Course B2 "Local"

From B1.4 to B2
120 classes of 60 minutes each
live online with a native-speaker teacher
mini-group of up to 3 people or individual classes
a little over a year with 2 classes a week

You are no longer learning Spanish — you are living in it: you read the press and defend your point of view. After this course, you will finally get to grips with Spanish grammar and expand your vocabulary so you can watch films and series without subtitles and talk freely with native speakers.

Who this course is for

For people who already speak freely on most topics, understood the past tenses long ago (even if they sometimes mix them up), use the subjunctive and the conditional, and want to speak more precisely and with a richer vocabulary. If you have finished our B1 course, this course is right for you.

And if you are not sure about your level, you can take our free Spanish level test →

What you will learn

Speaking and communicating

Reporting and reasoning

report what other people said, asked for and advised: "he said that…", "she asked me to…"
talk about a past that could have been different: "if I had…", "I shouldn't have…"
make guesses about the present and the past — with and without linking phrases: "they probably overslept"

Debating and persuading

defend your opinion with arguments and counter-arguments
agree with some reservations: "I agree, but…", "although…"
discuss politics, education, healthcare and other social topics

Speaking in formal situations

prepare short talks and presentations
choose the right tone: «tú» or «usted»
deal with practical matters: renting, driving, the courts

Listening

interviews, podcasts, debates and news programmes in the original
different varieties of Spanish: from Spain, Argentina and Uruguay, and Mexico

Reading

the press, opinion columns and essays
literature and non-fiction in the original: short stories by Mario Benedetti and Jorge Luis Borges, «Comerás flores» by Lucía Solla, «Un nerd en Japón» by Héctor García, «El joyero de la reina» by Nieves Herrero

Writing

argumentative texts and essays
formal and informal letters, a letter to the editor

Grammar

sequence of tenses when changing direct speech into reported speech (estilo indirecto)
the subjunctive in all tenses: Imperfecto, Perfecto and Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo
unreal conditions in the past with the conditional perfect and the pluperfect subjunctive (condicional compuesto y pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo): si hubiera…, habría…
the future perfect and conditional perfect for guesses (futuro y condicional compuesto)
concessive, conditional, time and result clauses (aunque, siempre que, en cuanto, tan… que)
relative clauses with the subjunctive
the perfect infinitive (infinitivo compuesto) and verbs of change (ponerse, volverse, llegar a ser)
ser and estar with a change in meaning, accidental actions (se me ha estropeado)
linking words for clear, rich speech (conectores)

Programme

The course follows the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and is based on the Instituto Cervantes curriculum (Plan Curricular del Instituto Cervantes) and the programmes of Spain's state language schools (Escuelas Oficiales de Idiomas).

The programme and all the materials were created by our academic coordinator, Ivanis — a native Spanish speaker, linguist and translator, with a bachelor's degree in linguistics and a Master's degree in Translation and Intercultural Mediation (University of Salamanca).

How the course is organised

The course has six blocks of 20 classes, and each block is divided into chapters. The names of the blocks and chapters tell one story: you find out what other people are saying, regret what never happened, make guesses, learn to persuade and, in the end, feel proud of how far you have come.

Block 1. Dicen que… · classes 1–20

Chapter 1. ¿Qué te dijo? (1–7)
Chapter 2. Que estaba perdido (8–10)
Chapter 3. ¿Cómo llegamos ahí? (11–14)
Chapter 4. Ojalá no estuviera aquí (15–20)

What we study: reported speech (estilo indirecto), the past subjunctive (imperfecto de subjuntivo) for requests, purpose and unreal conditions (si fuera…), the history of Uruguay, travel, the Spanish of Argentina and Uruguay.

Block 2. Me pidió que… · classes 21–40

Chapter 5. Que nunca me rindiera (21–26)
Chapter 6. Que me vengara (27–31)
Chapter 7. Que la recordara (32–36)
Chapter 8. Que me cuidara (37–40)

What we study: orders and advice in reported speech, literature (Mario Benedetti, Jorge Luis Borges), gossip and scandals, ser and estar with a change in meaning, accidental actions (se me ha estropeado), driving, the courts, rental contracts.

