Semillas: Elementary Spanish I is a comprehensive introductory Spanish open-access textbook with reading, listening, speaking, and writing practice. This Open Educational Resource (OER) aims to help students begin learning Spanish in a communicative and comprehensive manner. This textbook integrates interactive activities and present authentic material such as video interviews with Spanish speakers and other audio-visual resources.

Grammar is not just presented as a standalone topic, but it is rather seamlessly integrated into all parts of this book.

This textbook underwent a peer-review process that included professionals from more than ten higher education organizations in the United States.

Authors

Dr. Giovanni Zimotti | The University of Iowa | Spanish & Portuguese

Dr. Gabriela Olivares-Cuhat | The University of Northern Iowa | Languages & Literatures

Dr. Rachel Klevar | The University of Iowa | Spanish & Portuguese

Dr. Eden Jones | The University of Iowa

Guiding Principles

1. Content design

Backward Design. Learning objectives were created following recommendations collected in a survey sent to various stakeholders in the field of education and language learning. Alignment with World Readiness Standards and the integration of Can-do statements to support proficiency development.

Video and audio materials were developed with both native Spanish speakers and Spanish language learners, showcasing differences in vocabulary, pronunciation, and accent.

Streamlined content and audio-visual materials to support language processes.

2. Student-centered classroom

Use of thematic modules. Based on student input and guided by pedagogical and communicative goals.

Relatable and familiar topics to motivate students.

Variety of communicative activities that allow students to focus on meaning and facilitate interactions (e.g., brainstorming, group activities, inclusion of all three modes of communication).

Learning by doing (i.e. engage in real-life situations that promote communication and comprehension not on solely the practice of grammatical structures).

Hundreds of interactive activities to engage students (available on Greyled or upon request to the authors)

Task-based projects for assessment.

3. Grammar teaching

Presentation of one topic at a time.

Grammar builds off of previous materials in a logical manner. Students are first shown examples for comprehension and then tasked with using the grammar to create meaningful exchanges in Spanish.

Grammar is presented organically and in context.

Grammar order follows the natural order of acquisition.

Video grammar explanations are available in English for autonomous learning and to reinforce concepts seen in class.

4. Adaptability

Designed for hybrid and flipped courses, and it could easily be used in a more traditional classroom environment.

Customizable content based on the needs of your class and your learning objectives.

Creative Commons license CC BY 4.0

Feel free to share and adapt this textbook to your specific needs. Copy, redistribute, remix, transform and build upon the material but give appropriate credit.

¿Por qué Semillas? This OER textbook…

Promotes communication and provides engaging topics.

Provides tailored content to suit the needs of 21st-century students.

Includes a variety of multimedia and interactive authentic materials which are easily accessible online and downloadable to any device.

Replaces expensive textbooks and relieves students of additional costs with its free content.

Instructors

Authentic and inclusive content which can be adapted to each instructor’s needs.

Can be used for a hybrid or traditional class format.

Students

Engagement with authentic content.

Learn more about the Spanish language and Spanish speakers in the U.S and other areas.

Self-check activities with automatic feedback.

Reviewers

Elena Dobrila | University of Northern Iowa

Miguel Ángel Herranz Cano | Vanderbilt University

Dr. Alexis Jimenez | University of Iowa

Isabel Matus | Louisiana State University

Dr. Kristine Muñoz | University of Iowa

Dr. Julia Oliver Rajan | Northwestern University

Priya Panday-Shukla | Washington State University

Dr. Maria Paz Pintane | Vanderbilt University

Michelle Ploof | Language Teacher

Dr. Laura Rubio | University of Alabama

Dr. Claudia A. Sanford Galindo | Louisiana State University

Dr. Leslie Smith | Missouri Southern State University

Luke Whitaker | University of Iowa

Madeline Phillips | University of Iowa Student

Librarians support

Mahrya Burnett | University of Iowa

Abbey Elder | Iowa State University

Anne Marie Gruber | University of Northern Iowa

Grant

Regents OER Grant Program | Iowa Regent Institutions

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