This course is designed for those who have never studied or who have had only minimal exposure to Spanish. It covers basic grammatical concepts and vocabulary related to daily life and limited aspects of the cultures of the Spanish-speaking world, emphasizes the development of listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Students who successfully complete this course are able to speak and write in very simple ways about familiar and immediate topics and understand the gist of written and spoken Spanish materials on familiar topics. Conducted in Spanish, except for clarification of grammar and culture. Four class meetings per week.

Course develops cultural understanding and linguistic proficiency for communication in rudimentary social situations. Activities include engagement with native speakers; in-class conversations; reading, listening, and writing exercises; application of broad cultural definitions to the specifics of Hispanic cultures; discussion (in English) of a problem or concern affecting those cultural groups. Special attention given to developing intercultural competency, with a focus on the ways in which the processes used for understanding Hispanic peoples can be applied to other cultural experiences. Course conducted in Spanish 50% of the time. Offered fall and spring semesters.