Spanish: Intermediate – Part 1

Course starts 30 September 2026

This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings in Oxford on Wednesdays, 5.00-7.00pm.

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: Introduction to the course. Knowing each other. Spanish and you.

Week 2: Learning strategies to improve your Spanish.

Week 3: Geographic varieties in the Spanish language.

Week 4: Life in the 21st century. Talking about future plans and making predictions.

Week 5: Expressing probability while learning about Latin America.

Week 6: Giving opinions on cultural differences and similarities.

Week 7: Narrating past events. Describing the context of a past event.

Week 8: Meeting new people.

Week 9: Talking about important events in one’s life.

Week 10: Presentations. Revision activities.

Key grammar points

* Indicative tenses revision: present, present perfect and past simple

* Desde hace, llevar + tiempo + gerundio

* The plueperfect tense: había + participio pasado

* The future forms: going to + infinitive, I will

* Relative pronouns

* Introduction to the subjunctive mood

Key functions

* Talking about actions that occurred once and during a period of time

* Describing situations and circumstances

* Expressing probability

* Expressing opinions and wishes

Course aims

To develop learners’ language skills to express themselves with a degree of fluency and spontaneity in some situations regularly encountered at work, educational settings, leisure centres and while travelling abroad.

Course objectives

• Develop the four language skills required to deal with a range of situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken.
• Consolidate reading comprehension skills to enable learners to understand a range of texts written in everyday and job-related language.
• Familiarise learners with the vocabulary and grammatical structures required to write straightforward texts on some topics which are familiar or of personal interest.
• Develop learners’ intercultural awareness and understanding of some of the differences and similarities in social and everyday practices between their own and the target culture.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be better prepared to:

• use language to deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the target language is spoken;
• understand the main points of clear standard speech on most familiar matters regularly encountered at work, educational settings and leisure contexts;
• read and understand simple texts which include job-related language, descriptions of events, reasons or opinions;
• write straightforward connected texts on familiar topics or matters of personal interest.

Level and demands

Pitched at level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), completion of this course helps you meet some of the level requirements.

Find out more about our language levels.

Teaching methods

You will learn through practical activities that encourage the use of the target language. Sessions typically integrate meaningful scenarios, pair and small‑group work, and collaborative problem‑solving in a supportive and friendly environment. The activities bring together speaking, listening, reading, and writing, enabling you to apply the language purposefully in real‑world situations.

The course is designed to build your spoken and listening abilities while deepening your understanding of cultural nuances, etiquette, and everyday usage. We will work with new grammatical structures through meaningful, communicative tasks, and you will continue developing your reading and writing skills both in class and independently through self‑study.

Assessment methods

You will be set optional assignments to consolidate your learning and to allow you to progress at your own pace.

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 University of Oxford’s 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.

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

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

Textbooks

To participate in the course fully, you will need access to the following textbook:

• ELE Actual B1 “Libro del Alumno” / Virgilio Vorobio

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.

Preparatory reading

• ELE Actual B1 “Libro del Alumno” / Virgilio Vorobio

Recommended Reading List

Module code: O26P607XSW

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