for physical and personality traits
– Weather expressions: hace, hay, está; review of present continuous and future tenses
– Verb doler, sentirse, tener expressions; pronominal verbs
– Polite requests: quisiera, me gustaría; direct object pronouns: lo, la, los, las
Key functions:
– Saying who we are, describing jobs, and talking about professions
– Exploring Spanish mealtime customs and comparing activities with our own
– Discussing favourite free-time activities and types of entertainment
– Recounting past experiences
– Making plans and setting goals
– Expressing preferences and prices
– Describing yourself and others, appearance and personality
– Talking about seasons and activities; expressing what you do depending on the weather
– Describing symptoms and health conditions; talking about healthy habits
– Ordering food and drink; expressing likes, dislikes, and food preference
Teaching methods
Our language courses promote collaborative learning, encouraging peer interaction and real-life activities. You will learn through participating in engaging activities and tasks in the target language. These are likely to include listening activities, guided role-plays, pair- and small-group work conducted in a supportive, friendly and informal learning environment. The course has been structured to help you primarily to develop your speaking and listening skills.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be better prepared to:
- engage in basic conversations and ask and answer simple questions.
- recognise and use key phrases for daily routines.
- use a range of grammar structures and vocabulary items to provide basic information and express needs.
- demonstrate an awareness of basic cultural nuances and etiquette in language use.
Assessment methods
Formative assessment will be integrated into a range of classroom activities, including guided role‑plays, listening tasks, scenario-based pair and group work, and progressively less structured conversations. Learners will be encouraged to participate in these activities, using the target language to respond to real-life situations, and will benefit from ongoing tutor feedback to support their development.
Mr Esteban Cichello Hubner
Esteban Cichello-Hubner studied International Relations, Applied Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition at Hertford College, University of Oxford and completed a teaching degree at the OU Education Department. He then pursued his Spanish Philology studies at the University of Salamanca. Esteban is an author and an experienced Foreign Modern Languages tutor who has taught several courses at the OUDCE.
Mr Leonardo Sanchez Gorosito
Leonardo Sagor is a native qualified Modern Foreign Languages tutor. He is originally from South America and has taught several courses at the Oxford University Department for Continuing Education throughout his career. He is also a composer, a guitar player and a talented singer. Leonardo graduated from the University of Salamanca and obtained his PGCE at the University of Bedfordshire. He is a tireless traveller who has explored more than 50 countries. He recorded his voice for the legendary Michel Thomas language courses and is currently working on teaching Spanish through cinema.
Certification
Digital badge
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be issued with an official digital badge from the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford. In order to be issued with your badge, you will need to have attended at least 80% of the course.
After the course, you will receive an email with a link and instructions on how to download your digital badge. You will be able to add this badge to your email signature and share it on social media if you choose to do so.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course fee | £315.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, or are a care-leaver in the UK, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Concessionary fees for short courses
Recommended reading
Recommended reading is optional and you are not required to purchase these books to study this course.
Library facilities
All weekly class students may become borrowing members of the Rewley House Library, part of the Bodleian Libraries, for the duration of their course. Prospective students whose courses have not yet started are also welcome to use the Library for reference.
- More information about the Library can be found on the Bodleian Libraries website.
- This guide for Weekly Class students also provides further information.
Course reading
- Spanish Grammar for Beginners / My Daily Spanish Team
- Online dictionary (EN-SP, SP-EN) / Online resource
Textbooks
No textbook required. All course materials will be provided by the course tutor.
Module code: O26P601XSW
Please use the ‘Book now’ button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form.
