The Rojas Program
Learn Spanish the Rojas Way…
Our program is designed to learn Spanish through an emphasis in oral communication.
That is, first we speak, then we read and finally we develop other linguistic abilities and insights. In each module of 16 hours the emphasis is in training the ear to hear the words and structures, to identify the general ideas and use these learned resources to express yourself creatively.
This program will NOT teach you how to translate! Rather it teaches you how to resource the things you are learning in class and use them liberally in your effort to communicate your specific thoughts and ideas.
We recommend that the student of our program follow the entire sequence of classes. Those of you who have some technical knowledge of Spanish will learn how to assimilate the language as we help you put back in perspective these often distracting technical aspects.
Each session is a time to develop socially IN the language, as though you were with your family and friends rather than as though you were just attending a class along side other classmates.
This program will use videos, music, activities and Final Projects that are specially selected to support and give you an opportunity to practice, apply and interact with the concepts you are learning as well provide you a clear marker of your progress.
Required materials include a text book created and edited in Spain, written entirely in Spanish as well the Online Video Learning program that we developed consistent with our teaching philosophy. The costs of these materials are factored into the cost of each Module, you will not be asked to pay any extra material cost. You will also be asked to respond to homework assignments through email designed to reinforce what has been learned in class.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT EACH STUDENT INVEST AT LEAST 2 HOURS EACH WEEK IN ADDITIONAL STUDY OUTSIDE OF THE GROUP CLASS.
You will also be asked to respond to homework assignments through email designed to reinforce what has been learned in class. As well as critical to your moving forward in the language, this time is a time for you to get to know and enjoy the language. It is work to learn to speak Spanish but it enormously more fun to speak it!
BEGINNERS
Basic 1 (16 hrs):
For those who have no knowledge of Spanish. We learn expressions and verbs that will help you to begin to communicate. We learn to communicate basically in the present tense, the past tense and in the future tense. We learn how to conjugate verbs by understanding the various patterns of sound that are associated with each tense. There will be activities that put these concepts into action. We will further reinforce the sound of the verb conjugations in the present, past and future tense. We will focus on the use of; SER-ESTAR/HAY, ESTA, ESTÁN/GUSTAR
Project 1: Writing and video project to be announced in class
Project 2: Writing and video project to be announced in class
Basic 2 (16 hrs):
Brief review of Module 1. In this module we emphasize direct objects, indirect objects and reflexive pronouns, frequently used expressions, days of the week, months and numbers, introductions, proposing activities and accepting or rejecting the suggestions of others. In this module we focus on the structure of the perfect preterit and its application in the description of activities in time. There will be many structured activities that will assist in an understanding and practice for application. We will also focus on the past using the verbs IR, TENER and HACER.
Project 1: Writing and video project to be announced in class
Project 2: Writing and video project to be announced in class
Basic 3 (16 hrs):
Brief review of Module 2. We will study the patterns of sound that are associated with the subjunctive, imperfect and conditional tenses. There will be focused practice in applying the imperfect past tense. We will practice expressing the causes and the effects of something and express the finality of an action. We will take a deeper look at the application of past tenses by talking about past events and describing periods of time. We will express obligations and the need to do something from a general and personal perspective. We will suggest idea, possibilities and activities for the future.
Project 1: Writing and video project to be announced in class
Project 2: Writing and video project to be announced in class
INTERMEDIATE
Intermediate 1 (16 hrs):
Brief review of Beginners Module 3. We will practice the expression of emotions. We will complain and express regret. We will propose solutions to specific problems or circumstances. We will counsel. We will re-enforce the direct and indirect object, patterns of sound in the subjunctive tense, ask to borrow things, deny or agree to a request made of us, justify our answer in the negative.
Project 1: Writing and video project to be announced in class
Project 2: Writing and video project to be announced in class
Intermediate 2 (16 hrs):
Brief review of the previous Module. Expansion of vocabulary and forms of expression to describe physical and characterlogical aspects of a person. Practice the use of these concepts.
Project 1: Writing and video project to be announced in class
Project 2: Writing and video project to be announced in class
Intermediate 3 (16 hrs):
Brief review of the previous Module. We will practice expressing our feelings; I love that…/I hate that…/I can’t stand…/I believe that…./I don’t believe that…/It makes me angry that…./It bothers me that…./It scares me that…./It depresses me that…..(hey…of course, in Spanish!)
Project 1: Writing and video project to be announced in class
Project 2: Writing and video project to be announced in class
ADVANCED
Advanced 1 (16 hrs):
Brief review of the previous Module. We turn our focus to phonetics and perfecting our oral communication with emphasis on the rhythm and cadence of Spanish paying particular attention to units of sound. We will re-enforce the use
the patterns of sound that define the various forms of the subjunctive tense; present, perfect and imperfect. We will practice how the language comes together as a whole by developing and presenting very brief topics in class on important social issues in Latin America.
Project 1: Writing and video project to be announced in class
Project 2: Writing and video project to be announced in class
Advanced 2 (16 hrs):
Brief review of the previous Module. We will use and practice the future tense with additional focus on the application of the command. We will draw the distinction between a present and future application of the subjunctive tense.
Project 1: Writing and video project to be announced in class
Project 2: Writing and video project to be announced in class
Advanced 3 (16hrs):
Brief review of the previous Module. More emphasis in the phonetics through exploration and discussion of Latin Music and other topics. We will compare and contrast the styles of music and their cultural influences in Peru, Argentina, Chile, Cuba, and Venezuela etc.
Project 1: Writing and video project to be announced in class
Project 2: Writing and video project to be announced in class
2 IMPORTANT CLASSES
Reading & Phonetics
This class is for all levels. I highly recommend this class for those who start taking classes and have no experience in the language. This class also will help to improve the language skills of any students in intermediate and advanced levels
I teach how to read and how to become familiar with the sounds in Spanish. This is the way I learned my own language and I found it incredibly important and useful for all my students.
If you have problems understanding Spanish because it seems to be too fast, or you don’t hear every word that a Spanish speaker is saying, or you have a problem reading, or you have a problem understanding audio in Spanish in real life or for an examination…well, this course is for you.
Verb conjugation
This class is for all levels. Excellent for students at high-school or university levels that need to master this aspect of the grammar for tests and references. This class covers the way we Spanish speakers use the sound pattern and rhythm inherent in the various tenses.
If you are a life log learner interested in conversation skills only – you will find my method of deducing tenses by the use of the sound pattern a refreshing change from the typical memorization approach. I teach you how I learned my own language in South America.