1. Listening

• Understanding Main Ideas: Students will develop the ability to understand the main points of clear standard speech on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.

• Comprehending Longer Conversations: Exposure to longer and more complex dialogues, including discussions on everyday and less predictable topics such as travel experiences, work-related matters, and hobbies.

• Listening for Specific Information: Practise extracting specific details from conversations, announcements, and narratives, such as instructions, advice, and explanations in both formal and informal settings.

2. Speaking

• Participating in Conversations: Ability to engage in conversations on topics that are familiar, of personal interest, or pertinent to everyday life (e.g., family, hobbies, work, travel, and current events).

• Expressing Opinions: Students will learn to express and explain their opinions, plans, and ideas clearly and in detail, using a wider range of vocabulary and more complex sentence structures.

• Narrating Experiences: Ability to narrate experiences and events, describe dreams, hopes, and ambitions, and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.

• Fluency and Pronunciation: Continued focus on improving fluency and pronunciation, with exercises to practise the natural flow of speech, intonation, and rhythm in more extended conversations.

3. Reading

• Understanding Texts on Familiar Topics: Students will read and comprehend texts that consist of everyday or job-related language, such as descriptions of events, feelings, and wishes in personal letters, emails, and articles.

• Reading for Main Ideas and Details: Practise identifying the main idea, supporting details, and specific information in texts related to familiar topics and interests, such as news articles, blog posts, and narratives.

• Comprehension of Short Stories and Articles: Exposure to reading short stories, interviews, and simple reports, with a focus on understanding the sequence of events, the characters' motivations, and the message of the text.

4. Writing

• Writing Coherent Texts: Students will practise writing clear, detailed texts on a range of subjects related to their interests, including essays, reviews, and letters. This includes the ability to describe experiences, events, dreams, hopes, and ambitions.

• Structuring Arguments: Ability to write straightforward connected text on topics that are familiar or of personal interest, such as crafting essays with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion, and using linking words to connect ideas.

• Expressing Opinions in Writing: Practise writing letters, emails, and articles in which students express and justify their opinions, make suggestions, and provide explanations.

• Improving Writing Skills: Focus on refining grammar, expanding vocabulary, and enhancing sentence structure to produce more accurate and fluent written communication.

5. Grammar and Vocabulary

• Verb Tenses: Mastery of present, past (preterite, imperfect), future, and conditional tenses, with the introduction to the present perfect and pluperfect tenses. Understanding and using more complex verb forms, such as the subjunctive in present tense."

• Pronouns: Use of direct and indirect object pronouns, reflexive pronouns, relative pronouns, and the correct placement of pronouns in sentences.

• Complex Sentences: Learning to use conjunctions, relative clauses, and adverbial phrases to form more complex sentences.

• Expanded Vocabulary: Building a wider range of vocabulary related to topics such as work, education, media, technology, health, and abstract concepts like emotions and opinions.

• Adjectives and Adverbs: Use of comparative and superlative adjectives, a variety of adverbs of frequency, manner, and degree, and more nuanced expressions for describing people, places, and things.

• Prepositions and Conjunctions: Mastery of prepositions and conjunctions to connect ideas more fluidly and accurately, including time expressions, cause-and-effect, and contrast.

6. Cultural Awareness

• In-Depth Exploration of Spanish-Speaking Cultures: Deeper exploration of cultural norms, values, and societal issues in various Spanish-speaking countries, including historical events, famous figures, and contemporary cultural trends.

• Cultural Comparisons and Discussions: Engaging in more complex discussions comparing and contrasting students' own culture with those of Spanish-speaking countries, focusing on topics like traditions, holidays, work-life balance, and social etiquette.

• Cultural Activities: Participation in cultural activities such as analysing Spanish-language films, reading excerpts from literature, and discussing cultural practices, with an emphasis on understanding the cultural context.

7. Functional Language Skills

• Handling Everyday Situations: Learning how to manage more complex everyday situations, such as making complaints, handling misunderstandings, and negotiating.

• Making Plans and Discussing Future Events: Ability to discuss and make detailed plans, talk about future events, and express intentions, hopes, and expectations.

• Workplace and Academic Language: Introduction to language and vocabulary related to the workplace and academic settings, including giving and receiving instructions, discussing job responsibilities, and engaging in formal and informal communication.

• Expressing Hypothetical Situations: Practice using the conditional tense and subjunctive mood to talk about hypothetical situations, possibilities, and wishes.

8. Assessment

• Listening and Speaking Tests: Oral assessments that include participating in longer conversations, responding to complex questions, and understanding more detailed spoken information.

• Reading and Writing Tests: Written assessments focused on reading comprehension of more complex texts and writing essays, letters, and reviews on familiar and abstract topics.

• Ongoing Progress Evaluation: Regular quizzes, assignments, and class participation to assess students’ progress in vocabulary, grammar, and communication skills, with feedback for improvement.

This comprehensive curriculum overview for Spanish Level B1 is designed to help students become more independent in their use of Spanish, enabling them to handle a wide range of situations and topics with greater confidence and fluency. By the end of this level, students will be able to communicate more effectively in both personal and professional contexts, with a deeper understanding of the language and culture.