Here you will find the description and syllabus of the courses offered at Tierra. Please keep in mind that this section will be under constant revision.
Currently we provide two categories of Spanish Language courses: Regular Spanish courses which focus on learning grammar, vocabulary and conversational skills, and Immersion Spanish courses which focus on a specific cultural, social or historical topic about México or Latin America. The Immersion courses are taught completely in Spanish by an expert in the topic, with the intention of providing the advanced student the means required to apply the Spanish language while increasing their knowledge of the culture and history of Latin America.
In order to provide the best quality of teaching and to encourage active participation from the student, all our Spanish classes have a size limit of 8 students . Registration is open now; we create group classes according to student demand, so please don't hesitate to contact us to let us know your availability and type of course in which you are interested.
Course Description: This course is ideal to learn your first steps in Spanish. It is recommended for those who have very little or no previous experience at all with the language. From the first session you will be introduced in a comfortable and engaging way to the basic foundations of Spanish pronunciation and elementary vocabulary without getting too complicated, but with just enough detail to make you able to communicate in no time.
The class is conducted in Spanish as much as possible, but English is used where necessary for practical purposes. This course combines a variety of activities, exercises and discussions that will help you get a flawless start with all basic language skills: aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing.
Prerequisite: None
Duration:
20 weeks (1 class/week) 40 hours total.
Course Outline:
1) Basic pronunciation rules in Spanish
2) Introductions and Greetings
3) Numbers 0 to 100
4) Date and Time
5) Subject Pronouns and Present tense of regular verbs
6) Nouns, adjectives and articles: gender and number
7) Negation
8) Interrogative words
9) Present tense of some common irregular verbs
Bibliography:
1. Bregstein, Barbara; Easy Spanish Step by Step; McGraw Hill ed. 2006
2. Valette, J.P., Valette, R.M.; Spanish for Mastery 1 - ¿Que tal?; D C Heath & Co.1994
Course Description: In this course you will continue to develop your Spanish abilities in understanding, speaking, reading and writing. It is recommended for those who have successfully completed Spanish Beginner I, or that have studied Spanish previously and have a good understanding of the basic structure of the language. The course begins with introducing one of the most meaningful verbs in any language: the verb to be, and then continues to cover other important sets of Spanish structure that will enable you to interact and communicate more actively in different real life situations.
The class is conducted in Spanish as much as possible, but English is used where necessary for practical purposes. This course combines a variety of activities, exercises and discussions that will help you to gain fluency with all basic language skills: aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing.
Prerequisite: Spanish Beginner I or equivalent
Duration:
15 weeks (1 class/week) 30 hours total.
Course Outline:
1) To be (Ser y Estar)
2) Introduction to Direct Object pronouns
3) Introduction to Indirect Object pronouns
4) Expressing possession
5) Expressing likes and dislikes
6) Prepositional pronouns
7) Radical changing verbs
8) Comparatives and Superlatives
9) Demonstrative adjectives
Bibliography:
1. Bregstein, Barbara; Easy Spanish Step by Step; McGraw Hill ed. 2006
2. Valette, J.P., Valette, R.M.; Spanish for Mastery 1 - ¿Que tal?; D C Heath & Co.1994
Course Description: This course is the culmination of the Tierra Beginner course series and therefore it means that once you have completed it, you will be equipped with a complete and solid understanding of all the main structures of the Spanish language plus two tenses. You will be able to communicate completely in Spanish in almost any situation either in the present tense or past tense. This course is recommended for those who have successfully completed Spanish Beginner II, or that have previously studied Spanish and have a good understanding of the topics covered in the prerequisite course. After successfully completing Spanish Beginner III, the student is ready to start into the Intermediate course series with classes conducted completely in Spanish.
At this level the class is conducted in Spanish as much as possible, but English is used where necessary for practical purposes. This course combines a variety of activities, exercises and discussions that will help you to gain fluency with all basic language skills: aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing.
Prerequisite: Spanish Beginner II or equivalent
Duration:
15 weeks (1 class/week) 30 hours total.
Course Outline:
1) Reflexive Pronouns
2) Verbs followed by a preposition
3) Expressing duration of actions
4) Expressions of frequency
5) The Preterit Tense, regular verbs
6) Verbs followed by an infinitive
7) The prepositions: “Para y Por”
8) The Preterit Tense, irregular verbs
9) The Neuter pronoun: “Lo”
10) Object Pronouns Review
Bibliography:
1. Bregstein, Barbara; Easy Spanish Step by Step; McGraw Hill ed. 2006
2. Valette, J.P., Valette, R.M.; Spanish for Mastery 1 - ¿Que tal?; D C Heath & Co.1994
Course Description: This is the first intermediate-level course in Spanish, it is recommended for those who successfully completed all of our Beginner series, or that have previously studied Spanish and are able to handle a conversation in Spanish using at least Past and Present Tense. This is the course that will challenge you to listen and learn completely in Spanish, with a focus on grammar review, additional vocabulary, writing of essays in Spanish and enhancement of cultural awareness.
At this level the class is conducted completely in Spanish with a few exceptions at the teacher's discretion. Group activities and projects, and conversation are emphasized. There will be other immersion activities, readings about literature and art from Latin America and Spain, activities with music videos and interviews, and/or viewings of films in the Spanish language.
