Discover the Spanish language and culture in the historic university city of Alcalá de Henares!
The EUGLOH Intercultural and Multilingual School – Spanish Language and Culture in Alcalá, organised by the University of Alcalá (Spain), offers an exciting opportunity to take your first steps in Spanish while immersing yourself in the culture, traditions and university life of Spain.
Designed for students with little or no previous knowledge of Spanish, this five-day programme combines practical language learning, cultural discovery and intercultural exchange in a friendly and international environment. Through interactive classes, guided visits and activities with local students, participants will develop basic Spanish communication skills while discovering the history and everyday life of Spain.
Aim of the course:
- give participants basic communication skills in Spanish (CEFR level A1, towards A2) for everyday and university situations;
- bring the cultural, social and institutional reality of Spain closer through language and intercultural exchange;
- create exchange spaces between local and international students;
- inspire lifelong motivation for language learning.
Content and Methodology
The programme combines introductory Spanish language learning with cultural exploration and intercultural activities, offering a comprehensive introduction to Spanish society and university life.
Spanish Language (A1 level, progressing towards A2)
Participants will develop essential communication skills through practical, everyday situations. Topics include:
- Greetings, introducing yourself and others, nationalities and languages.
- University life: studies, timetables, services and campus vocabulary.
- Use the present indicative.
- Describe their daily routine.
- Express agreement and disagreement.
Spanish Culture and Interculturality programme
- Discover Alcalá de Henares, birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes and a UNESCO World Heritage city: its history and its university, founded by Cardinal Cisneros in 1499.
- Everyday Spanish culture: timetables, meals, social customs and celebrations.
- Linguistic diversity in Spain and in the Spanish-speaking world.
- Comparing customs and stereotypes across the participants’ countries.
- Cultural activities: guided visit to the historic quarter and the Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso, the Cervantes Birthplace Museum, and a language exchange with local students.
Teaching Methodology:
A communicative, practical and hands-on approach that makes language and interculturality a lived experience:
- Online tutorials beforehand to introduce basic Spanish, get to know the group and prepare the stay.
- Task-based classes in the mornings, using real situations from daily and university life, with pair and group work.
- The city as a classroom: afternoon activities guided by tutors, where participants use Spanish outside the classroom.
- Language exchange with local students and intercultural reflection on the participants’ own cultures.
- Final task on Friday morning and a feedback questionnaire at the end of the school.
Teaching is led by academic staff of the University of Alcalá, supported by trained student tutors. English (minimum B1) is used as a support language when needed.
Programme duration: 20 hours of teaching over five days, complemented by guided cultural and social activities in the afternoons.
Application documents to be submitted to apply for the programme:
Proof of language proficiency
The following documents are not compulsory but may earn you additional points in the application assessment. If you have either or both, please attach them to your motivation letter:
Online tutor – Language and Culture Survival Backpack (
Certificate of participation in the Language and Culture Survival Backpack
Selection criteria:
Selection criteria for participating students | Points MAX: 20 |
Having run on-line tutorials at any time since the inception of the programme or worked with a teacher on a multilingual school. | 6 |
Students who have attended the on-line tutorials and have been awarded a certificate (for attending a minimum of 5 online tutorials) | 4 |
No previous academic international experience | 2 |
Motivation letter | 1-2-3 |
Minimum B1 English | 1 |
Academic grades | 1-2-3 |
Undergraduate and postgraduate | 1 |
