SPAN 101Introduction to Spanish 1
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Arts
- Subject
- Spanish
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 5 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 3 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
This course is for students with no previous knowledge of Spanish. The basic elements of Spanish grammar will be studied, with emphasis on group and individual oral practice. Focus will be given to the development of skills in listening/comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Multimedia exercises accompany each chapter of the textbook. Students will be expected to use them in the multimedia language centre and at home.
Prerequisites
None listed.
Antirequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Not completed: 4U Spanish
- Not open to students with native, near-native, or similar advanced ability
Leads to
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 081 | 3180 | 63 / 60 | Online or by arrangement |
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 081 | 4057 | 0 / 60 | Online or by arrangement |
| LEC 082 | 8541 | 0 / 60 | Online or by arrangement |
| LEC 701 | 1574 | 150 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
Reviewed on UW Flow
83% liked it70% easy91% useful
From 150 ratings and 28 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
It's like french but using different words.
Aug 2022 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
I won't lie, I used this course for the breadth requirement so I wasn't really interested in learning Spanish from the beginning and did not put that much effort into it. However, I quickly realized if you want to get a decent grade in this course you have to spend a lot of time on it unless you are naturally good at languages (maybe even then). This course goes quick and has a lot of content to follow and it becomes super easy to fall behind on it. This course is great preparation if you are taking SPAN 102 though. The fact that the required textbook is $140 doesn't help either...
Jul 2021 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Fun and easy, simple as that. Not a bird course tho, effort needed to get an 80.
May 2018 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
I took the online version of this course. Super easy course, the only thing I had trouble with was the oral assignments as my spanish turned into french sometimes... It is an easy 90 though if you learned french. Sentence, verb structure and grammar are all very similar.
Nov 2015 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Very easy course, especially if you have a background in french. Class with Regina met 3x a week for 50min, but Friday classes were optional. Grading consisted of two tests, a midterm, written composition, online homework/quizzes, lab participation and attendance, plus a 35% cumulative final. Textbook is mandatory, but if you want to save some money and don't mind using an online textbook, purchase the online version of the code as it comes with a copy of the e text.
Nov 2015 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
90 posts and comments in 78 threads mention SPAN 101, May 2011 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Spring 2024
Interesting courses for CS upper year (3A+) 13 points, 14 comments
“I am in CS, and I am just (after exams) done with with 2B. I only have CS 341 and CS 350 left in the mandatory courses for CS, and I will be on my 3A term in the coming Winter term. …”
u/james_dev_123: “… The most useful courses I ever took were SPAN 101, 102, 201A, etc.”
Winter 2024
SPAN 101 Block Course Dates? 4 points, 0 comments
u/ZealousidealAd7230: “Does anyone know where we can find the dates for a block course held in the spring term?”
Fall 2023
Course advice 3 points, 1 comment
u/uwgeese100: “Anyone who took SPAN 101 recently, how was it and do I need to buy a textbook or any subscription. Would you consider it bird? ( I have a little bit of experience with the language ) For those who took Stat 331/Stat 332 recently, what was the course breakdown like? …”
u/regsergsergserg: “For SPAN 101 yes, you have to buy access to a digital textbook/platform called vhlcentral. The course is very birdy, esp if you already know a bit of Spanish/French etc. …”
thoughts on this courseload 2 points, 1 comment
u/soros-bot4891: “… How good are GER 101, SPAN 101, RUSS 101?”
u/regsergsergserg: “SPAN 101 is pretty easy if you speak French or just keep up with the exercises and labs. From experience German is pretty rough grammar wise, and intuitively Russian might be the hardest because of the Cyrilic alphabet.”
u/regsergsergserg: “… of exercises and theory, as well as get some rudimentary practice with speaking (from SPAN101 experience). Personally I think the content taught in intro classes can easily be self taught but I don't have the motivation to self study so a course works better for me. …”
Spring 2023
Can anyone send me the SPAN 101 PDF textbook? 1 point, 0 comments
u/DefinitelyNotAnAlt17: “I’m looking to take SPAN 101 in the fall, but I found out the online textbook is 150$. I will probably drop the course if I can’t find the textbook cheaper anywhere. Can anyone share a pdf of this textbook? The name is: ¡Viva! 4th Edition by Philip Donley”
Online Fall 2023 BirdCourses 0 points, 1 comment
“Hello Aside from CLAS104, what are some online bird courses (preferably offered in Fall 2023)?”
u/BattlestarGalacticum: “A language course like ITAL101 or SPAN101, you can try RS121, but I’ve heard it’s not super birdy. ECON101/102, or CLAS 201/202”
Spring 2022
Can someone PLEASE recommend courses for Languages and Cultures requirement for SPRING 2022 that are ONLINE? 3 points, 8 comments
“Possible courses are: ARABIC, ASL, CHINA, CI, CROAT, DUTCH, EASIA, FR, GER, GRK, ITAL, ITALST, JAPAN, JS, KOREA, LAT, MOHAWK, PORT, REES, RUSS, SI, SPAN Thanks! :)”
u/daxxie9: “span 101 is easy and should be online”
u/ClarkeVice: “SPAN 101 is blended this spring (with a fair amount of in-person each week as the course doesn’t take the entire term)”
Fall 2021
Easy Online Electives next term? 3 points, 22 comments
“Already took HRM 200 & BET 100. Would appreciate suggestions!”
[deleted]: “SPAN 101 (Introduction to Spanish 1) was a breeze for me; took home an easy 95 despite having sucked at French in high school.”
u/bolton-js: “Thanks for the suggestion! I was looking at SPAN101 too but I had seen some comments on Uwflow about the course isn’t really bird. Could you share the grade breakdown you had when you took it?”
[deleted by user] 6 points, 18 comments
u/HawkGrove: “IMO if you're finding FR151 hard, SPAN101 is going to be worse. From what I've heard from friends who took it, FR151 was basically early high school level French with similar levels of content (i.e. it doesn't go very deep). …”
u/HawkGrove: “… Similar goes for SPAN101. …”
u/myredd1tacc: “I didn't find SPAN 101 too hard when I take it online last year. I think it's a good intro course to the language.”
Please Help 1 point, 2 comments
u/neenavt: “… Since arts students need 2 classes to meet the language and culture requirement, I'm stuck on whether I should take FR 192 or take SPAN 101? SPAN 101 would be easier, I'm just scared at how hard FR 192 would be. …”
Spring 2021
STAT 3XX 1 point, 5 comments
u/jokerwithnojokes: “… Looking to kickback and relax next sem, added SPAN 101 (always wanted to) and PD 13 since it seems pretty bird. …”
Winter 2021
SPAN 101 2 points, 7 comments
u/jokerwithnojokes: “I'm interested in learning Spanish. If anyone has taken SPAN 101 in the previous term or is taking it right now, would you recommend taking it? I have no previous background but did do a bit of German in high school, if it helps.”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them