Spanish conversation course for advanced learners

Practical information

CEF

A1	At the end of the course, you can understand and use familiar, everyday expressions and basic phrases in areas of immediate need. You can also read and write short, simple texts. You can interact in a simple way provided the other person speaks slowly and clearly and is willing to help. You can for example introduce yourself and you can ask and answer questions on very familiar topics.
A2	At the end of the course you can understand phrases related to areas of most immediate personal relevance (e.g. personal and family information, shopping, employment, ...). You can read and write short, simple notes and messages and find information in everyday material such as advertisements and timetables. You can communicate in simple and routine situations on familiar, everyday topics. You can describe in simple phrases some aspects of your background, your close surroundings and your immediate needs.
B1	At the end of the course you can understand the main points of standard communication on familiar matters regularly encountered. You can enter unprepared into conversation on topics that are familiar and you can connect phrases in a simple way. You can write simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest and you can briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.
B2	At the end of the course you can understand most TV news and current affairs programmes. You can even follow complex lines of argument provided the topic is reasonably familiar. You can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible. You can understand the main points of complex texts on concrete and abstract topics and you can understand technical discussions related to your field. You can write clear, detailed texts on a wide range of subjects and you can explain a viewpoint on a topical issue expressing the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
C1	At the end of this course you can better understand native speakers, even when they talk very fast. You learn how to express yourself fluently and spontaneously without any preparation and without much obvious searching for expressions. You can understand more difficult and longer texts, like those you will encounter during your studies. You can also recognize implicit meaning. You can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. You can write clear, well-structured, detailed texts about complex subjects, logically structured, coherent and well connected.
C2	At the end of the course you have no difficulty in understanding any kind of spoken or written language. You can summarize spoken or written language and reconstruct arguments and presentations coherently. You can express yourself fluently and spontaneously and convey finer shades of meaning precisely, even in more complex situations.

Course hours

Prices		Evening
Commercial student This is the standard price for this language course. If you are not entitled to a discount, this is the price you will need to pay.		€300
Student UGent You are registered as a UGent student and you take a course this academic year (or the summer before). Not registered yet? Check out the FAQ discount for future UGent students. PhD students benefit from the staff rate.		€175
Scholarship student UGent You are registered as a UGent student and you have a scholarship from the Flemish Community this academic year. Send us a proof of your scholarship via this form, together with your registration.		€135
Incoming exchange student UGent You are registered as an incoming exchange student of UGent. You will receive an extra discount for a Dutch course. For more info, see the FAQ discount for incoming exchange students.		€175
Outgoing exchange student UGent As an outgoing exchange student of UGent you receive an extra discount. You pay the student fee first and after your departure (after you upload the confirmation of arrival) your discount will be settled automatically.		€65
Outgoing exchange scholarship student UGent		€50
Staff member UGent As a staff member of UGent, you receive a discount, independent of the paying method used for the course. PhD students fall under this category as well.		€235

Semester

Hours per week

1x2

Books by

UCT

For who?

Everyone

Objectives and content

This course mainly aims to improve your speaking skils. Via listening or reading exercises, new topics and themes are discussed and practised in concrete situations. You will gain self-confidence and you will learn to speak in a more fluent and correct way. Grammatical items that are important when speaking and which cause trouble for the particpants (e.g. si-sentences, past tenses, the use of the subjuntivo, etc.) will be addressed.

Speaking skills: There will be pair work as well as group and class assignments. We will discuss and apply structures in specific contexts.
Listening skills: You will listen to authentic material to familiarise yourself with the rhythm of Spanish speakers.
Reading skills: You will familiarise yourself with authentic texts from Spanish media, including preparatory homework when new topics are introduced.
Writing skills: This skill will be focused on the least; you may be asked to write a text as a final exercise to a unit.
Topics covered in this module include alternative tourism, travel problems, sports and adventure, health, employment, job interviews, arts and culture, expressing emotions, inclusive language, women worldwide, culinary and gastronomical trends, formulating opinions and current affairs in the Spanish-speaking world.

Required prior knowledge

A B2 level of Spanish is required. If you took Spanish classes at UCT, this implies having passed Practical Spanish 4.

When Spanish speakers address you, you understand almost everything they say. You can speak quite fluently but you sometimes feel a bit insecure because you sometimes need to look for the right words. In short, you want to expand your vocabulary and you want to revise the most important grammatical items briefly.

Tests

There is a placement test and a final test. The placement test requirement does not apply if you passed Practical Spanish 4 at UCT.

If you took this level elsewhere or are unsure of your level, you will be asked to participate in the placement test before the first session. To have a full and accurate idea of your level, you will take an oral orientation test during the first session as well. Based on the outcome of this orientation test, you may be referred to another course because it is more suitable for you.

Course materials

UCT course book. You will receive this book from your language teacher in class.

Schedule and subscribe

20/02/2024 - 07/05/2024

Time	18:00 - 20:00
Days	Tue
Location	Veyrac 4 UCT Building - Veyrac 4 Veyrac 4 (+1), Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 136, 9000 Gent

University Language Centre