Block 3. Ojalá lo hubiera sabido · classes 41–60

Chapter 9. Ojalá hubiera estudiado más (41–45)
Chapter 10. No debería haber dejado la uni (46–50)
Chapter 11. Dudo que me hayan olvidado (51–54)
Chapter 12. Había una vez (55–60)

What we study: regrets and guesses about the past (ojalá hubiera, habría, debería haber), the subjunctive in the past (pretérito perfecto de subjuntivo), relative clauses with the subjunctive, relationships, culture shock, reading and discussing texts.

Block 4. Se habrán quedado dormidos · classes 61–80

Chapter 13. Y fueron felices por siempre (61–66)
Chapter 14. Qué complicado es todo (67–70)
Chapter 15. Habrán resuelto el problema (71–75)
Chapter 16. En cuanto antes (76–80)

What we study: linking words (conectores), fixed expressions, the future perfect and conditional perfect for guesses (futuro y condicional compuesto), time clauses (en cuanto, antes de que), relative clauses in the past, fashion, consumption.

Block 5. Tengo algo que decir · classes 81–100

Chapter 17. Estimados señores (81–84)
Chapter 18. Me alegra escuchar de ti (85–90)
Chapter 19. No puedo darte la razón (91–95)
Chapter 20. Te lo explico yo (96–100)

What we study: formal letters and speeches, concessive clauses (aunque, por más que), conditional clauses (siempre que, a no ser que), result clauses (tan… que), building an argument, elections, education, healthcare, letters to the editor.

Block 6. Me alegra haber llegado hasta aquí · classes 101–120

Chapter 21. Tiene la palabra (101–106)
Chapter 22. Terminó convenciendo a todos (107–110)
Chapter 23. Historias que te marcan (111–114)
Chapter 24. Rumbo al DELE B2 (115–120)

What we study: summaries and public speaking, the perfect infinitive (infinitivo compuesto), verbs of change (ponerse, volverse, llegar a ser), «tú» or «usted», the language of research and the news, the Spanish of Mexico, all the tenses together, the art of storytelling, preparing for DELE B2.

What the classes are like

Each class lasts 60 minutes. At the start, we set the communication goals of the class. Then we look at new vocabulary and grammar rules, and you use them straight away in written and spoken exercises, debates, talks and role plays. At the end, we check whether we have reached the goal.

Each class comes with theory in English — useful for reviewing at home — and its own Quizlet flashcards to revise the vocabulary. After each class there is homework that takes 30 to 40 minutes: you check part of it yourself with the answer key, and the teacher checks a text or a short audio recording. All materials are included in the course price.

Every course has review classes and speaking practice classes. In most classes we introduce new material, and then we hold special classes to review what we have covered, so that everything settles in your mind. In the speaking practice classes and the reading classes there is no new topic: you speak freely, discuss what you have read and see how far you have come.

How we check your progress

At the end of each block, you take a self-marking test: you see your result straight away, with your mistakes and an explanation of each one in English.

Final exam

The course ends with a final exam in the DELE B2 format. So that you know what to expect, before the exam we hold preparation classes for each part of the exam: reading, listening, the two writing tasks and speaking.

After this course

You will speak Spanish freely and precisely, at B2 level. Next, you can keep practising in our Book Club and Conversation Club →

Price

From €16 per class

In a mini-group of up to 3 people, each class costs from €16 per person, in a pair, from €20 per person, and individually, from €32. Classes are paid in packages of 5, 10 or 20 classes. A package of 10 classes has a 10% discount, and a package of 20, 15%.

We will tell you the exact price after you fill in the form and we prepare a proposal with a course and a teacher for you.

Ready to start Course B2 "Local"?

To start, you only need to fill in a short form: we will look at your level and goals and suggest the format and teachers that suit you best.

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