PRESENTATION OF THEORETICAL-METHODOLOGICAL BASIS
My Spanish Software was conceived as a full system for the learning of Spanish as a foreign language. The most important methodological approaches and the latest technological resources were taken into account during its development.
As a starting point, the principles of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages were considered. Some of these principles include:
• The communicative approach: The main goal of My Spanish Software is to allow students to develop their communication skills by means of a series of units that gradually present dialogues with different activities related to comprehension, structure consolidation and vocabulary to text writing and oral production by the learner.
• The task-based approach: At the end of each unit, the student is given the opportunity to write and speak to complete a specific task based on the learned structures and functions. Thus, students have the opportunity to give information, present arguments and create descriptions based on a series of specific topics. To that effect, we have tried to find interesting subjects in order to motivate students and make them give genuine answers that correspond with a real situation in personal, familiar, academic and professional contexts, among others.
• Autonomous learning: Users will be able to work by themselves with a wide variety of exercises, which will also provide a series of support elements, such as a dictionary and a translator, in order to help them to be really autonomous in their Spanish learning.
In addition to the mentioned principles, My Spanish Software also takes into account two current methodological trends:
• Blended Learning: Today, this approach seeks to make use of the best features of mandatory attendance classes and online learning. My Spanish Software was designed in a way that enables it to adapt to different academic programs to address the real needs of teachers and students. Its use in the classroom will not only make traditional activities more dynamic but also show the lively culture of the Spanish-speaking world by means of its varied photographic and video material.
• Learning Styles: Since My Spanish Software has a wide variety of learning activities, the learners will be able to select those that better fit their own style. Apart from the audio-visual aspects, the system offers factual information elements, emotional response, argumentation, among others, so that both the students and teachers will have a myriad of possibilities to work in accordance to their learning styles.
The design of the software is mainly geared towards youths in high school and young adults of college. However, adult learners will also be able to enjoy the experience of being closer to Hispanic language and culture by means of My Spanish Software.
In short, My Spanish Software takes into account the five Cs: Communicative, Contextual, Contemporaneous, Cultural and Collaborative.