Short course
Spanish: Lower Intermediate – Part 1
Course status:
Applications being accepted
Dates and time:
29/09/2026 - 01/12/202617:00 - 19:00
Study format:
In-person weekly
Fees:
£315.00
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 interactive tasks, and guided listening to problem‑solving scenarios and discussions. 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 A2 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?
To benefit from the course, learners will have done one of the following:
- Completed our 'Beginners – Part 2' or equivalent; or
- Gained a GCSE (Grade B, 6 or below) in Spanish; or
- Achieved level A1+ of the Common European Framework of Reference for languages in Spanish.
Book this course
Book your place online using the button below.
Course starts 29 September 2026
This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings in Oxford on Tuesdays, 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: Un nuevo curso: revision; expressing wishes, obligations and needs.
Week 2: Un nuevo curso: discussing plans and intentions ; expressing certainty/uncertainty and possibility.
Week 3: ¿Qué te pasa? : asking about physical condition and state of mind; expressing feelings and pain; describing physical sensations; offering, accepting and refusing things; making, accepting and refusing suggestions.
Week 4: Comidas: buying food in a shop; asking for the price.
Week 5: Comidas: asking for food/service in a restaurant; addressing others.
Week 6: Ha sido un día normal: talking about recent past events ; apologising and explaining; language for calming someone down.
Week 7: Eperiencias y opiniones: talking about things that have been done or that have not been done yet; expressing opinions, agreement and disagreement; presenting a counter-argument.
Week 8: Ropa y complementos: talking about clothes; shopping; making comparisons; expressing wishes; asking for and giving permission.
Week 9: ¡Feliz cumpleaños!: discussing actions in progress; congratulating someone on their birthday; giving and accepting presents; asking about and saying dates.
Week 10: Viajes: narrating past events; discussing journeys.
Key grammar points
* Indicative tenses: present tense; regular and irregular forms.
* Present perfect: haber + participio pasado.
* Direct and indirect pronouns.
* Pronominal verbs: me gusta, me duele, me interesa.
* Estar + gerundio.
* Going to + infinitive.
* Past simple: regular and irregular forms.
Key functions
* Describing daily routine and habits in the present and in the the past.
* Ser, tener and estar to express feelings and sensations.
* Expressing likes, dislikes, preferences and needs.
* Describing ongoing actions.
* Making plans and expressing intentions.
* Telling and narrating past experiences.
Course aims
Develop interactive skills in the target language in a range of simple and routine everyday situations requiring straightforward descriptions and direct exchange of information on family and other people, living conditions, educational background and work.
Course objectives
- Develop the language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing at level A2 of the CEFR.
- Consolidate listening and speaking skills to enable students to communicate in a range of simple everyday work and leisure settings and matters of most immediate relevance.
- Familiarise learners with vocabulary and key grammatical structures needed to read and write short, simple texts on familiar topics.
- Develop an appreciation of Spanish culture and its everyday practices.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be better prepared to:
- communicate in a range of simple everyday situations requiring direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters;
- understand and respond appropriately to a range of simple spoken language in everyday situations provided speech is slowly and clearly articulated;
- read and demonstrate comprehension of a range of short simple texts;
- write short, simple notes, messages, descriptions and/or personal letters;
- demonstrate intercultural awareness in everyday social situations and language use generally.
Level and demands
Pitched at level A2 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 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. 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 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 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.
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
Textbooks
To participate in the course fully, you will need access to the following textbook:
- Virgilio Vorobio Ele Actual A2 “Libro del alumno” (“Libro del alumno” Publisher: Cambridge University Press (19 July 2019) Language: Spanish ISBN-10: 8413180384 ISBN-13: 978-8413180380)
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 A2 “Libro del alumno” / Virgilio Vorobio
Module code: O26P595XSW
Please use the ‘Book now’ button on this page.