UCL CENTRE FOR LANGUAGES &
INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
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Spanish Level 4+
(Common European Framework Level B2)
Prerequisite for entry
Successful completion of Spanish level 4 at UCL CLIE or for learners who have a good
command of the language and its main grammatical structures or have recently achieved a
good grade at A-Level.
Term duration
10 x 2-hour classes
Progression
After 20 hours students may progress to level 5
Aims and Objectives
The aim of the course is to enable students who have an advanced knowledge of Spanish to
acquire a better fluency in the language. Students will be able to follow discussions and
debates on current issues as well as communicate in all situations using complex and
linguistically more accurate structures. Cultural awareness will be further developed.
Functions
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Giving, accepting and refusing orders and commands.
Giving advices and suggestions.
Talking about hypothetical facts and situations in the present, in the past, and in the future.
Making comparisons. Comparing reality with imaginary facts and situations.
Expressing probability about the present, the past, and the future.
Stating concession and contrast.
Expressing different types of change in people, objects, and places.
Expressing unintentionality.
Interacting in any kind of debate. Expressing opinions. Expressing agreement and
disagreement.
Expressing personal feelings about a fact or situation.
Presenting one’s ideas clearly and efficiently
Composing written pieces about current affairs and about topics related to Hispanic
culture.
Improving reading and listening skills using authentic material
Course Content: Main topics/themes to be covered
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Topics will be chosen by the tutor in order to cover grammar aspects, and they will be related
both to Spain and Spanish speaking Latin American countries. The course may include some of
the following topics:
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Current affairs: cultural, politic and social issues.
History and traditions.
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Arts (music, literature, cinema, arts, cultural heritage).
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Geography and nature: cities, regions, countries.
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Working life: work and studies.
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Health and lifestyle.
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Media and new technologies.
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Sports and leisure activities.
Grammar
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Revision of indicative tenses (forms and usage)
The imperative affirmative and negative in all grammar persons.
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The imperative + reflexive pronouns and direct and indirect object pronouns.
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Imperativo fosilizado: venga, vamos, anda, oye, mira.
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The present subjunctive tense.
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The imperfect subjunctive tense.
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The pluperfect subjunctive tense.
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Conditional sentences: if clauses, de + infinitive, a menos que, siempre que, etc.
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Comparative sentences: absolute and relative superlative: la mar de, archi-, súper,
requete-, etc.
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Parecer, parecerse, ser igual que, ser clavado a, etc.
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Como, como si, ni que + Imperfect Subjunctive tense/ Pluperfect Subjunctive tense.
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Future, future perfect, conditional and conditional perfect tenses in the expression of
probability.
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Concession or contrast sentences: aunque, a pesar de (que).
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Verbs that express change: hacerse, volverse, convertirse en, ponerse, etc.
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Structures that express unintentionality: se me cayó, se me ha roto, etc.
Learning Resources
Books: Prisma B2, Ele Actual B2, Aula 4, Abanico, El Ventilador, Materia Prima, Nuevo Ven 3,
Additional Material
Authentic written material from various sources such as El País, Cambio 16, El Mundo, etc.
Authentic audio and audio-visual material.
Spanish and Latin American films.
Articles, pieces of news, videos, and documentaries extracted from Internet.
In addition there is a wide range of language learning materials for self-study in the SelfAccess Centre.
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