This course is an introduction to the basic elements of the Spanish language and includes exposure to aspects of Spanish-speaking cultures. Students will develop their communicative and intercultural competence by exploring topics relevant to their lives, and by examining the diversity of the Spanish-speaking world. The course integrates language and culture, and promotes all three commu-nication modes (interpersonal, interpretative, and presentational) using a task-based approach. Cultural diversity is introduced through a variety of texts (news, articles, songs, non-fiction narratives, and short films, etc.).