Beginners Level: Spanish for Absolute Beginners

4.8 (631 reviews)
A laptop at the Berges Institute office

Master essential Spanish conversation skills through our logical, building-block approach that develops sentence-building abilities from day one. 

This ten-unit course covers core grammar (ser/estar, regular verbs, time expressions) and practical vocabulary, enabling you to introduce yourself, discuss preferences, and handle everyday situations with confidence. 

By completion, you'll speak basic Spanish with the solid grammatical foundation that distinguishes serious learners from casual app users.

  • Difficulty: Easy
  • 10 classes (90 min. each)
  • Via Zoom

Course Content

Lesson 1: Spanish basics: Alphabet, pronouns, and family vocabulary

In this class, you will learn the alphabet, the verbs ser and estar, definite and indefinite articles, and vocabulary related to family members in Spanish. You will start building very simple sentences using this material.

By the end of this first class, you'll construct basic Spanish sentences—your first step toward real conversation.

Lesson 2: Spanish basics: Adjectives, prepositions, and adverbs

In this class, you will learn common adjectives, prepositions, adverbs, conjunctions, and possessive adjectives. You'll also learn some basic words and expressions, numbers 1 through 5, and how to introduce yourself and ask questions in Spanish. We'll also explore how to talk about your favorite things.

Lesson 3: Spanish basics: Verbs tener, ir, and hacer

In this class, you'll learn how to conjugate and use the verbs tener (to have), ir (to go), and hacer (to do/make) in the present tense. You'll also learn some nouns related to time, the days of the week, and numbers 6 through 10. Lastly, we'll explore vocabulary for places (lugares) and prepositions like a (to), while practicing how to talk about going to places in Spanish.

Lesson 4: Spanish regular verbs ending in -ar

In this class, you'll learn vocabulary related to la casa (the house), practice using hay (there is/there are), and master the conjugation and use of regular Spanish verbs ending in -ar.

Lesson 5: Spanish regular verbs ending in -er and -ir

In this class, you'll learn regular verbs ending in -er and -ir and explore essential nouns that pair with these verbs. We'll cover key concepts like subjects and objects, the Spanish personal a, and the prepositions con (with) and sin (without). You'll also work with the adverbs mucho and poco, habit-related time expressions, and the basic use of the present tense. Finally, you'll refine your understanding of bueno, malo, bien, and mal.

Lesson 6: Body parts, numbers, age, and time

In this class, you'll learn how to identify and name las partes del cuerpo (body parts) in Spanish and master numbers from 0 to 100. You'll also practice saying your age and telling time.

Lesson 7: Spanish reflexive verbs

In this class, you'll learn how to talk about doing things at specific times in Spanish and dive into Spanish reflexive verbs, understanding how they work and when to use them in everyday conversations.

Lesson 8: Clothes, por & para, and the verb gustar

In this class, you'll learn vocabulary related to la ropa (clothes) and explore the prepositions por and para. We’ll cover the pronouns mí and ti and introduce the verb gustar (to please), so you can express likes and preferences.

Lesson 9: Present tense review

In this class, we'll review the present tense, covering basic irregular verbs, regular verbs ending in -ar, -er, and -ir, as well as numbers, basic vocabulary, reflexive verbs, and gustar. You'll also write a short essay about yourself, entirely in Spanish!

Lesson 10: Food & drinks

In this class, you'll learn vocabulary related to food and drinks, as well as how to order food at a restaurant. You’ll also review the present tense, including reflexive verbs and gustar.

An adult woman over a yellow background

Reviews from our students

Marcia Macgugan
2026-03-05
For me this class is too crowded - too much to take in, remember and find time to do homework each week. However, I am Australian and doing this in the middle of the day, so have found that challenging as it often conflicts with other things going on during the day so feel that has also impacted my enjoyment of the class. The teacher is OK but I would like less content and more opportunities to practise the "conversations" , rather than going through the theory, which I know is important but simple conversations might enforce it better than reading what's already written in the unit.
Randall S.
2026-03-05
I had no idea what to expect form this course, but I was very pleasantly surprised with the quality of the course, the small size of the class (usually about 5 students) and the amazing instructor, Juan Carlos Alverez, who has been so encouraging and helpful. I hope to take further Spanish classes from Berges Institute.
Samantha philip
2026-03-04
Claudia is awesome!!! Would really recommend for someone who wants to learn Spanish but in a structured way
Michael Sklar
2026-03-01
Very good introduction to Spanish. Great for the complete beginner or for someone with a very basic knowledge of Spanish. Good instructors, good class participation and interesting content. Highly recommended!
YingHsuan Chen
2026-03-01
I really enjoyed this online Spanish class. The level of difficulty is very suitable for beginners like me. It focuses on the most fundamental concepts, which makes it easy to follow and build a strong foundation. The lessons are clear, structured, and not overwhelming. I feel more confident starting my Spanish learning journey after taking this course.
Sarina Ussach
2026-02-24
I feel this class is moving very quickly for “beginner” Spanish, but Rolando makes it more fun.
Anne Hannah
2026-02-22
Excellent course with an excellent instructor. The way the material is presented really aligns with how I think, which made retention much easier. I will definitely continue with additional levels.
Kelly Allen
2026-02-22
This Spanish program is so well run. Because all the instructors teach the same lesson plan from week to week, I am taking the classes at a faster pace and try to take 3-4 classes each week. Thus far, I've worked with five different instructors and every one of the them have been very qualified and helpful. They are Spanish speakers who love to teach. I appreciate the order and pace of the learning and look forward to continuing through the levels and into the conversation levels. I would give this program 10 stars if there were more. I recommend it highly!
View all