Thursday Session 1   

HOW OLLI SPANISH COURSES WORK TOGETHER

Because OLLI Spanish courses only meet once a week, moving from one level to the next may not always be automatic. Each course has a different focus, but all courses practice similar core skills such as speaking, listening, and vocabulary development. Repeating a course at a certain level is a normal and helpful part of learning a language as an adult. Instructor guidance may also help participants choose the course that best fits their current level and learning goals. Members may only take ONE level of Spanish at a time.

This 10-week course is appropriate for participants who are comfortable with basic Spanish conversation using the present tense (or members who have successfully completed several cycles of the Spanish: Beginner Level course). Participants can expect to learn and converse about a variety of topics such as travelling, sightseeing, grocery shopping, eating out, or medical emergencies, among others. The course reviews the use of the present tense, and introduces the past and future tenses, as well as more extensive use of vocabulary, structures, and syntax. At the end of the course, members should feel comfortable with standard Spanish conversation.

Although many travelers use DSLR cameras, most topics in this course are pertinent to mobile devices (cell phone cameras). In this highly interactive course, members will learn about planning and logistics, basic gear and basic photography know-how, composition, storytelling, street photography, photographing local cultures, architecture, landscapes, iconic landmarks, and more!

With new telescopes creating huge new databases, this is an exciting time in astronomical research. We will look at new discoveries in exoplanet research, early galaxy evolution, gravitation waves, fast radio bursts, planetary system formation, stellar evolution, the size of the universe, and will preview what we hope to soon learn about with the next generation of telescopes. Class interest will direct the course of the class.

NOTE: This course will be taught at the Allegheny Observatory, which is NOT on campus at the University of Pittsburgh.

In 1517, a German Catholic priest named Martin Luther challenged the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church with his Ninety-five Theses. The confrontation would shatter the Catholic Church's dominance over Europe and result in a major split in Christianity that reverberates to this day. Within this course, we will explore the reasons for Luther's outburst and will examine the role of the main characters involved in the conflict, while assessing and understanding the significant impact of this great historical event.