CSEC SPANISH SYLLABUS
The CSEC Spanish Syllabus aims to help students communicate effectively in Spanish and
develop an appreciation for Hispanic cultures. It is divided into three main areas:
1. Functions & Contexts (Communicative Competencies)
2. Vocabulary & Grammar (Linguistic Knowledge)
3. Culture & Civilization (Hispanic World Awareness)
Each area focuses on different skills—listening, speaking, reading, and writing—while
incorporating grammar, vocabulary, and cultural awareness.
1. FUNCTIONS & CONTEXTS (COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCIES)
This section focuses on real-life situations where students need to use Spanish effectively.
1.1 Interpersonal Communication (Speaking & Listening)
Students learn to engage in basic conversations and respond appropriately. This includes:
Greetings & Introductions
o ¡Hola! ¿Cómo estás? (Hello! How are you?)
o Me llamo Juan y soy de Jamaica. (My name is Juan, and I am from Jamaica.)
o Cultural note: In Spain, people often greet with two kisses on the cheek, while in
Latin America, a handshake or hug is common.
Asking and Answering Questions
o ¿Cuántos años tienes? (How old are you?) → Tengo quince años. (I am fifteen
years old.)
o ¿Dónde vives? (Where do you live?) → Vivo en Kingston. (I live in Kingston.)
Making Requests
o ¿Puedes ayudarme? (Can you help me?)
o Quisiera un v
o +aso de agua, por favor. (I would like a glass of water, please.)
Giving Directions
o Gira a la derecha y sigue recto. (Turn right and go straight.)
o La farmacia está al lado del supermercado. (The pharmacy is next to the
supermarket.)
1.2 Presentational Communication (Writing & Speaking)
Students develop skills to describe, narrate, and present information.
Describing People, Places, & Things
o Mi hermano es alto y simpático. (My brother is tall and nice.)
o La casa es grande y tiene un jardín bonito. (The house is big and has a beautiful
garden.)
Writing Simple Texts (Emails, Letters, Messages)
o Querido amigo, espero que estés bien... (Dear friend, I hope you are well...)
Expressing Likes & Dislikes
o Me gusta la música, pero no me gustan los deportes. (I like music, but I don’t like
sports.)
o Grammar Rule: Gustar is used differently from regular verbs. Instead of Yo
gusto, you say Me gusta.
Giving Opinions
o Creo que el español es muy interesante. (I think Spanish is very interesting.)
o En mi opinión, la tecnología es importante para la educación. (In my opinion,
technology is important for education.)
1.3 Interpretive Communication (Reading & Listening)
Students practice understanding spoken and written Spanish.
Reading Signs, Advertisements, & Notices
o Prohibido fumar (No smoking)
o Se busca camarero (Waiter wanted)
Understanding Short Passages
o Reading simple articles, stories, and conversations to extract information.
Listening to Spoken Spanish
o Recognizing accents, tones, and key words.
2. VOCABULARY & GRAMMATICAL STRUCTURES
This section focuses on building a solid foundation in Spanish vocabulary and grammar.
2.1 Grammar Rules & Examples
A. Nouns & Articles
Gender:
o Masculine: el libro (the book), el perro (the dog)
o Feminine: la casa (the house), la mesa (the table)
Pluralization:
o Ends in a vowel: Add -s → casa → casas (house → houses)
o Ends in a consonant: Add -es → papel → papeles (paper → papers)
Definite Articles: el, la, los, las (the)
Indefinite Articles: un, una, unos, unas (a/an, some)
B. Adjectives
Agreement with Nouns:
o El coche rojo (The red car) ✅
o La camisa roja (The red shirt) ✅
o Los zapatos negros (The black shoes) ✅
Position of Adjectives:
o Usually after the noun: un perro grande (a big dog)
o Exceptions: buen amigo (good friend), gran ciudad (great city)
C. Verbs & Tenses
1. Present Tense (Regular Verbs)
Verb Type Endings Example (Hablar - to speak)
-AR -o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an Hablo, hablas, habla, hablamos, habláis, hablan
-ER -o, -es, -e, -emos, -éis, -en Como, comes, come, comemos, coméis, comen
-IR -o, -es, -e, -imos, -ís, -en Vivo, vives, vive, vivimos, vivís, viven
2. Past Tense (Preterite)
Used for completed actions:
Ayer comí pizza. (Yesterday I ate pizza.)
Ellos fueron a la playa. (They went to the beach.)
3. Future Tense
Used for plans and predictions:
Voy a estudiar español. (I am going to study Spanish.)
Mañana viajaré a México. (Tomorrow I will travel to Mexico.)
3. CULTURE & CIVILIZATION
Understanding Hispanic culture is essential.
Festivals & Traditions
o Día de los Muertos (Mexico) – Celebrating the dead.
o Carnaval (Spain & Latin America) – A festival with parades.
Food
o Paella (Spain), Tacos (Mexico), Arepas (Venezuela).
Famous Landmarks
o La Alhambra (Spain), Machu Picchu (Peru), Chichén Itzá (Mexico).
ASSESSMENT
Students are tested in three main areas:
1. Paper 1 – Multiple Choice (Grammar, Vocabulary, Reading)
2. Paper 2 – Writing (Composition, Letter Writing, Translation)
3. Paper 3 – Oral Examination (Speaking, Listening)
