Spanish Fundamentals is a self-paced, online Spanish course that seeks to bridge the communication gap between English and Spanish-speakers.
The online course will expose you to the basics of Spanish before you dive into one of the more occupational-focused courses. Not only does it give you basic greetings and survival words, you will also learn about Spanish pronunciation, the “gender” of words, and the beginning of Spanish verbs so that you can start seeing patterns.
Think of this course as a foundation for you to build from. Perhaps you already know some of these categories or do not find them relevant to your needs. If that is the case, skip them! The lessons in this course do not need to be taken in order. Go through the relevant lessons, and then move on to why you are really looking for a Spanish course – for your job – and take the relevant course that will help you communicate more effectively with your customers, clients, students, patients, co-workers, or community members.
Key Concepts Include:
- Introductory Topics: Pronunciation, Greetings, Conversation Phrases, Survival Words
- Foundational Vocabulary: Numbers, Colors, Directions, Places, Questions, Time, Months and Seasons, Days of the Week and Date, Family, Personal Characteristics, Likes and Dislikes, Clothing
- Basic Grammar: Gender, Pronouns, Present Tense Verbs
Course Mentor
Tara Bradley Williams
Lead Instructional Designer & Spanish Educator
Tara is the instructional designer for all course curricula and learning materials. With over 25 years of Spanish and ELL (English Language Learner) teaching experience across high school, community college, and corporate training environments, she brings deep pedagogical expertise to the program. Tara holds a BA in Spanish and Sociology from St. Norbert College and an MA in Adult Education from the University of Denver, complemented by studies at the Universidad de Ortega y Gasset in Toledo, Spain, and extensive travel throughout Latin America.
Course Outline:
- Lesson 1: Foundation
- Lesson 2: Getting Around
- Lesson 3: Logistics
- Lesson 4: Small Talk
- Final Exam
