Getting Started with Spanish 1 is a free OpenLearn introduction for complete beginners. It starts with the first moments of a conversation: greeting someone, saying goodbye, introducing yourself and recognizing the sounds of Spanish. You do not need previous Spanish knowledge, although the course also works if you only know a few words from travel or family.
The two-week route combines audio, pronunciation activities, interactive exercises and quizzes. It also introduces a language notebook, giving you a simple place to keep expressions, questions and corrections as you continue to the next course.
The first two weeks of Spanish
| Week | Main situation | Language work |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1: Hello and goodbye | Greetings at different times of day and farewells | Vowels, the letter h, listening and special characters |
| Week 2: Names and introductions | Saying your name and presenting other people | Formal and informal address, ser, llamarse and question intonation |
The first week begins with greetings and Spanish vowel sounds. You practise listening, notice that h is not pronounced in the usual way, learn how to say goodbye and review how to type á, é, ñ and ¿. The week ends with a quiz and a summary.
Week 2 changes the situation from greeting to meeting someone. You ask and give names, distinguish a formal interview from an informal introduction, and practise ser and llamarse. The course also asks you to introduce people you know and pay attention to the intonation of questions.
What you can do after the course
The outcomes are small but immediately useful:
- Greet someone according to the time of day.
- Pronounce Spanish vowels and the letter h.
- Type the accent marks, ñ and opening question mark used in Spanish.
- Introduce yourself formally or informally.
- Ask and give names with common introductory expressions.
- Keep a notebook that makes later review easier.
The course treats pronunciation as part of communication, not as a separate technical chapter. Listen first, repeat the sound, and then use it in the expression you are learning.
A notebook-based study routine
- Write the week's greetings before listening to the examples.
- Repeat each vowel and record one word that contains it.
- Create two introductions: one for a friend and one for a formal meeting.
- Add new expressions to a page divided into greetings, questions and names.
- Take the quiz and rewrite any expression that still feels uncertain.
Keep the notebook active rather than copying every explanation. Add a short example, a pronunciation note and one question you could really ask. That record becomes the bridge to Spanish 2.
Who this course fits
Choose it if you need a gentle starting point, want practice with the sounds of Spanish, or prefer a guided two-week route. It is not a complete A1 course, but it gives you a reliable first exchange and the basic habits needed for continued study. You can begin without signing up; an OpenLearn account adds progress tracking, activities and a free Statement of Participation on completion.