Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: demonstrate proficiency in listening, reading, comprehension and writing necessary for elementary basic communication in a foreign language;  recognize the alphabet; demonstrate an ability to understand the main ideas and information on a variety of familiar topics; read and understand simple texts of familiar topics, including standard vocabulary and basic syntax;  communicate basic ideas and needs orally by using patterned responses and  in writing, by writing simple sentences and linking them into a paragraph; and  spell phonetically.