We start with the premise that learning a language is a combination of the knowledge of the language combined with the skill to speak and understand it. 

At Warren Hardy we develop the knowledge base at the same time we develop the skill.  We have found that adult learners advance best when they have a clear understanding of what they are doing while practicing the language.  They like knowing the tenses and how sentences are put together.  At Warren Hardy there are four levels of instruction. Each level has a grammar component and a skill development component.  In our school we can take you to the high conversational level. 

Here are the courses in our curriculum.  Notice how the Foundation Courses, Levels 1 – 4 combine with the Skill development courses to move students through the stages of language acquisition.

 Level 1 – Power Verbs

The purpose of the this course is to develop the ability to appear well meaning and kind as well as comfortably get what they need and want by using Spanish.   The class is based on the usage of the 100 most common Spanish verbs with Power Verbs, time frames, and glue words.  ie.  I need to go to the store today. or I want to drink coffee in the morning.” This simple formula gives you the ability to create hundreds of sentences in Spanish.  Students develop a 300 word vocabulary and develop the ability to speak in complete sentences. The book is integrated with an audio and the method is in a paired learning environment.

Basic Communication Skills

This can be taken simultaneously with Power Verbs and provides a broader daily experience.   Or it can be taken after Power Verbs.   This course develops pronunciation.   It helps students to master all of the basic skill necessary for survival.

Master the ability to spell you name, give your phone number, address.   Learn to talk on the phone, make a Dr. appointment,  Go to a Dr. appointment.  Express symptoms.  Learn to take a taxi, give and take directions. Learn names of businesses.  Learn all the fruits and vegetables and how to buy them. Go to the market and shop.  Learn about Mexican guisados (stews) and where to eat in the market.  Learn to go to the restaurant, order, etc.  These are the basic communication needs.  You will learn them in this class.

After Power Verbs and Basic Communication Skills you are functional in Spanish.  You can get around with confidence.  Many people stop here.

However if your goal is to converse in Spanish, you have to continue to learn tenses and practice more.  You must take a more academic approach, which begins in Level 2.

Level 2 – Preterit and Pronouns

This is the core grammar course.  This is where you learn all the rules for word order and the most important tense.   The Preterit or simple past tense occupies 40% of the usage.  It also uses the pronouns more than any tense.  This class empowers you to communicate in past time.  When you leave this class you will clearly know how Spanish sentences are put together. You will be at the high functional level. You will be able to express yourself in present, past and future time.  However, you will not be conversant.

Storytelling

Conversation is being able to sit down at a table and tell your story; to talk about past events.  The Preterit tense alone will not enable you to do that.  The magic of Storytelling is that when we combine the Imperfect tense with the Preterit, we can tell stories and this takes us into the conversation level.  This is a transitional course.  You will learn to tell your life history, talk about historical figures and trips you have taken.   No English spoken here.  Now you entered conversational Spanish. However, you need more tenses.

Level 3 – Seven Indicative Tenses

Here you will study the major tenses.  The Present, The Preterit, The Imperfect and practice integrating them. Then you will study the minor tenses. The Future, The Conditional, The Present Progressive, and the Present Perfect.  Then you will practice integrating them.  Finally you will do exercises using the seven tenses.  ie:  I speak, I spoke, I used to speak, I will speak, I would speak, I am speaking, I have spoken.  Now you have seven tenses and you can begin to understand much better.  The key to understanding is tense recognition.  When you can separate the tense from the pronouns and the nouns, you can understand.  Problem here is that these are alot of tenses and we need to develop the ability to manage them.  Now we are really moving into conversational Spanish and can read.   We need to expand our vocabulary and apply Spanish.

The Soap Opera of Carolina

This Soap Opera was written using the Seven Indicative Tenses.  This bilingual reader is a classic Mexican soap opera with seven chapters.  The whimsical drama of Carolina, a middle aged woman from Oregon visits San Miguel de Allende, meets new friends, falls in love with the Gitano, and well…..it is juicy.  The Soap Opera reader is supported by a radio play audio performed by professional actors.  You can listen to the audio and read along with the book at home.  In class students take a role and act out their parts as they read from the text.  When students read out loud with emotion as they act, they move into Spanish mind.  Another transitional course, this is where you will begin to think in Spanish.   This course is a blast! Welcome to Conversational Spanish.  After this class you can begin to attend Intermediate Conversation but you are not quite complete with all your tenses, so you need one more Foundation Course.  The Subjunctive.

Level 4 – Present and Past Subjunctive

The Seven Indicative Tenses indicate realities, things that have happened, are happening or we are sure will happen.  The Subjunctive talks of things that have not happened, we are not sure if they will ever happen.  It is the subjective world, the unknown.  It talks of things that might happen or would have happened.  It takes you more deeply into the Spanish mind and the sweetness of its culture.  This course will complete your knowledge of the tenses and it will give you the ability to express yourself diplomatically.   The subjunctive comprises 20% of the usage.  It is important and has many nuances.  You miss out on a lot if you don’t know the Subjunctive.  Now you have completed your Foundation work.  You are not moving from Spanish learner to Spanish Practitioner.  You will want to read, listen to and practice Spanish. 

These upper level conversation courses are designed to be repeated.  As you continue attending this class you will begin to accelerate in understanding, vocabulary, and speaking skills.  They are never exactly the same. Your goal is to be able to engage in the Advanced conversation class.  But believe me, you will want to continue once you begin because they are fantastic in presentation and content.  They are supported by power point, streaming internet, movies.     

Intermediate Conversation

Engage in study and  conversation about Mexican history, literature, art, and politics at a simple enough level that you will be able to understand and react.  This class is never the same and engages the student through readings, listening, and sharing opinions and ideas.  It is supported by power point, streaming video, and movies. Develop you ability to converse until you are ready to move to Advanced Conversation.  Audit advanced conversation to see if you can compete at that level. 

Advanced Conversation

Cafe Literario is for the advanced student. It explores Mexican culture, past and present through the reading and discussing of newspaper/magazine articles/movies on Mexican literature, legends, fables,myths and country stories. You will learn the different ways in which the MX culture is presented through politics, society and ideology. You will interact in round table discussions as you express your views and opinions. You are welcome to attend any one day of Cafe Literario complimentary to see if it fits your level and if you like the format and presentation. It is taught by Ricardo Ruiz Correon, a master teacher.

 Total Immersion

Well, this is about all we can do for you but no one else could have brought you to this spot as quickly or as painlessly as we have. Our job has been to give you the knowledge and develop your skills to use the Spanish language. You are at a high conversational level and can read most anything.  You can practice by watching and enjoying movies and television.

Mastery or fluency is another step and requires total immersion.  Of course, if you have come this far, don’t hold back.  We are affiliated with many total immersion schools and we can guide you to the country and the school.  

Remember this:  Warren Hardy Spanish will give you a strong foundation in the Spanish language and when you enter total immersion you will feel yourself blossom with confidence.  Our students that go to total immersion always write back and say the same thing.  I was the oldest there but I knew more than anyone else.  One of the best ways to stay young is to go to another country and learn another language and culture.   We are here to help make that possible for you.

Warren Hardy