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Spanish Advanced Language Skills Syllabus
Every chapter and topic of Advanced Language Skills examined in Spanish — 2 chapters, 6 topics, plus 51 flashcards written against it.
Advanced Language Skills syllabus — full chapter and topic list
Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Advanced Language Skills in Spanish, not a summary of it.
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Reading and Writing
3 topics- Reading Comprehension
- Writing Essays and Reports
- Creative Writing
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Listening and Speaking
3 topics- Listening to Native Speakers
- Public Speaking and Presentations
- Pronunciation and Intonation
Advanced Language Skills flashcards for Spanish
23 of 51 cards from the Advanced Language Skills deck — real questions with worked answers.
In reading comprehension, what is the difference between skimming and scanning?
Skimming is reading quickly to grasp the general idea or gist of a text; scanning is searching rapidly for specific pieces of information (a date, name, or number) without reading everything.
What is 'inferencing' (inferir) in Spanish reading comprehension?
Drawing conclusions from clues in the text that are implied but not stated explicitly, using context, prior knowledge, and logical reasoning.
Define a 'cognado' (cognate) and give a Spanish-English example.
A word that looks and means the same in both languages due to shared roots, e.g., 'información'/'information'. A 'falso amigo' (false cognate) looks similar but differs in meaning, e.g., 'librería' = bookstore, not library.
What are the three main pre-reading, while-reading, and post-reading strategies for comprehension?
Pre-reading: predicting and activating prior knowledge; while-reading: monitoring understanding and inferring meaning; post-reading: summarizing and evaluating the text.
What is the 'idea principal' versus 'ideas secundarias' in a Spanish paragraph?
The 'idea principal' (main idea) is the central point the paragraph conveys, often in the topic sentence; 'ideas secundarias' (supporting details) explain, illustrate, or reinforce the main idea.
How can you deduce the meaning of an unknown Spanish word from context?
Use surrounding words, the sentence's logic, cognate recognition, morphological clues (prefixes/suffixes/roots), and the overall topic to infer meaning without a dictionary.
What are common Spanish 'conectores' (discourse markers) that signal contrast, and what do they tell a reader?
'Sin embargo', 'no obstante', 'pero', 'en cambio' signal a contrast or opposing idea, cueing the reader that the following statement counters the previous one.
In an academic essay, what is the standard three-part structure?
Introduction (introducción) presenting the thesis, body (desarrollo) with supporting paragraphs, and conclusion (conclusión) restating and synthesizing the argument.
What is a 'tesis' (thesis statement) in a Spanish essay and where is it placed?
A single clear sentence stating the central argument or position of the essay; it is typically placed at the end of the introduction.
Distinguish an 'ensayo argumentativo' from an 'ensayo expositivo'.
An 'ensayo argumentativo' defends a position and tries to persuade using arguments and evidence; an 'ensayo expositivo' objectively explains or informs about a topic without taking sides.
What is the purpose of a 'párrafo de transición' in a report?
To smoothly connect two sections or ideas, guiding the reader from one point to the next and maintaining the logical flow (cohesión) of the text.
List the standard sections of a formal Spanish report ('informe').
Portada (title page), índice (table of contents), introducción, desarrollo/cuerpo, conclusiones, and bibliografía/anexos.
What is the difference between 'coherencia' and 'cohesión' in writing?
'Coherencia' is the logical consistency and clear organization of ideas as a whole; 'cohesión' is the surface-level linking of sentences through connectors, pronouns, and reference words.
When writing formal Spanish, why choose 'usted' forms and avoid contractions of register?
Formal register requires 'usted'/'ustedes', impersonal or passive constructions, precise vocabulary, and avoidance of slang or colloquialisms to convey objectivity and respect.
What is 'nominalización' and why is it common in formal reports?
Turning verbs or adjectives into nouns (e.g., 'analizar' → 'el análisis'); it creates a more abstract, concise, and formal academic tone.
Name Spanish connectors used to add information and to conclude.
Addition: 'además', 'asimismo', 'también', 'por otra parte'. Conclusion: 'en conclusión', 'en resumen', 'por lo tanto', 'finalmente'.
What are the four traditional modes of discourse a writer may use?
Narración (narration), descripción (description), exposición (exposition), and argumentación (argumentation).
In creative writing, what is the difference between 'narrador omnisciente' and 'narrador en primera persona'?
An omniscient narrator knows all characters' thoughts and events from an external all-knowing viewpoint; a first-person narrator ('yo') tells the story from within, limited to their own perceptions.
Define 'in medias res' as a narrative technique.
Beginning a story in the middle of the action rather than at the chronological start, later filling in background through flashbacks or exposition.
What is the difference between 'trama' (plot) and 'argumento' in a story?
'Argumento' is the sequence of events as they happen; 'trama' is how those events are arranged and causally connected, including structure and tension. Loosely, plot = events + their arrangement and causality.
Name the classic five stages of narrative structure ('estructura narrativa').
Planteamiento (exposition), nudo/conflicto (rising action/conflict), clímax (climax), desenlace (falling action), and resolución (resolution).
What is a 'metáfora' versus a 'símil' in Spanish literary writing?
A 'metáfora' identifies one thing directly as another ('sus ojos son luceros'); a 'símil' (comparación) makes an explicit comparison using 'como' ('sus ojos brillan como luceros').
Define 'personificación' and give a Spanish example.
Attributing human qualities to non-human things or abstractions, e.g., 'el viento susurraba entre los árboles' (the wind whispered among the trees).
Planning Advanced Language Skills for Spanish
Advanced Language Skills is about 15% of the Spanish syllabus by topic count — 6 of 41 topics, spread over 2 chapters. At roughly 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic, a first pass runs to about 5 hours.
Work top-down: read the chapter, then tick topics off individually rather than marking the whole chapter done. Sub-topics are where silent gaps hide.
Advanced Language Skills (Spanish) FAQ
What is in the Spanish Advanced Language Skills syllabus?
Advanced Language Skills is split into 2 chapters — Reading and Writing and Listening and Speaking, containing 6 topics and 0 sub-topics in total.
How many chapters are there in Advanced Language Skills for Spanish?
2 chapters. Advanced Language Skills accounts for about 15% of the topics in the whole Spanish syllabus (6 of 41).
How long should I spend on Advanced Language Skills for Spanish?
Budget around 5 hours for a first pass through Advanced Language Skills — about 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic across its 6 topics. Add revision cycles on top.
Are there flashcards for Spanish Advanced Language Skills?
Yes — a 51-card Advanced Language Skills deck. Sample cards are printed on this page, and the full deck is free in the Examius app with spaced repetition scheduling.