Spanish

Bienvenido

Spanish is the world’s second most spoken language and the native language of 500 million people. It is the second most taught foreign language worldwide, the second most used language in international communication, and the third most common language on the internet. Furthermore, Spanish is an official language in 21 countries and in the following organizations: European Union, Mercosur, UNASUR, OAS, UN, and African Union. Spanish is also the second most spoken language in the USA (recognized minority language in New Mexico, California, Arizona, Florida, and Texas) and is recognized as a minority language in the Philippines and Morocco.

Countries where Spanish is an official language:

• Mexico
• Colombia
• Spain
• Argentina
• Venezuela
• Peru
• Chile
• Ecuador
• Guatemala
• Cuba
• Bolivia
• Dominican Republic
• Honduras
• Paraguay
• El Salvador
• Nicaragua
• Costa Rica
• Puerto Rico (U.S. territory)
• Panama
• Equatorial Guinea

At the Language Centre of Saarland University, a wide range of Spanish courses is offered at different levels from A1 to C1, as well as the official SIELE certificates.

Feel free to explore this section, which introduces the Spanish offerings of the Language Centre and also provides many useful tips and learning aids related to the language of Cervantes and García Márquez.

Level: A1

• Spanish A1 Part 1 (formerly: Spanish Elementary Course 1)
• Spanish A1 Part 2 (formerly: Spanish Elementary Course 2)
• Spanish A1 Parts 1+2 (formerly: Spanish Elementary Course 1+2)

Level: A2

• Spanish A2 Part 1 (formerly: Spanish Intermediate Course 1)
• Spanish A2 Part 2 (formerly: Spanish Intermediate Course 2)
• Spanish A2 Parts 1+2 (formerly: Spanish Intermediate Course 1+2)

Level: B1

• Spanish B1 Part 1 (formerly: Spanish Certificate Course 1)
• Spanish B1 Part 2 (formerly: Spanish Certificate Course 2)
• Spanish B1 Part 3 – Oral Communication (formerly: Spanish Certificate Course 3)

Level: B2

• Spanish B2 Part 1 (formerly: Español Intermedio 1)
• Spanish B2 Part 2 (formerly: Español Intermedio 2)
• Spanish B2 Part 3 (formerly: Español Intermedio 3)
• Spanish B2 Cuéntame – Oral Communication (formerly: Cuéntame)
• Spanish B2 Hablemos de cortos – Oral Communication (formerly: Hablemos de cortos)

Level: C1

• Spanish C1 Part 1 (formerly: Español Superior 1)
• Spanish C1 Part 2 (formerly: Español Superior 2)
• Spanish C1 Part 3 (formerly: Español Superior 3)
• Spanish C1 Part – Monographic Course (formerly: Monographic Course)

Additional Offerings

• Spanish A2–C1 – Destino España (formerly: Destino España)
• Spanish A2 – Oral Communication (formerly: Aufbau Plus)
• Spanish A1–C1 – Phonetics (formerly: Curso de Fonética Práctica)

Spanish: Modules from Winter Semester 2024/25

A1 Courses

• Spanish A1 Part 1
  • 2 SWS
  • ECTS credits
• Spanish A1 Part 2
  • 2 SWS
  • 3 ECTS credits
• Spanish A1 Parts 1+2
  • 4 SWS
  • 6 ECTS credits

A2 Courses

• Spanish A2 Part 1
  • 2 SWS
  • 3 ECTS credits
• Spanish A2 Part 2
  • 2 SWS
  • 3 ECTS credits
• Spanish A2 Parts 1+2
  • 4 SWS
  • 6 ECTS credits

B1 Courses

(All 3 courses can be combined as a module)

• Spanish B1 Part 1
  • 2 SWS
  • 3 ECTS credits
• Spanish B1 Part 2
  • 2 SWS
  • 3 ECTS credits
• Spanish B1 Part 3 – Oral Communication
  • 2 SWS
  • 3 ECTS credits

B2 Courses

(All 3 courses can be combined as a module)

• Spanish B2 Part 1
  • 2 SWS
  • 3 ECTS credits
• Spanish B2 Part 2
  • 2 SWS
  • 3 ECTS credits
• Spanish B2 Part 3
  • 2 SWS
  • 3 ECTS credits
• Spanish B2 – Oral Communication
  • 2 SWS
  • 3 ECTS credits

C1 Courses

(All 4 courses can be combined as a module)

• Spanisch C1 Parte 1
  • 2 SWS
  • 3 ECTS credits
• Spanisch C1 Parte 2
  • 2 SWS
  • 3 ECTS credits
• Spanisch C1 Parte 3
  • 2 SWS
  • 3 ECTS credits
• Spanisch C1 - Cursos monográficos
  • 2 SWS
  • 3 ECTS credits

*Common European Framework of Reference

Spanish: Course Program Structure and Modules from Winter Semester 2024/25

UNIcert Basic (total 8 SWS)

UNIcert Basic (A1)

• CEFR Level: A1⁴
• Spanish courses:
  • Spanish A1 Part 1 (previously: Elementary Course 1)
    Spanish A1 Part 2 (previously: Elementary Course 2)
• Additional courses – not part of UNIcert®3:
  • Spanish A1 – Oral Communication (previously: Elementary Plus Course – Conversation)
• ECTS credits: 3 each
• Semester hours/week for UNIcert: 2 each

UNIcert Basic (A2)

• CEFR level: A1⁴
• Spanish courses:
  • Spanish A2 Part 1 (previously: Intermediate Course 1)
    Spanish A2 Part 2 (previously: Intermediate Course 2)
• Additional courses – not part of UNIcert®³
  • Spanish A2 – Oral Communication (previously: Intermediate Plus Course – Conversation)
• ECTS credits: 3 each
• Semester hours/week for UNIcert: 2 each

UNIcert I¹ (total 14 SWS)

• CEFR Level: B1⁴
• Spanish courses:
  • Spanish B1 Part 1 (previously: Certificate Course 1)
    Spanish B1 Part 2 (previously: Certificate Course 2)
    Spanish B1 Part 3 – Oral Communication (previously: Certificate Course 3 – Oral Strategies)
• ECTS credits: 3 each
• Semester hours/week for UNIcert: 2 each

UNIcert II² (total 8 SWS⁵)

• CEFR Level: B2⁴
• Spanish courses:
  • Spanish B2 Part 1 (previously: Español Intermedio + Notas informativas)
  • Spanish B2 Part 2 (previously: Español Intermedio + Crónicas)
  • Spanish B2 Part 3 (previously: Español Intermedio + Entrevistas)
  • Spanish B2 -Comunicación oral (previously: Cuéntame (Estrategias orales))
• ECTS credits: 3 each
• Semester hours/week for UNIcert: 2 each

UNIcert III (total 8 SWS⁵)

• CEFR Level: C1⁴
• Spanish courses:
  • Spanish C1 Part 1 (previously: Español Superior 1)
  • Spanish C1 Part 2 (previously: Español Superior 2)
  • Spanish C1 Part 3 (previously: Español Superior 3)
  • Spanish C1 - Curso monográfico
• ECTS credits: 3 each
• Semester hours/week for UNIcert: 2 each

The course sequence in Level I is strictly chronological: Each course requires the level of the previous course (proven by a placement test or by earning the course certificate).

¹⁾ Cumulative certificate; After completing the 6 courses successfully, you can receive the UNIcert CERTIFICATE "Spanish UNIcert Level I"  at the end of the “Spanish B1 Part 3” course. Application form

²⁾ Cumulative certificate; After completing 4 courses successfully, you can receive the UNIcert CERTIFICATE "Spanish UNIcert Level II" at the end of the “Spanish B2 Part 3" and "Cuéntame” courses. Application form

³⁾ These additional courses are voluntary and do not provide direct access to the next level.

⁴⁾ Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)
⁵⁾ Choose from offered courses totaling 8 SWS; currently not all C1 courses are offered, only one or two per semester.

You may also have some achievements from other education providers recognized. Please check with the Language Centre in advance whether your prior achievements are equivalent to any of the courses listed above.

Spanish: Modules from Winter Semester 2024/25 onwards 

*According to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)

Spanish: Structure of the Course Program and Modules from Winter Semester 2024/25

The course sequence in Level I is strictly chronological: Each course requires the level of the previous course (proven by a placement test or by earning the course certificate).

¹⁾ Cumulative certificate; After completing the 6 courses successfully, you can receive the UNIcert CERTIFICATE "Spanish UNIcert Level I"  at the end of the “Spanish B1 Part 3” course. Application form

²⁾ Cumulative certificate; After completing 4 courses successfully, you can receive the UNIcert CERTIFICATE "Spanish UNIcert Level II" at the end of the “Spanish B2 Part 3" and "Cuéntame” courses. Application form

³⁾ These additional courses are voluntary and do not provide direct access to the next level.

⁴⁾ Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)
⁵⁾ Choose from offered courses totaling 8 SWS; currently not all C1 courses are offered, only one or two per semester.

You may also have some achievements from other education providers recognized. Please check with the Language Centre in advance whether your prior achievements are equivalent to any of the courses listed above.

