The Training Ground

Spanish Conversation for Intermediate Plus to Advanced — New!

Who is eligible?   For students who have a strong knowledge about Spanish grammar as follows: reflexive verbs, present progressive, conditional tense, imperative, and present subjunctive.**

When is it?   Location: The Training Ground Main Meeting Room

Fridays, 1:00-2:15 PM, on the following dates in fall 2010:

Sep 10-Dec 3

NOTE: NO class on Nov 26 (Thanksgiving Week).

Make up date (if needed): Dec 10.

Who teaches it?   Sra. Marcela Villarreal

Senora Marcela Villarreal has taught Spanish Conversation at the TG for one year.

Born and raised in Argentina, Senora Marcela Villarreal received her education at the Universidad Católica Argentina, Rosario, Argentina where she studied in the Facualtad de Ciencias Historica. Her major focused on ‘‘Perfection to the Latin American Colonial Art’’, and she received a B.A. degree in History. She also lived and taught for approximately three years in Mexico.

Since moving to the Rochester area, Senora Villarreal has taught small group lessons and tutored individuals in Spanish for more than 10 years in both corporate and private environments, including the last few years at Language Intelligence. Her classes are designed not only to develop basic Spanish speaking skills, but also to enhance listening, reading, and/ or writing communications skills.

Senora Villarreal’s expertise includes:

• Spanish instructor for level I, II, III, IV and V.

• Implemented activities for learning ‘language in context’.

• Introduce differences in Latin American and Spanish language and culture.

• Instructor for adult students at Bird’s Eye, Kodak, Xerox and Garlock.

• Interpreter in courtroom, hospital, and other professional settings for both English to Spanish and Spanish to English.

• Teacher and tutor for various programs (children, college students, and adults) at MCC, Berlitz, and schools in Mexico and Argentina, the Latin American school positions primarily focusing on History and Latin American Colonial Architecture.

About the course:   To learn to communicate most effectively in another language, all areas must be addressed: speaking, listening, writing, and reading. The purpose of this class is to tie those 4 areas together and to create opportunities for students to actually use the language in order to communicate with each other.

Activities to practice Spanish Conversation include: dialogues, games, music, stories, short movies, projects, publicities and pronunciation practice.

Students will be using the following book Practice makes Perfect: Spanish Verb Tenses ( by Doroty Devney). It explains the quantity of verbs that are utilized in Spanish and helps students in their Spanish language development by promoting oral and written proficiency.

In class, students are expected to speak in Spanish the majority of the time — at their own level (ability levels will vary in the class). This means that students must be willing to stretch outside of their comfort zones, which guarantees that they will grow and progress in their listening/speaking abilities. This class is designed in a way that allows everyone to experience success and growth, regardless of what Spanish level they are presently at.

Students are also expected to complete creative Spanish homework assignments, which they will present or discuss in class the following week.

** It is NOT necessary to have previous experience in: the imperfect subjunctive, the future perfect tense, the present perfect subjunctive, the pluperfect subjunctive, or the passive voice.

However, the course is designed for students who have a strong knowledge of:

Reflexive verbs

The present progressive

The conditional tense

The imperative

The present subjunctive

How much does it cost?   $135 for the semester

What does it include?   Professional instruction from a native speaker of Spanish and experienced teacher/tutor—as well as supplemental activities.

What do I need to bring?   Required WORKBOOK:

Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Verb Tenses, by Dorothy Devney

Students should also BRING:

Notebook or binder, Spanish dictionary.

PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS:

Expect regular, creative assignments for homework which will be presented or discussed in class the following week. Please contact the instructor if you expect you will miss a class.

In class, students are expected to speak in Spanish the majority of the time.

Dress Code Exceptions:   None

When do I need to register?:  

Other notes:

We need a minimum of five students to run the course.

If we run similar course in spring semester, we might have to make adjustments to the course time or room to accommodate the Art class.

If a student has completed his or her college-prep language requirements, this course would provide excellent review prior to college Spanish courses.