This course introduces beginners to the Spanish language and the interconnected, diverse cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. It provides a foundation in the five core language skills—speaking, listening, reading, writing, and cultural understanding—through intensive practice in a variety of local and global media and communicative activities. Students develop the ability to exchange personal information, express basic opinions, and engage in real-world interactions such as shopping for clothing or ordering food. This course may be taken as part of the Spanish immersion, minor, or major; the Latino/Latin American Studies immersion or minor; as a global perspective course; or as a liberal arts elective. Beginning Spanish I is designed for students with little to no prior experience with the Spanish language. Students with previous exposure must complete the Spanish Placement Test before enrolling: https://www.rit.edu/liberalarts/mltc/spanish-placement-test-request-form.

Beginning Spanish II continues the development of students’ communicative abilities and cultural understanding through expanded practice in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Building upon the foundation established in the first course, students strengthen control of essential grammatical structures and acquire new vocabulary that enables them to communicate about a wider range of everyday situations. Class activities emphasize meaningful interaction—discussing past experiences, expressing opinions and preferences, describing people and places, and making plans for the future—through conversation, readings, short compositions, and multimedia resources. Students also explore cultural topics that highlight the diversity of the Spanish-speaking world, including regional identities, social customs, and contemporary issues. By the end of the course, learners are able to handle simple, connected exchanges on familiar topics, demonstrate greater fluency and accuracy in basic interactions, and express personal meaning with increased confidence. This course may be applied toward the Spanish major, minor, or immersion; the Latino/Latin American Studies programs; or taken as a global perspective or liberal arts elective. Prerequisites: MLSP 201 or Spanish placement test: https://www.rit.edu/liberalarts/mltc/spanish-placement-test-request-form.

Intermediate Spanish I is the first course in the second-year Spanish sequence. It develops students’ ability to communicate effectively in a variety of practical and professional contexts through conversation, reading, writing, and cultural analysis. The course emphasizes expanding vocabulary, improving grammatical accuracy, and strengthening conversational fluency across formal and informal situations. Students engage with authentic materials from the Spanish-speaking world to enhance linguistic competence and intercultural awareness. By the end of the course, students will demonstrate an intermediate level of proficiency, capable of sustaining conversations and expressing ideas with confidence and accuracy. Prerequisite: MLSP 201 or equivalent placement. Note: Students must take the Spanish placement test if this is their first RIT Spanish class, and they have had some prior study of Spanish.

Intermediate Spanish II is the second course in the intermediate sequence and bridges language study with advanced Spanish coursework. It refines students’ ability to communicate effectively and accurately in academic, social, and professional contexts. Emphasis is placed on fluency through sustained conversation, interpretive reading, and written expression grounded in cultural understanding. Students engage with authentic texts, films, and media from diverse Spanish-speaking regions to discuss themes such as identity, globalization, and contemporary society. By the end of the course, students will narrate, describe, and express opinions clearly and coherently in extended discourse. Prerequisite: MLSP 301 or equivalent placement. Note: Students must take the Spanish placement test if this is their first RIT Spanish class (go to mltc.rit.edu). Part of the Spanish immersion, minor, and major, or elective.