Course descriptions, Summer Intensives
January 16-27, 2012
114 High St Northcote
Study intensively over two weeks! Start the new year by dedicating a chunk of time if you can, to revising or learning new Spanish. In January we are offering courses that are held several times a week.
Classes are held in the evenings, and all are 15-hr courses. Due to their intensive nature they are really good for consolidating material already learnt, and building level and confidence quickly. Below are the courses offered, and the timetable for the Northcote centre is here.
Elementary 1 (15 hours) course description Elementary 1
Elementary 2 (15 hours) course description Elementary 2
Conversation courses: are you finding that you are learning lots of Spanish but are not confident to use it? These courses are designed to help consolidate what you’ve learnt, and make it more useable!
We revise topics that are studied at various levels, so Conversation courses are named accordingly. They are suited to students who have completed, or are currently enrolled in the equivalent level, and would like to get some high-powered use. They are great for those with some knowledge of Spanish, those wanting to return to study and who would like to check where their level sits, or even for University students needing a bit of a boost.
Conversation Elementary 1-3 is a 15-hr course which reviews and reinforces the topics studied up to the Elementary 3 level (Nuevo Ven 1, Unidad 7) This conversation course is suited to students wanting to consolidate faster, to those with some knowledge of Spanish and who would like to join the El Patio programme, and also for those students who studied some time ago and are wanting to return to study. It assumes approximately 45 hours of study. There will be lots of talking practice with the following:
- introductions, asking basic questions about people
- conjugating and using present tense regular and irregular verbs
- talking about likes and preferences
- describing where things are located and how to get there
- describing daily routines and events using reflexive verbs, how often and at what time
- describing the appearance and character of others
- buying and trying on clothes
- possessives (my, your, his, her)
- speaking about family and relationships
- inviting people and refusing invitations!
- talking about clothes and food
Conversation Upper Elementary is a 15-hr course which reviews and reinforces topics studied in our Upper Elementary courses (towards the end of the Nuevo Ven 1 text), and assumes around 60 to 90 hours of study. Upper Elementary sits between levels A1 and A2 of the CEFR. The teacher will choose from the topics listed below according to the overall level and requirements of the group:
- invitations, suggestions for making dates
- present continuous (estar + gerundio)
- the small words: direct object pronouns and reflexive pronouns!
- more new verbs for interests and activities (present tense)
- to have to do something (tengo que + infinitive)
- more irregular verbs (present tense)
- plans for the future (ir a + infinitive)
- making phone calls
- talking about transport, weather, health
- time markers (now, today, this week, in two months, etc)
- past perfect (pretérito perfecto): Have you ever ..?
- simple past (pretérito indefinido): In 1999 I went to ...
- imperfect (pretérito imperfecto): When I was young, I used to ...
Conversación Intermedio-Avanzado is a 15-hour course for students with a decent hold on the majority of Spanish grammar topics, who wish to increase their fluency and accuracy. Those who have reached or finished Upper Intermediate levels at El Patio or those in their second year at University would be appropriate (approx 180 hours of study). Participating students should ideally have been introduced to the subjunctive tense, both present and imperfect. There will also be the opportunity to practice the following:
- contraste indefinido/imperfecto
- tiempos compuestos del indicativo
- presente e imperfecto de subjuntivo
- ¡mucha conversación!
Course fees:
There are special prices for multiple courses, whether taken concurrently or consecutively. Prices for all courses.
Timetable for 2012 Summer Intensive courses, Northcote
What's your level?
¡Very helpful! Do our online level tests to find which course is best for you or to check how you're going.
Term dates 2012
Term 2, 2012: Apr 23 - Jun 30
Term 3, 2012: Jul 16 - Sep 22
Term 4, 2012: Oct 8 - Dec 15
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