Online ExpertTrack in Language

Intermediate Spanish: People and Places

4.6 (5 reviews)

Take your Spanish language skills to the next level as you journey through the Worlds of Spanish, with The Open University

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The Open UniversityThe Open University

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Delve into the linguistic and cultural diversity of the Spanish language

Spanish is a global language that has a major influence on contemporary culture, including literature, music, cinema, and gastronomy. It stretches numerous continents and has a rich diversity that weaves through a variety of voices, accents, and cultural individualities.

This ExpertTrack, developed by The Open University, will not only improve your ability to speak and write in Spanish but also provide you with a deeper understanding of the regions where it is spoken. As a result, you’ll be able to interact successfully within a range of everyday contexts, as well as academic and professional situations.

Gain the skills to step up your Spanish

The courses have been designed for anyone with a good beginner level understanding of Spanish, to enable you to develop skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking, as well as perfecting your grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.

Through engaging videos, audios, examples, and activities, you’ll also find out about the cultures and geography of different parts of the Spanish speaking world.

Explore the ‘Worlds of Spanish’

The OU’s experienced language academics use the phrase ‘Worlds of Spanish’ to encompass the multiple landscapes, cultures, and languages of countries in which Spanish is spoken.

Through your learning, you’ll get to know about the people and places in the Worlds of Spanish and be able to critically engage in topical discussions with and about them.

Put your Spanish language skills into practice

Throughout these courses, you’ll be able to consolidate your learning by engaging in written conversation with other learners, in both Spanish and English, sharing study tips and contributing to debates. This will cement your learning and give you the confidence to go out into the world with your newly developed skills.

Enrich your career prospects and personal experiences

You’ll develop in-demand employability skills including digital and information literacy and learn how to talk about your education and professional experiences. You’ll analyse the requirements of job opportunities and careers, including volunteering in Spain and Latin America, and educational exchange programmes and internships, which are ways that you can experience the language in context.

By the end of this ExpertTrack, you’ll be able to apply everything you’ve learnt to your continuous development and make your personal and professional goals a reality in Spain and Latin America.

Key skills you will learn

  • Spanish language skills
  • Speaking Spanish
  • Listening to Spanish
  • Understanding spoken Spanish
  • Writing and understanding written Spanish
  • Intercultural communication
  • Intercultural understanding
  • Planning personal development
  • Critical thinking about intercultural issues

Learning outcomes

By the end of the ExpertTrack, you’ll be able to...

  • Engage in spoken and written Spanish on a range of topics and situations through a series of grammatical, phonological and lexical points
  • Demonstrate an understanding of cultural heritage, cultural and linguistic diversity, geographical differences and educational experiences
  • Create goals and objectives for your career and personal life that utilise your language skills
  • Develop study and employability skills relating to personal, linguistic and professional development

Experience required

The OU’s language ExpertTracks are designed to help you progress with each one you study. It’s suggested you work through them in order to effectively develop your language skills.

  1. Intermediate Spanish: People and Places is for those at level A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) who can understand frequently used expressions and communicate basic information.
  2. Intermediate Spanish: Leisure and Culture is for those at Level A2 working towards Level B1 of the CEFR who feel confident in most situations likely to arise while travelling in the worlds of Spanish.

Getting started

This ExpertTrack is intended for people with a basic knowledge of Spanish who would like to improve their competence in the spoken and written language and deepen their understanding of Spanish-speaking cultures.

The courses are suitable for those:

  • looking to advance their career with competence in an additional language
  • with a love for Spanish and Latin American cultures
  • with an interest in travelling
  • interested in understanding and discussing issues affecting the Worlds of Spanish

ExpertTrack course overview

Prove you're job ready

Highlight the new, job-relevant skills you’ve gained and supplement existing qualifications with a hard-earned, industry-specific digital certificate – plus one for every course within your ExpertTrack.

  • Learn the latest in your chosen industry or subject.
  • Complete each course and pass assessments.
  • Receive certificates validated by the educating organisation.
  • Impress employers with learning outcomes you can add to your CV.
  • Make your career dreams a reality.

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How ExpertTracks work

Join an ExpertTrack to master new skills in your chosen specialist area. Work through a series of topic-focused courses at your own pace, and pass the final assessment to earn a digital certificate award which proves your expertise.

Join a free 7-day trial

Decide if the ExpertTrack is right for you with free access to the full suite of courses and assessments for a week.

Keep learning for $39/month

Pay a monthly subscription fee of $39 for as long as it takes you to complete the ExpertTrack. You can learn at your own pace and cancel at any time.

Earn digital certificates

Receive a certificate for every completed course and pass the final assessment to earn a digital certificate.

Become an expert

Use your specialist training to progress further in your career or build expertise in areas you’re passionate about.

World-class learning with The Open University

As the UK’s largest university, The Open University (OU) supports thousands of students to achieve their goals and ambitions via supported distance learning, helping to fit learning around professional and personal life commitments.

  • Established

    1969
  • Location

    Milton Keynes, UK
  • World ranking

    Top 510Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020

Meet your instructors

Ms Eva Estrany MA DPSI is an Associate Lecturer at the Open University and a member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists. She has been designing and teaching Spanish courses for over twenty years.

With a strong background in Gender and Latin American Studies, Soledad works at the intersections of language, creativity and community engagement with multilingual communities in the UK.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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Start learning today - free 7-day trial

After your free trial you can:

  • Pay $39 per month to keep learning online
  • Have complete control over your subscription; you can cancel any time
  • Work at your own pace and set your own deadlines at every stage
  • Only pay while you’re learning; the subscription will cancel automatically when you finish
  • Complete online assessments to test your knowledge and prove your skills
  • Earn digital course certificates and a final award that you can share online, with potential employers, and your professional network
  • Keep access to the content of courses you complete even after your subscription ends

FAQ

ExpertTracks are a series of online courses designed to help you master new skills in specialist areas. You pay a monthly subscription fee which includes access to all courses within the ExpertTrack, as well as assessments and the final digital certificate.

Each ExpertTrack comes with a 7-day free trial period. You may cancel your subscription at any time and your subscription will automatically cancel when you finish the courses and assessments in your chosen ExpertTrack.

Yes. All of our ExpertTracks come with a 7-day free trial. You may claim one free trial period per ExpertTrack.

You have seven days before you will be charged your first monthly subscription fee. When you join an ExpertTrack you automatically receive a 7-day free trial period. You can cancel at any time during the trial period and no payment will be taken from your account.

Please see our full refund policy here.

No, all of our ExpertTracks consist of fully online courses. This means you can take an ExpertTrack from anywhere in the world.

No. ExpertTracks are designed for you to master new skills in a specialist area. You will earn a digital certificate that proves your learning, but it does not carry accreditation.

If you’re looking for certified or accredited courses, many of our microcredentials offer university credit or professional certification.

Have more questions about ExpertTracks? Read the ExpertTracks FAQs, or contact us.