Business Spanish Essentials: From Basics to Certification

Master Spanish for professional success. Practical skills, real-world vocabulary, and A1-DELE certification preparation

What you’ll learn
Students understand sounds of each Spanish letter, practicing sentences with specific sounds to enhance pronunciation.
Use greetings and farewells in formal/informal contexts and apply personal pronouns based on familiarity and respect.
Learn to introduce yourself and ask for name, nationality, and other basic information of the person you’re speaking with.
Ask for and give personal info using verbs “speak,” “have,” and “live.” Covers nationalities, present tense, “have,” and key questions.
Effectively read, understand, and create job ads in Spanish with workplace vocabulary and days of the week.
Use the verb “ser” to describe essential, permanent qualities; practice character adjectives to convey personality traits.
Assess level in topics studied in the first part of the course.
Use demonstrative adjectives to describe places/events, enhancing expression of location/time in Spanish.
Identify different parts of a house and use suitable adjectives to describe them.
Identify common furniture items, use prepositions to describe their locations, and create simple sentences about their homes.
Accurately describe physical characteristics with “to be,” “to have,” and “to wear,” and identify family members.
Use the verb “to be” to describe various circumstances and states, expressing health, positions, moods, and locations confidently.
Assess level in topics studied in the second part of the course.
Assess level in exam simulation topics, practicing skills for the DELE exam from the Instituto Cervantes.

Requirements
No prior Spanish experience required: This course is beginner-friendly, making it accessible to those new to Spanish as well as those reviewing basics.
Interest in business Spanish: Ideal for those motivated to learn vocabulary, phrases, and contexts relevant to professional settings.
Basic internet access and device: A computer, tablet, or smartphone with reliable internet access to participate in online lessons, access course materials, and complete exercises.
Audio equipment: Headphones or speakers for clear listening, as the course includes pronunciation practice and audio exercises.
Willingness to engage in practice: Students are encouraged to practice pronunciation, comprehension, and speaking for effective learning.

Description
Unlock the essentials of Spanish with practical, real-world phrases that build confidence in business interactions. Designed following Duolingo’s principle of learning through repetition, this course focuses on useful phrases that reinforce learning through consistent practice. Start with foundational skills such as formal and informal greetings, farewells, and polite expressions tailored for professional environments. Each lesson emphasizes key phrases, vocabulary, and grammar in context to develop your conversational abilities for workplace interactions, from friendly exchanges to respectful dialogues. This course is the first in a comprehensive series that will cover certification requirements for all DELE levels. Targeted at A1 DELE beginners, this edition also prepares for future levels and will soon have an edition specifically designed for French-speaking students. Build job-ready language skills step-by-step with an approach grounded in real communication needs.Spanish Alphabet PronunciationContent: Learn the sounds of each letter in the Spanish alphabet and practice sentences with specific sounds to improve pronunciation.Objective: Students will accurately recognize and produce the sounds of each letter in Spanish to enhance their spoken language skills.Grammar: Focus on phonetics and pronunciation exercises.Formal and Informal Greetings and FarewellsContent: Master greetings and farewells in both formal and informal contexts, with a focus on using personal pronouns based on the level of respect and familiarity.Objective: Students will confidently use appropriate greetings and farewells in professional and casual settings.Grammar: Personal pronouns (“tú,” “usted,” “vosotros,” “ustedes”) and polite forms of address.Personal Introductions and Basic InformationContent: Learn to introduce yourself, ask for names, nationality, and other basic personal information in a business setting.Objective: Students will effectively introduce themselves and gather basic details about others in professional environments.Grammar: Present tense verbs (“llamarse,” “ser”) and adjectives of nationality.Asking for and Giving Personal InformationContent: Practice asking for and giving personal information using common verbs. Topics include nationalities, the present tense, and basic questions.Objective: Students will confidently exchange information about nationality, residence, and occupation.Grammar: Verbs (“hablar,” “tener,” “vivir”) and key questions.Understanding and Creating Job AdsContent: Read, understand, and create job advertisements using workplace vocabulary and the days of the week.Objective: Students will be able to identify and create job ads, understanding basic Spanish business terminology.Grammar: Vocabulary related to employment, days of the week.Describing Personal Qualities with “Ser”Content: Use the verb “ser” to describe essential, permanent characteristics and personality traits with character adjectives.Objective: Students will accurately describe personal qualities and character traits.Grammar: Verb “ser” with adjectives of character and personality. Months of the year and ordinal numbersAssessment – Part 1 ReviewContent: Review and assess comprehension of all topics covered in the first part of the course.Objective: Students will identify areas of strength and improvement in foundational topics.Using Demonstrative AdjectivesContent: Learn to describe places and events using demonstrative adjectives to express location and time.Objective: Students will accurately use demonstrative adjectives to indicate specific places and moments.Grammar: Demonstrative adjectives (“este,” “ese,” “aquel”).Describing Parts of a HouseContent: Identify parts of a house and describe them with appropriate adjectives.Objective: Students will be able to discuss rooms in a house and describe their appearance or condition.Grammar: Vocabulary for house parts, adjectives.Describing Furniture LocationsContent: Learn common furniture vocabulary, use prepositions to describe locations, and create simple sentences about homes.Objective: Students will describe where furniture is located and discuss their home environment.Grammar: Prepositions, vocabulary for furniture.Physical Characteristics and Family MembersContent: Describe people’s physical characteristics and identify family members using “to be,” “to have,” and “to wear.”Objective: Students will be able to describe people accurately and discuss family relationships.Grammar: Verbs (“ser,” “tener,” “llevar”) and family vocabulary.Expressing Circumstances and States with “Estar”Content: Use “estar” to describe health, moods, positions, and locations confidently.Objective: Students will express various conditions and states with ease in different contexts.Grammar: Verb “estar” for temporary states and locations. Contrast between the verbs “ser” and “estar”Assessment – Part 2 ReviewContent: Review and assess understanding of the topics covered in the second part of the course.Objective: Students will assess their progress and identify areas for improvement in intermediate topics.DELE Exam Practice – Simulation 1Content: Complete an exam simulation with a focus on DELE skills required for the Instituto Cervantes certification.Objective: Students will practice and refine skills needed for DELE certification.DELE Exam Practice – Simulation 2Content: Engage in a second exam simulation for additional DELE preparation.Objective: Students will solidify their knowledge and confidence for DELE certification.

Who this course is for
Absolute beginners interested in learning Spanish with no prior experience.
Professionals who want to use Spanish in business settings and communicate with Spanish-speaking colleagues or clients.
Students preparing for careers in international business or interested in adding Spanish to their skill set.
Learners seeking a refresher on basic Spanish while focusing on professional vocabulary and scenarios.
Anyone interested in cultural insights related to business practices in Spanish-speaking countries.
Individuals preparing for DELE exams with a business Spanish focus at beginner levels.