Short course
Spanish: Beginners – Part 1
Course status:
Applications being accepted
Dates:
28/09/2026 - 30/11/2026
Study format:
In-person weekly
Fees:
£315.00
Join this interactive course to learn Spanish language and explore its culture. For complete beginners as well as those who have learnt some Italian expressions and phrases through travel or socialising.
To support the development of communicative skills, the course offers a balanced progression in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Each session features practical, meaningful activities – from practice exercises, interactive tasks, and guided listening to problem‑solving scenarios. Learners engage with authentic language, collaborate with classmates, and build confidence through varied, hands‑on activities that mirror real‑world communication.
The course is pitched at level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), and completion of the course will help you meet some of the level requirements.
Is this the right level course for you?
This course is for complete beginners as well as those who have learnt some expressions and phrases through travel or socialising.
Book this course
Book your place online using the button below.
Level and demands
Pitched at level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Find out more about our language levels.
Course aims
To develop learners’ interactive skill at a basic level in a limited range of practical, real-life settings.
Course objectives
- Develop the language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing for basic routine communication in the target language.
- Introduce learners to the sounds, intonation and stress patterns of the language to support clear pronunciation.
- Familiarise learners with a basic range of high-frequency vocabulary and grammar structures for routine interaction in the target language.
- Develop an initial appreciation of the culture and civilisation of the country (or countries) in which the target language is spoken.
Programme details
Course starts 28 September 2026
This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings in Oxford on Mondays, 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: Greetings, names, the alphabet, and class instructions
Week 2: Countries, nationalities and languages. Numbers 1-20
Week 3: Jobs, work places, and studies
Week 4: Addresses & phones. Numbers 21-100
Week 5: Greetings (2). Formal & informal uses of ‘you’ and social introductions
Week 6: Families, marital status, and relationships
Week 7: Physical & character descriptions. Colours
Week 8: Objects. Coins and notes. Shopping
Week 9: Towns & cities. Directions and geographical locations. Big numbers
Week 10: Revision.
Key grammar points
* Gender and number agreement of Spanish adjectives
* Present tense of regular verbs in -ar, -er, -ir
* Present tense of main irregular verbs (ser, estar, tener, ir)
* Definite and indefinite articles
* Prepositions of place
Key functions
* Greetings, introducing oneself and others
* Describing a person
* Talking about family
* Describing a town or city
* Asking for and providing basic information
Teaching methods
You will learn through practical classroom 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. These 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 develop your reading and writing skills both in class and independently through self‑study.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, participants will be better prepared to:
- use very simple phrases and utterances to provide basic personal information, such as name, address, family members and nationality;
- interact in a very simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly;
- understand the gist of very short, simple written texts and audio/video excerpts containing the highest frequency vocabulary items and basic grammar structures;
- produce simple phrases and very short texts using basic structures and vocabulary items.
Assessment methods
You will be set short, 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 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
- ELE Actual A1 / Borobio, V and Palencia, R
Textbooks
To participate in the course fully, you will need access to the following textbook:
- ELE Actual A1 / Borobio, V and Palencia, R
Module code: O26P599XSW
Please use the ‘Book now’ button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form.