Learning a Language
An introduction to why someone should learn a second language and the advantages of learning Spanish. Includes English parts of speech review to help when talking about Spanish parts of speech.
- Understand the value of learning a second language
- Learn why Spanish is a valuable second language to learn
- Be prepared to take learning a second language seriously
- Review English parts of speech
What You Know | Que Sabes
Rapidly learn Spanish by first understanding the many cognates that are easy for English speakers to learn.
- What are cognates and what are examples of each type in Spanish
- Remember cognates to build immediate vocabulary
- Introduction to basic salutations in Spanish
Greetings | Saludos
How to greet people in Spanish and how to reply appropriately to greetings.
- Be able to greet people and reply to greetings in Spanish
- Have comfortable beginner conversations in Spanish
- Ask and answer basic followup questions in Spanish
Numbers & Letters | Números y Letras
This lesson teaches the basics of numbers and letters in Spanish.
- How to count to 1,000 in Spanish
- Say the Spanish Alphabet
- Basic Spanish math terms like plus and minus
People | Gente
This lesson includes talking about people, how to discuss people, body parts, and common jobs.
- Learn Spanish vocabulary for people
- Learn Spanish vocabulary for body and face
- Learn to discuss people in Spanish
- Master core materials and pass assessment demonstrating knowledge
Common Things | Cosas Común
Common objects you will frequently talk about and need to know in Spanish and how to talk about them.
- Expand Spanish vocabulary with useful words that are common objects
- Be able to talk ask questions about jobjects
Questions & Answers | Preguntas y Respuestas
Expanding ability to ask and answer questions in Spanish. Includes who, what, where, why, and how.
- Learn who, what, when, where, why, and how
- Practice situations where you need to ask or answer questions in Spanish
Colors | Colores
Learn a variety of colors and how to use them as adjectives in Spanish.
- Learn Color Vocabulary in Spanish
- Colors and compound color differences
Adjectives | Adjetivos
Expand vocabulary with more adjectives in Spanish. Learn rules and variety to be more descriptive.
- Learn over 50 adjectives
- Learn how to use adjectives to be more descriptive
Adverbs | Adverbios
Learn a variety of adverbs and how to use them in Spanish.
- Learn 50+ adverbs
- Use Spanish adverbs correctly with verbs
Verbs | Verbos
Learn a group of common verbs and how to conjugate them in Spanish in the present tense.
- Learn 25 common Spanish verbs
- Conjugation of regular Spanish verbs
- Conjegation of irregular common verbs in Spanish.
Travel & Money | Viajar y Dinero
Learn vocabulary and phrases important for buying things and traveling.
- Vocabulary and phrases needed when traveling
- Asking for directions
- Common transportation, hotel, and restaurant conversations
- Money and purchasing things in Spanish
Food | Comida
Learn about vocabulary for common foods in Spanish-speaking countries.
- 50+ food vocabulary words in Spanish
- Vocabulary and phrases for ordering, shopping and preparing food in Spanish
Animals | Animales
Learn vocabulary for animals in Spanish.
- Learn 25+ Spanish words for different animals
- How to talk about animals in Spanish, including feeding, riding, walking
Activities | Actividades
Learn vocabulary for activities people do.
- Vocabulary and ways to talk about various activities in Spanish
- Self care, sports, and recreation
Time & Dates | Tiempo y Fechas
This lesson will help students master telling time, the days of the week, months, and dates in Spanish.
- Learn dates, times, days of the week, and months in Spanish
- Tell time, including partial hours
Test Lesson
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Why Learn a Language?
Welcome to Beginner Spanish for English Speakers
This course is designed to help you speak, read, and write Spanish quickly and easily.
It is always important when you are learning something to understand why you are learning it. There are many good reasons to learn a second language, and there are many good reasons to learn Spanish as your second language if you speak English.
Learning a Second Language Benefits
Improved Focus
According to many studies, learning a second language helps young people focus better. This might be from the fact that two sets of words require better concentration to select the right set of vocabulary, which makes the mind more disciplined and focused.
Improved Problem-Solving Skills
When you are learning a second language and using it, you are often confronted with not knowing a vocabulary word or the correct way to say something. This means you need to be flexible and come up with a solution on how to say something with the tools you know. This improves a person's creative problem-solving skills.
Enhanced Multi-Tasking Ability
Studies have shown that people who speak more than one language are generally better at multitasking. This makes sense because switching between languages means your brain is accustomed to multi-tasking frequently.
Academic Excellence
While many colleges do not require a second language for entry today, it is still a sign of a more academically successful student to have a language in the transcripts. Students who want to go to a very good college or might want to improve their chances of getting a scholarship can benefit from studying a language. It also can help if a student is interested in spending some time studying abroad in high school or in college.
Job Opportunities
When you try to get a job, it is very rare that a prospective employer will ask you which books you have read or what math problems you can solve. However, it is very common to include which languages you speak, because speaking another language is a skill that many employers find useful. There are also more jobs available to people who speak multiple languages. Jobs that include working with people from different cultures and backgrounds, international jobs, tourism jobs, and service jobs are all going to value, or even require, a second language.
Reduce Risk of Dementia
As someone gets older, the risk of dementia has been seen to be less, or occur later, in people who speak more than one language regularly. Results vary when you look at different studies, but generally, older adults who speak more than one language have brain health benefits.
Cross-Cultural Appreciation
When students learn a new language, they will also be exposed to different cultures. This gives students a broader understanding and appreciation for people around the world. Students who learn a second language are often more open-minded and tolerant of people different from themselves.
Why Is Spanish a Good Choice to Study?
Easier for English Speakers
Spanish comes predominately from a Latin root, and English is also partially from a Latin root due to the influence of Latin from religion and science. This means that there are a lot of similarities when you look at vocabulary from both languages. Plus, Spanish rules and irregularities are fairly easy to understand.
Cognates
Cognates are words that are the same, or similar, in two different languages. Luckily for English speakers learning Spanish, there are a lot of cognates and that will give you a head start in building your vocabulary.
Your Neighbor Might Speak Spanish
Spanish speakers live in many places, including in many English-speaking countries. Your country probably has many Spanish speakers. You might have Spanish speakers living very near you, or working at your favorite restaurant, or attending school with you. Speaking some Spanish will help you get to know new people.
Common Travel Destinations Speak Spanish
Many common places for a vacation primarily speak Spanish. While people working in a hotel will frequently speak English, if you want to go outside of a resort, you will benefit from knowing some Spanish. It is also a lot of fun to speak to local people in their native language.
Many People Speak Spanish
While the most common first language is Chinese, the second most common first language is Spanish. Many people speak English as a second language, so your combination of Spanish and English will help you communicate with many people in the world.
Mexico has the most Spanish speakers, and the United States has the second most Spanish speakers in the world.
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