Introducción

Often, students enter language classes with previously acquired skills, be they from secondary school or another college. Many say, “I have studied Spanish for years and don’t know how to speak or write it”, while others are a bit anxious about taking a second language for the first time, but all are overwhelmed by the expensive textbooks and online packages that don’t seem to be practical or relevant. We sought to change these common complaints by creating materials that take a communicative approach to learning a second language based upon the skills that we deem most useful and that will enable our students to confidently express themselves in Spanish.

How will we achieve this common goal of empowering our students with the tools to communicate effectively in Spanish? Our language courses will be based on students previewing videos or pre-reading topics that will be expanded upon in home-based and in-class assignments. Instead of giving you lectures in class and then homework, you will be studying the concepts at home using this book, along with our online materials. In the classroom we will complete exercises, discussions and projects that help you use the concepts that you studied at home, using the target language the whole time that you are in class. In other words, we are making our Spanish class a lab. Imagine a typical chemistry or biology lab: the student is expected to master the scientific concepts outside of class; the labs are all about practicing and applying concepts. In the same way, your Spanish class will not be a passive experience but rather an active learning environment. Some of the sections invoking active learning are:

• PractiquemosàLet’s practice
• Comprendamos or EntendamosàLet’s understand
• EscuchemosàLet’s listen
• CharlemosàLet’s chat
• Añadamos or Agreguemos àLet’s add (add to your knowledge while practicing what you have learned)

Pre-reading the materials, filling in scaffolded notes and stepping into the practices with some background allows you to have an idea of themes to make the classroom experience richer and more rewarding. As in any skill, you take ownership of learning by practicing and, in this case, doing the required readings, learning the vocabulary and studying the online assignments before each class. If you don’t come prepared to class you will not be successful. By coming to class with a base upon which to build you will be able to understand the in-class usage and practices better, ultimately making it possible to converse with other students in Spanish. As you work through the material at home, you should take detailed notes based upon the videos, readings and other assigned material. In class, you will use your notes to enable you to participate in conversations and exercises in Spanish. While the instructor will answer questions on content, the focus of the class will be to explain grammar implicitly through examples of the use of vocabulary and grammar in daily speech so that you can begin building on your proficiency in Spanish.

Our classroom structure includes:

• Using your book as a notebook in which you will supplement the explanations with your own notes.
• Viewing the videos and PowerPoint presentations at home. These will be indicated with the icon images as seen here to the left to highlight the fact that you must access the online platform to view them and write the information that is required in your book
• Processing the information you noted in exercises that are done in the book or to be handed in separately.
• Applying the content in discussions in the target language in class in pairs, small groups or individually with the instructor. In order to participate actively in the class, you must come prepared knowing the concepts.
• Being prepared for daily evaluations either orally or written for the application of the concepts to achieve oral and written proficiency.

Ultimately, the goal for all language learners is to develop a functional use of another language. The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) divides functional use into the following categories:

• Interpersonal Communication
• Presentational Speaking
• Presentational Writing
• Interpretive Listening
• Interpretive Reading

During the semester, you will be developing skills in the above categories, along with learning how to be a global citizen. In order to assess what language students are learning—including your strengths and weaknesses—ACTFL created a series of Can-Do statements that will help you become a more reflective learner. Yo puedo … is structured around explicit objectives introduced at the beginning of the unit. Each unit ends with a checklist of Can-Do statements that you have learned throughout the unit. The vocabulary and grammar in that section pertain to that skill. This is your time to reflect on how well you have achieved the goals noted in the Can-Do statements and how to maximize your language skills via additional practice of concepts covered or stretching your skills toward attaining the next level of proficiency of the material covered thus refining your ability.

Vocabulary is presented in small groups with a master list found on the online platform for you to use as a self-correcting study tool. Sometimes, concepts that seem to be grammar points may be presented as vocabulary.

Grammar is presented in brief explanations within the functional use of the language with a balance of implicit (again functional use) and explicit (grammar explanations) approaches.

Cultural awareness will be fostered in a variety of ways. It may be addressed through proper pronunciation (phonetics and phonology) or activities where you read about the lives of Spanish speakers. Cultural awareness goes beyond learning discrete cultural points. This text strives to give students a competitive advantage using foreign languages so that they can succeed in a global world, work with a diverse workforce, and relate to people of other cultures. Consider the following:

“A feeling of common belonging based on linguistic and cultural diversity is a powerful antidote to intolerance. Increasing mutual understanding, multilingualism can significantly contribute to the dialogue between people, be it at school, at work or during free time”^[1]

We are excited to help you on your journey to learn Spanish so…

Let’s begin!! ¡Empecemos!