Spanisch: Aufbau des Kursprogramms und Module bis SoSe 2024

Ab dem Wintersemster 2018/2019 ist der Kurs Spanisch B1 Teil 3 (früher: Zertifikat 3) verpflichtend für alle, die einen Spanisch B1 Teil 1 (früher: Zertifikatskurs 1) und/oder Spanisch B1 Teil 2 (früher: Zertifikatskurs 2) erfolgreich abschließen und ein Unicert I Zertifikat erhalten möchten und/oder auf der Stufe Unicert II weitere Spanischiskurse belegen möchten. Studierende, die davor mit ihrer UNIcert®-Ausbildung begonnen haben, können ihr Zertifikat bis einschließlich Sommersemester 2018 nach den derzeitig gültigen UNIcert®-Bestimmungen erwerben. Alternativ können Sie natürlich auch ein Zertifikat nach den neuen Regelungen anstreben.

Die Abfolge der Kurse ist in der Stufe I zwingend chronologisch: Jeder Kurs setzt das Niveau des vorangehenden Kurses voraus (entweder durch Einstufungstest oder durch das Erlangen eines Scheines nachzuweisen)

¹⁾ Kumulatives Zertifikat; Mit den Scheinen der 6 Kursen kann man am Ende des erfolgreich abgeschlossenen „Spanisch B1 Teil 3" das UNIcert ZERTIFIKAT "Spanisch UNIcert-STUFE I" erhalten. Antragsformular

²⁾ Kumulatives Zertifikat; Mit den Scheinen der 4 Kursen kann man am Ende des erfolgreich abgeschlossenen „Spanisch B2 Teil 3" und Cuéntame" das UNIcert ZERTIFIKAT "Spanisch UNIcert-STUFE II" erhalten. Antragsformular

³⁾ Diese zusätzliche Kurse sind freiwillig. Sie ermöglichen keinen direkten Zugang zur nächsten Stufe.

⁴⁾ Gemeinsamer Europäischer Referenzrahmen
⁵⁾ A elegir entre los cursos ofrecidos 8 SWS, de momento no se ofrecerán todos los cursos de este nivel C1, solamente uno o dos por semestre.

Sie können in einem gewissen Umfang auch Leistungen von anderen Bildungsträgern einbringen. Bitte informieren Sie sich jedoch rechtzeitig am Sprachenzentrum, ob die einzubringende Leistung als äquivalent zu einem der u.g. Kurse angesehen werden kann.

The placement test at the Language Centre consists of a C-Test, in which you must complete five gap-fill texts.

• C-Test – An integrative language test designed to assess general language proficiency (vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, etc.) by filling in gaps in a text.

A C-Test is a regular text in which only the first and last sentences remain fully intact. In all other sentences, the second half of every second word has been removed. If a word has an even number of letters (e.g. 6), then half the letters (3) are removed. If a word has an odd number of letters (e.g. 7), then more than half the letters are removed (4 in this case).

• This cou____ be an exa____ like thi_____."
• "Isn’t tha__ kind of wei____?"

Read the first sentence carefully, as it sets the context for the entire text. Then read each complete sentence with gaps before starting to fill in the missing parts.

Nowadays, all placement tests at the Language Centre are conducted on a computer.

More information about the placement tests

Team for Teaching and Course Programme

• Elena Fernández
  • e.fernandez(at)szsb.uni-saarland.de
  • Phone (at UdS): +49 681-302 5448
• Vanesa Longo Lopez
  • v.longo(at)szsb.uni-saarland.de
  • Phone (at UdS): +49 681-302 5463
• Isabel Ortiz
  • i.ortiz(at)szsb.uni-saarland.de
  • Phone (at UdS): +49 681-302 5463

Lecturers

• Pilar Cardo Alpuente
  • mapicaal(at)gmail.com
• Rosa Ángela Repossi Shiromoto
  • rosangelarepo(at)yahoo.com
• Juan Pedro Rojas Pichardo
  • jp.rojas(at)mx.uni-saarland.de
  • Telefon (an der UdS): 0681-302 3347
• Paola Rosell
  • paolarosellb(at)hotmail.com
• Mar Mañes Bordes
  • mar.manes-bordes(at)uni-saarland.de
• Yvonne Wagner
  • y-wagner(at)web.de

En marzo de 2024 hicimos un viaje de estudios a Alicante gracias a la alianza T4EU. Tuvimos la posibilidad de poner en contacto a estudiantes de la Universidad del Sarre y a estudiantes de la Universidad de Alicante. Fueron cinco días en los que conocimos la ciudad, el campus, la cultura, la historia, la gastronomía de esta región mediterránea. Para ilustrar este viaje los y las estudiantes de Saarbrücken elaboraron este cuaderno de viajes.

In March 2025, thirteen students, accompanied by Spanish lecturers Rosario Herrero, Elena Fernández and Isabel Ortiz, explored the city of Alicante and its university – the T4EU partner institution of Saarland University. → Read the travel report of the study trip