The Spanish Basic Language Program consists of a series of three 4-credit semester courses for students whose native language is not Spanish.  Spanish 001 is designed for students who have not taken any previous Spanish classes or who have completed one high school Spanish course within four years immediately preceding admission to college.  Spanish 002 is designed for students who have successfully completed Spanish 001 at PSU, or the equivalent level at another university.  This class level is also suitable for students who have had the equivalent of two or three years of high school Spanish within four years immediately preceding admission to college.  Spanish 003 is designed for students who have successfully completed Spanish 002 at PSU, or the equivalent level at another university.  Students are also allowed to enroll in this class if they have successfully completed four years of high school Spanish within four years immediately preceding admission to college.  The textbook used in the three courses is Mosaicos: Spanish as a World Language.  The average class size for each class section is 25 students. 
The goal of the Spanish Basic Language Program is to develop and improve the students’ communication skills when listening, reading, speaking, and writing in Spanish.  In order to accomplish this goal, the program follows a communicative approach with focus on form.  This approach uses content-based materials in a student-centered environment.  This means that the class activities focus on real-life information about the students. 
Spanish 001, 002, and 003 are computer-enhanced courses.  This means that the course consists of two components: on-line learning and in-class learning.  For the first part of the course, the students spend the equivalent of two classes working on computer activities.  Each week, they must complete a series of activities on ANGEL, the PSU course management system.  The activities include grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation presentations and practice, listening and reading comprehension exercises, and exposure to Hispanic culture.  The students complete these activities the week before they are used in class.  For the second part of the course, the students meet twice a week (for 50 minutes each time) with the instructor and fellow students in class.  During this time, the instructor provides the students with a short review of what they already practiced on ANGEL and a brief listening activity for the students to become familiar with the vocabulary sounds and target structures.  The rest of the class period is devoted to speaking activities.  The instructor’s role in the classroom is to facilitate communication among the students. 
Spanish 001, 002, and 003 have similar evaluation systems.  Each week, the students must complete homework assignments on-line and submit them to the instructor electronically.  They also have off-line homework, which consists of eight writing assignments throughout the semester.  Moreover, each Spanish course has four exams: two partial exams, one final exam, and one oral exam. Lastly, given the fact that the Spanish Basic Language Program focuses on the students’ communication skills, great importance is given to class participation.  The instructor grades the students on their participation every week.