Study Spanish language for free


(photo by  José A. used under terms of Creative Commons license.)
spain flagOur free Spanish lessons are an online adaptation of the Defense Language Institute, Foreign Language Center's Spanish Headstart for Spain program.

This Free online Spanish language program includes 4 themes, 12 lessons, 24 dialogues, over 180 exercises & quizzes & around 8h of audio (MP3 format). 




Objectives of this spanish program:

While specific objectives are set forth for each theme, here is a more general statement of the overall skill levels expected after completing this course (indicative study time to complete the full course: 40-50 hours). 


1. Comprehension

 This course aims at providing the student with sufficient understanding of spoken Spanish to meet survival needs and travel requirements. He/She is to be able to understand the essential features of face-to-face speech in standard Spanish relating to basic needs such as food and drink, simple directions, shopping, transportation, money and time. It is to be kept in mind that even if the Spanish expressions in the materials are often repeated on the audio files, they are spoken at a nearly normal rate of speech. Therefore, when the students hear these expressions in real-life situations, they will have no problem in understanding them, because they have been exposed to the "real language" during their course.

2. Speaking. 

At the end of this course the student will be able to ask and answer questions on the topics to which he has been introduced. Thus, all students at this level should be able to make polite, simple conversation, ask for directions, order a meal, and make purchases and travel arrangements. Even though the student's speaking Vocabulary is inadequate for expressing more than the most elementary needs, and even though he makes frequent mistakes in pronunciation and grammar, he can be understood by a Spaniard.

 

Course Content

(photo by  Smallest Forest used under terms of Creative Commons license.)

spanish course

The program is divided in 4 themes:

Course Design

(photo by  Nacho Rascón used under terms of Creative Commons license.)
libros

1. Sentence patterns and Vocabulary.

 For the conversations and the exercises of this course, we have selected the most frequently used sentence patterns, words and expressions, and the least complicated phrases and sentences. 

 2. Grammar.

 Grammar explanations in the Headstart program are minimal. Unless specifically requested by the students, instructors should avoid grammar explanations. 

 3. Instructional modes.

 One of the advantages of the Spanish Headstart for Spain program is that the materials can be used in a completely self-instructional mode without an instructor. The students work on their own with the website and take the Self-evaluation Quiz at the end of each unit whenever they are ready.

 

The program is designed for approximately 40-50 hours of study which, if possible, should be spread over at least two weeks (20-25 hours per week).