Whether you are a complete beginner or looking to polish your advanced skills, we built 8-week courses that fit your level and your activism. These are intended to be once-a-week, online courses with the opportunity to practice conversational Spanish with other classmates. Very practical Spanish.
We want to equip people actively working in social justice with the language tools to connect more deeply with the communities they serve. We do ask that students be comfortable with basic computer skills, including participating in Zoom calls, using Google Slides, and navigating other standard third-party software as needed.
Classes are scheduled in Eastern Standard Time (EST).
See below the programs below:
Beginner Programs: Spanish for Practical Conversations
Course Title: Beginner Spanish for Practical Conversations
Duration: 8 weeks
Session Length: 1.5 hours per session
Target Audience:
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Beginners Level 1: Beginners with no prior Spanish experience
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Beginners Level 2: Beginners with some prior Spanish experience who want to build a strong conversational foundation
Core Philosophy: Language learning as a tool for having authentic conversations, understanding diverse perspectives, and promoting justice.
Optional Social Hours: Connect and converse with fellow students
Program Goals
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Introduce themselves, describe their identities, and talk about their families and communities
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Express likes, dislikes, and opinions on everyday topics
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Ask questions for different conversational scenarios and applications
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Discuss simple social justice themes such as identity, representation, immigration, and environmental justice
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Demonstrate cultural humility and an awareness of diversity within Spanish-speaking communities
Intermediate Programs: Accompaniment & Rapid Response
Duration: 8 weeks
Session Length: 1.5 hours per session
Target Audience: Intermediate learners (those who have completed a beginner course or have equivalent proficiency) who are volunteers or staff at immigrant rights organizations, legal aides, or community members committed to direct support work.
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Intermediate 1: Some previous instruction and developing conversational proficiency preferred. This course is ideal for students who want to strengthen their grammatical skills, expand their vocabulary, and apply Spanish directly to community support work.
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Intermediate 2: Some conversational proficiency recommended. This course is ideal for students who need less grammatical instruction and are ready to expand their vocabulary, deepen their analytical skills and apply Spanish directly to community support work.
Core Philosophy: Language is a tool for protection and solidarity. This course prepares volunteers to show up effectively, communicate clearly in moments of crisis, and provide dignified accompaniment to neighbors navigating the legal system and potential emergencies.
Optional Social Hour: Connect and converse with fellow students
Program Goals & Outcomes
- Confident navigation of rapid response scenarios in Spanish.
- Effective communication for tenant & housing organizing.
- Dignified accompaniment during legal appointments and emergencies.
- Mastery of terminology specific to immigrant rights and social services.
- Building collective capacity for language justice within activist networks.
Advanced Program: Power, Policy, and Community Transformation
Coming soon!
Duration: 8 weeks
Session Length: 1.5 hours per session
Target Audience: Advanced Spanish learners who have completed an intermediate-level Spanish for Social Justice course or demonstrate strong conversational proficiency. This course is designed for educators, organizers, advocates, community leaders, volunteers, and lifelong learners committed to social change and interested in developing advanced Spanish communication skills through critical analysis of contemporary social justice issues.
Core Philosophy: Language is a tool for critical thinking, collective action, and social transformation. This course invites learners to engage deeply with complex social justice issues affecting Spanish-speaking communities while developing advanced linguistic skills. Through authentic texts, documentaries, podcasts, interviews, and community narratives, students will strengthen their ability to analyze systems of power, discuss public policy, advocate for social change, and communicate across diverse cultural contexts.
Optional Social Hour: Connect and converse with fellow students
Program Goals & Outcomes
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Communicate for Advocacy: Develop persuasive communication skills to support community organizing, public awareness campaigns, educational initiatives, and social justice advocacy.
Analyze Social Issues Critically: Interpret and discuss complex social, political, economic, and cultural issues affecting Spanish-speaking communities using advanced vocabulary and nuanced language. -
Evaluate Policies and Systems: Examine public policies and institutional practices related to immigration, labor, education, healthcare, housing, and environmental justice.
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Engage in Advanced Discussions: Express opinions, support arguments with evidence, challenge ideas respectfully, and participate in extended conversations on controversial and complex topics.
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Interpret Authentic Materials: Analyze newspaper articles, podcasts, documentaries, speeches, interviews, and social media campaigns produced in Spanish-speaking communities.
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Demonstrate Intercultural Competence: Recognize diverse perspectives within Spanish-speaking communities and engage with issues through an anti-oppressive, culturally responsive lens.