University Prep Spanish
University Prep Spanish bridges the gap between conversational fluency and the formal, academic register that admissions committees and lecturers expect. You will practise the exact tasks you will face at university: motivation letters, oral defences, note-taking from lectures and structured argumentation.
4.9 rating
Intermediate
30 lessons
3 months
What you’ll learn
- Write a persuasive carta de motivación and academic CV in Spanish.
- Take structured notes from fast, lecture-style Spanish audio.
- Defend an argument orally in a mock admissions interview.
- Master the formal register: connectors, passive voice and nominalisation.
- Read and summarise academic articles and set texts.
- Reference sources and avoid calques from your native language.
- Handle enrolment, tutorías and student-services vocabulary with confidence.
Course program
7 modules · 30 lessons
Module 1: El discurso académico · 5 lessons
- Formal vs informal register — Recognise academic tone in Spanish texts.
- Connectors of argument — Linking ideas with sin embargo and por tanto.
- Nominalisation — Turning verbs into noun phrases for formality.
- The academic passive — Se-passive and ser-passive in essays.
- Hedging & precision — Matizar your claims like a scholar.
Module 2: Carta de motivación · 4 lessons
- Anatomy of a motivation letter — Structure and committee expectations.
- Persuasive openings — Hooking an admissions committee in one line.
- Showcasing your profile — Describing achievements without arrogance.
- Closing and call to action — A confident, memorable final paragraph.
Module 3: Apuntes de clase · 4 lessons
- Lecture listening — Following fast, academic Spanish.
- Abbreviation systems — Note-taking shorthand in Spanish.
- Signposting language — Spotting a lecturer’s hidden structure.
- From notes to summary — Condensing a full lecture into a page.
Module 4: El ensayo académico · 5 lessons
- Thesis statements — Framing a clear central argument.
- Paragraph architecture — From topic sentence to evidence.
- Citing sources — Introducing and referencing quotations.
- Counter-argument — Conceding and rebutting opposing views.
- Editing for cohesion — Polishing a finished essay.
Module 5: La entrevista de admisión · 4 lessons
- Common interview questions — Preparing model answers in advance.
- Talking about your goals — Future plans and ambitions in Spanish.
- Defending your choice — Why this programme and why now.
- Mock interview — Recorded practice with expert feedback.
Module 6: Textos y fuentes · 4 lessons
- Reading dense articles — Strategies for academic texts.
- Summarising sources — Paraphrasing without plagiarism.
- Referencing conventions — APA-style citing in Spanish.
- Building a bibliography — Organising and formatting sources.
Module 7: Vida universitaria · 4 lessons
- Enrolment vocabulary — Matrícula and student services.
- Tutorías & office hours — Emailing professors correctly.
- Library & research — Finding and requesting resources.
- Campus life — Clubs, housing and daily routines.
Who is this for
- Students planning to study at a university in Spain or Latin America.
- B1 learners who need to reach a solid academic B2 quickly.
- Anyone facing a Spanish-language admissions interview or motivation letter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to already speak Spanish?
Yes, a solid B1 is recommended. The course lifts you into the academic B2 register rather than teaching the basics.
Will this prepare me for a specific interview?
The interview module uses the real question types admissions panels ask, with recorded mock sessions and expert feedback.
Is the certificate recognised by universities?
It is a course completion certificate. It documents your study hours but does not replace an official DELE or SIELE exam.
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