SpanishPod101 Beginner S1 Curriculum 

In this 40-lesson season, hosts Alan and Lisy will guide you through a beginner course that will teach you proper greetings, how to ask where things are, the future tense, and much much more. You’ll hear Spanish spoken in a variety of situations. That means you will pick up both formal and informal Spanish.

  Title Topic Function Grammar Point Useful Vocabulary and Phrases Vocabulary List Cultural Insight
#1 Saying Hello! Introductions Greeting people Different phrases for greeting people     Greetings (handshakes and kisses)
#2 Where are you from? Introductions Asking where someone is from Using “ser” to ask where someone is from     The Andes Mountains
#3 Thank you for your help! Thanking someone Expressing appreciation/thanks Using the verb “agradecer”, which means “to appreciate” or “to be thankful for”     Saying “You’re Welcome”
#4 Excuse me. Apologizing Asking for forgiveness or apologizing Asking for forgiveness or apologizing     Asking someone for directions
#5 Where is the market? Directions Asking where something is Asking where something is     The Informal Market
#6 What is it? What does it mean? Buying a gift Asking what something is, and what something means Asking the questions “¿qué es esto? (What is this?) and “¿qué quiere decir?” (What does it mean?)     Cajón peruano (Peruvian Box Drum)
#7 When do you want to go to the beach? Making plans Saying and days of the week and months Days of the week and months of the year     Chicama Beach
#8 Getting Around The City Going home Talking about future actions in Spanish The Absolute Future tense     Public transportation in Latin America
#9 Will you play the song again? Music Talking about future actions in Spanish The Absolute Future tense     Bolero (music of Cuba)
#10 You’re there? Or, You’ll be there? Making plans Talking about future actions in Spanish Future Tense of the Indicate Mood     Using the present tense to talk about the future
#11 There will be a lot of people. Talking about a party Talking about future actions in Spanish The Future Tense of “haber”     Going out late
#12 There are some people, but there’ll be a lot more. Talking about a party Talking about future actions in Spanish The Future Tense of “haber” pt. II     Social circles
#13 Mathematics I: Addition Mathematics Counting in Spanish Cardinal numbers (1-10)     The phrase “zero on the left”
#14 Mathematics II: Subtraction Mathematics Counting in Spanish Cardinal numbers (11-19)     Change at stores
#15 Mathematics III: Multiplication Mathematics Counting in Spanish Cardinal numbers (21-30)     Information in the Inkan Empire
#16 Mathematics IV: Division Mathematics Counting in Spanish Cardinal numbers (31-40)     The architecture of the Tahuantinsuyu, the Inkan Empire
#17 Rise and Shine I Talking on the phone Saying the hours in Spanish Saying the hours in Spanish     Breakfast in Latin America
#18 Rise and Shine II Talking on the phone Talking about actions that are in progress or incomplete The gerund (”-ing”) in Spanish for generalized or incomplete actions     Coffee in Latin America
#19 Rise and Shine III Talking on the phone Talking about actions that are in progress or incomplete The gerund (”-ing”) in Spanish for generalized or incomplete actions, pt. II     Voice-over-IP phone services
#20 Rise and Shine IV Talking on the phone Talking about actions that are in progress or incomplete The gerund (”-ing”) in Spanish for generalized or incomplete actions, pt. III (comparing with the absolute present)     Education in Latin America
#21 Rise and Shine V Talking on the phone Talking about future actions in Spanish Expressing future actions using the gerund     Declining an invitation
#22 Rise and Shine VI Talking on the phone Talking about sleeping The verb “dormir”, which means “to sleep”     Napping in Latin American culture
#23 Cleaning Up: 1 Cleaning Up Talking about possession Possessive adjectives     Cleaning ladies/nannies
#24 Whose shirt is this? Clothes Talking about possession Possessive pronouns     Cleanliness
#25 I enjoy your company… And I enjoy yours as well. Asking about one’s schedule Talking about possession The differences between Possessive adjectives and Possessive pronouns     Formal and informal Spanish
#26 Do you know the speed limit? Driving How to express obligation How to express obligations using the verb “tener” (to have)     Traffic in Lima
#27 Impossible Driving Saying that some can or cannot be The phrase “puede ser” (it could be, it is possible, maybe, perhaps)     Bribes
#28 The compensation Driving Talking about future actions in Spanish Expressing future actions using ir a + infinitive     Bribes
#29 The Negotiation Driving Expressing impersonal obligation An impersonal expression of obligation, “hay que”     Bribes
#30 Phone Card Frustration 1 Phone Card Talking about past actions The Preterit Perfect     Calling cards
#31 Phone Card Frustration 2 Phone Card Using direct object pronouns Direct Object Pronouns     Using Skype to make a call
#32 Phone Card Frustration 3 Phone Card Identifying yourself on the phone Use the verb “ser” (to be) on the telephone in order to identify yourself     Busy Latin American cities
#33 Meet My Relatives - 1 Meeting people Using personal pronouns Personal pronouns when they’re used as direct object pronouns     Family
#34 Meet My Relatives - 2 Meeting people Expressing that something is missing or lacking The verb “faltar”, which means “to lack”     Extended families
#35 Meet My Relatives - 3 Meeting people Using the subjunctive tense Subjunctive Tense     Joking around in Spanish
#36 Love in the time of cholera Literature Using the subjunctive tense The Subjunctive Mood used to express doubt and possibility about present, future, or past events     Author Gabriel García Márquez
#37 I don’t even understand an iota! Literature Using the passive/impersonal “se” The passive/impersonal use of “se     Mario Vargas Llosa
#38 Listen to me with your eyes Literature Talking about past actions Distinguishing the usage of the Absolute (simple) Preterit from the Preterit Perfect     Poet Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz
#39 I’ve got to read it for myself Literature Telling someone not to do something Negative commands “Don’t do (verb)”     Ernesto Sábato
#40 The Other Path Literature Abstract nouns of quality Abstract nouns of quality     El Otro Sendero