Prerequisite: Spanish Beginner III or equivalent
Duration:
10 weeks (1 class/week) 20 hours total.
Course Outline:
1) Basic structures review
2) Present Progressive tense
3) Introduction to the Imperfect tense
4) Past Progressive tense
5) The use of the Imperfect tense
6) Imperfect and Preterit
7) Certain verbs with no English equivalent
8) Object pronouns revisited
9) Passive and impersonal uses of “se”
Bibliography:
1. Bregstein, Barbara; Easy Spanish Step by Step; McGraw Hill ed. 2006
2. Valette, J.P., Valette, R.M.; Spanish for Mastery 2 – Entre Nosotros; D C Heath & Co, 1994.
3. Schmitt, C.J.; Spanish Grammar; Schaum's outline series, McGraw-Hill, 5th ed. 2008.
Course Description: This is the second part of the intermediate course series, where students will continue to acquire a full understanding of more sophisticated structures of the language, including new tenses that will develop and improve the student's oral and written communication. This course is recommended for those who completed successfully Intermediate level I, or that have a good grasp of the topics covered there.
At this level the class is conducted completely in Spanish with a few exceptions at the teacher's discretion. Group activities and projects, and conversation are emphasized. There will be other immersion activities, readings about literature and art from Latin America and Spain, activities with music videos and interviews, and/or viewings of films in the Spanish language.
Prerequisite: Spanish Intermediate I or equivalent
Duration:
10 weeks (1 class/week) 20 hours total.
Course Outline:
1) Imperfect Tense Review
2) Reflexive Verbs revisited
3) Regular past participles
4) The present perfect tense
5) Adverbs revisited
6) Irregular past participles
7) The pluperfect tense
8) Possessives revisited
9) The future tense
10) Future of probability and irregular future verbs
Bibliography:
1. Arnaiz, C., Wilkie, I.; Basic Spanish:A Grammar and Workbook; Routledge,2006.
2. Valette, J.P., Valette, R.M.; Spanish for Mastery 2 – Entre Nosotros; D C Heath & Co, 1994.
3. Schmitt, C.J.; Spanish Grammar; Schaum's outline series, McGraw-Hill, 5th ed. 2008.
Course Description: This is the third part of the intermediate course series, where students will continue to acquire a full understanding of more sophisticated structures of the language, introducing the subjunctive mood. This will improve students' ability to read and appreciate literary and non-literary texts in Spanish, deepening students' awareness and understanding of the cultural diversity of the Spanish-speaking world. This course is recommended for those who successfully completed Intermediate Level II, or that have a good grasp of the topics covered at that level.
At this level the class is conducted completely in Spanish with a few exceptions at the teacher's discretion. Group activities and projects, and conversation are emphasized. There will be other immersion activities, readings about literature and art from Latin America and Spain, activities with music videos and interviews, and/or viewings of films in the Spanish language.
Prerequisite: Spanish Intermediate II or equivalent
Duration:
15 weeks (1 class/week) 30 hours total.
Course Outline:
1) Expressions of time
2) Verbs with prepositions
3) The concept of subjunctive
4) The present subjunctive, regular forms
5) Imperatives: affirmative forms familiar and formal
6) Imperatives: negative forms familiar and formal
7) Position of object pronouns and Imperative forms
8) Irregular subjunctive forms
9) Subjunctive after verbs of influence
10) Subjunctive after verbs of emotion
11) Subjunctive after impersonal expressions
12) The conditional
Bibliography:
1. Arnaiz, C., Wilkie, I.; Intermediate Spanish:A Grammar and Workbook; Routledge,2008.
2. Schmitt, C.J.; Spanish Grammar; Schaum's outline series, McGraw-Hill, 5th ed. 2008.
Course Description: This Advanced immersion course will lead students in reading, analyzing, and writing about various classical and contemporary Literature readings, as well as provide historical and cultural overviews relevant to the selected readings. Increase your Spanish verbal and written proficiency while engaging in thoughtful reflection and lively classroom discussion.
Selected novels and readings will be in accordance to those found in bookstores in the city, on the Internet, or via copies supplied by the teacher.
Prerequisite: Spanish Intermediate III or above, or equivalent
Duration: 2 hrs. (1 class/week)
General Content:
Course Description: This advanced Spanish immersion course will present a general introduction to the legacy of the ancient civilizations in México, especially of the Nahuatl-speaking groups that flourished in the last one hundred years before the Spanish invasion. The main focus of the course will be to understand and discuss the philosophy of life, way of thinking, and most importantly, the cultural values of the ancient inhabitants of Anahuac (a region in central México). We will study and analyze their cultural evolution, historical consciousness, and literature manifestations which constitute the roots of their spiritual heritage.
Prerequisite: Spanish Intermediate III or above, or equivalent
Duration: 2 hrs. (1 class/week)
Bibliography:
1. León-Portilla, Miguel; Los antiguos Mexicanos; Fondo de Cultura Economica, 2da. ed. México, 1968
2. León-Portilla, Miguel; Rostro y Corazón de Anáhuac; Asociación Nacional del Libro, 1a. ed. México, 2001
3. Garibay, Ángel M.; La literatura de los Aztecas; Joaquín Mortiz, México, 2da. ed. México, 1970
4. Garibay, Ángel M.; Panorama literario de los pueblos Nahuas; Porrua, 1a. ed. México, 1963