Espanjan kieli ja kulttuuri | Länsi-Suomen opisto

1. For what age is this course directed?

- Länsi-Suomen opisto's Spanish Language and Culture course is designed to prepare students of all ages, backgrounds and levels of education in using Spanish in their daily lives including in their work, studies, hobbies and/or travels. Regularly we have students ranging from late-teen school leavers to pensioners and anywhere in between. A good mixture of ages in the class gives the course a nice balance of interests and often allows for a lively discussion, given the different backgrounds and ages of the students. We welcome the diversity and feel it is only beneficial to the course.

2. There are variants in the Spanish language, aren't there? Then what is taught in the course?

- The Spanish language has only one grammar, that is regulated by the Association of Spanish Language Academies. This Association represents the union of all 22 separate academies in the Spanish-speaking world.

The Association publish a formal grammar and a dictionary and the same for all speakers of Spanish. However, we preferred to practice the european pronunciation (the original, from Castilian, Spain), although the student may choose an alternative pronunciation. We also explains regional variations if the student choose it for her/his "persoonaopinnot".

3. What is the course structure?

- It is a nine-months course. It starts in late August/early September and ends in May. The course begins with an intensive study at Länsi-Suomen opisto before a further two weeks of practice in Spain.

The time spent in Huittinen consists of five hours of classroom study per day plus fifteen hours of personal study per week on top of that. All areas of language study are covered with listening, speaking, writing and reading to grammar and vocabulary. A special focus is also given to the study of Spanish Culture, the current events and culture in Spain and Finland. The focus during the time in Spain is on the practical use of the language and improving communicative skills. Some trips are organized to cities such as Seville, Granada, Ronda as well as some places of interest in the city of Malaga.

4. What level is the course at?

- The course is suitable for all levels. We normally have students ranging from absolute beginner to advanced and everywhere in between. Naturally, there are almost no two students who are exactly at the same level, so the course is designed to allow the variations in order that it never could be too easy or too difficult for anyone. Our mantra is "cooperation and coordination". Not only do people have different levels of Spanish, but they also need their Spanish skills for very different reasons (travel, residence, cultural, business, leisure, etc). We take all this into consideration when administering the course contents.

5. In which city do we stay in Spain What is it like?

- The course is different from many other folk high school language courses in that the students are given the chance to spend a time in Malaga (Spain) practicing their Spanish in a real setting and getting to know the people and culture of Spain first hand.

Espanjan opintojakso toteutetaan Malagassa, joka sijaitsee Välimeren rannikolla Etelä-Espanjassa, Andalusiassa, Costa del Solilla. Malaga tunnetaan suosittuna kylpylä- ja matkailukaupunkina. Kaupunki ja Costa del Sol ovat erittäin suosittuja turistikohteita ja kaupunkiin tulee halpoja lentoja eri puolilta Eurooppaa (Finnair, Air Finland, Ryan Air). Kaupungissa on myös runsaasti omia nähtävyyksiä, museoita, kirkkoja ja linnoituksia. Taiteilija Pablo Picasso, näyttelijä Antonio Banderas ja näyttelijä-muusikko Fran Perea (Serranon Perhe) ovat kotoisin Malagasta. Moderni aika ja traditiot kohtaavat Malagassa, jonka atmosfääri on vilkas ja ystävällinen. Läheltä löytyvät myös Rondan, Marbellan, Nerjan, Sevillan, Granadan ja Sierra Nevadan, ja Cordoban kaupungit.

6. What is the accommodation in Spain like?

- All of students will be in the same building, a residence of students that also is open for occasional travelers. Each student stays in a shared room in the same building where the classes will be held. The staff will help our students to have a great spare time and social relations inside of the residence.

Together, we can guarantee an authentic Spanish experience and a real look at another culture.

7. Can this course prepare me for Spanish language proficiency tests and/or other university entrance exams or Erasmus program?

- Yes, each student prepares a Personal Study Plan that provides a clear goal-oriented and personalized study program framework for both the student and teacher. So if you need to take a Instituto Cervantes degree exam, this course can help you study for them by providing the relevant materials.

8. Mitä entiset opiskelijat ovat ajatelleet?

Opiskelijoiden lausunnot

«Olen oppinut puhumaan yllättävän Iryvin suhteellisen pieneen oppimisaikaan verrattuna»

«Opettajana Felix on innostava ja hyvä. l0 opistettä hänelle»

«Kurssi vastasi asettamiani tavoitteita»

«Opin puhumaan espanjaa»

«Monipuolista, mielenkiintoista ja erittäin kattavaa, olen oppinut enemmän kuin osasin odottaa. Tunnit ovat olleet rentoja ja hauskojakin. On ollut todella mukavaa olla mukana tällä kurssilla ja opettajalle, Felixille kiitoksia hyvästä opetuksesta»

«Felixin opetusmetodit ja -tyyli ovat sopivat tämmöiseen koulutukseen, harmi että menetimme alkuajan kurssista, kun hänellä ei ollut mahdollisuutta olla Suomessa»

Félix González

felix.gonzalez (at) lansisuomenopisto.fi

Spanish, a language of culture and communication, is now the fastest growing language among global. Is the first most natively spoken international language in the world (the second most natively spoken language after Mandarin Chinese) and the third including the second language after Chinese and English. Spanish is an officer language in twenty one countries. One hundred years ago, 60 million people spoke Spanish in the world. Today, nearly 500 million people speak Spanish, 400 as their mother tongue and 100 million as a second language. Every year more that 10 million people are born who will speak Spanish. In 2050, more that 600 million people will speak Spanish.

The Spanish language is present in all continents. In North America it is the official language of Mexico and the second language of the United States (official, with the English, in New Mexico and Puerto Rico). The United States has a population of 55 million Spanish speakers, that means the second largest Spanish speaking country behind Mexico and ahead of Spain. Is the language of Central America, South America (mandatory in the Brazilians schools) and it's present in Asia (cultural language of Philipines), Africa (official in Ecuatorial Guinea and in the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic)