Mario Vargas Llosa with Seamus Heaney at Instituto Cervantes in Dublin TABLE OF CONTENTS Instituto Cervantes 3-4 10 reasons to study at Instituto Cervantes 3 Frequently Asked Questions 4 Why study now? 4 Spanish language courses 5 General language courses 6 Special and online courses 7 Galician, Basque and Catalan 7 Special courses 7 Teacher training programme - formación de profesores de ELE 7 Online Spanish Course (AVE) 7 Registration and fees 8-9 Assessment tests 8 Enrolment 8 Registration office hours 8 Course materials 8 Class size and course cancellations 9 Refunds 9 Attendace 9 DELE Official Certification of Spanish Language Proficiency 10 Autumn examination 10 Spring examination 10 Examination centres in Ireland 10 Dámaso Alonso Library 11 Collections 11 Services 11 Cultural events 12 Academic calendar 2014-2015 13-15 2 Table© Cover of design contents supplied by María Alejandra Gonaldi. Instituto Cervantes Instituto Cervantes, the only official Spanish Government Language Centre, is a public body founded in 1991 to promote Spanish language teaching and knowledge of the cultures of Spanish-speaking countries throughout the world. It is the largest worldwide Spanish teaching organisation, with over 86 branches in five continents. Instituto Cervantes is a non-profit organisation. 10 REASONS TO STUDY AT INSTITUTO CERVANTES 1. Teachers are qualified at University 8. Free assessment tests to ensure that level. They are native Spanish students are in the class that suits speakers and have considerable their needs. experience teaching Spanish as a foreign language. They are periodically 9. Convenient location in the city centre: retrained in the most up-to-date between Trinity College and The teaching methods. Special courses are National Gallery. Pearse dart station is taught by experts in their fields. only 4 minutes’ walk and right at the bottom of Nassau street. 2. Class fees are affordable. On average one group class costs 10 euros. 10. Cultural immersion: Our cultural programme includes art exhibitions, 3. 10% discount for Instituto Cervantes film screenings, concerts, dance and Dublin former students. theatre performances, round-table discussions, conferences, and readings 4. Free membership to our library for one with acclaimed Spanish and Latin year once you enrol in a course. American writers. 5. Small groups of 5 to 15 students provide ample opportunities to practise conversation. 6. Wide class choice: morning, afternoon, evening and Saturday classes in our comfortable, wheelchair-accessible classrooms. Corporate, private, small group and individual tuition. 7. We offer a wide range of diverse courses: general, for children and teenagers; and cultural courses for those who enjoy the cinema, literature and music of the Spanish-speaking world. 10 reasons to study at Instituto Cervantes 3 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Can I use the library if I am not a student How do I enrol for a course and in which at the Institute? level? Yes. You only need the Library card if you If you are a complete beginner, you can wish to borrow library items. enrol in Breakthrough 1. If you have already I want to study Spanish in Spain. Where learnt Spanish, no matter how little, you can I go? need to do an assessment. This is an We recommend our accredited centres. essential step to ensure that you are Spanish Courses in Spain: assigned to the level which suits you best. http://eee.cervantes.es How can I register and pay for my course? WHY STUDY NOW? You can register on line at Spanish: the second mother tongue in the https://clicdublin.cervantes.es/en world and the world’s second language in In person in our offices, by email or fax. international communication! Payment methods are Visa, Mastercard, Laser, and Bank transfer. • Develop a skill that could help you expand your business, get promoted or change What are your teachers’ qualifications? your career. Are they native speakers? All our teachers are native Spanish speakers, • Spanish-speaking countries offer exciting fully qualified at University level and specialised business opportunities. in teaching Spanish as a foreign language. • Demand for Spanish has doubled in the How many students are there in a class? last 10 years. We need 5 students to open a group and we do not take more than 15 enrolments for a • Travel with greater ease in more than 21 group. Spanish-speaking countries and discover the cultural richness of the Spanish- Are classes in English or in Spanish? speaking world. Teaching is carried out through Spanish from beginner’s level. • Enjoy one of the most exciting times for Spain and Latin America in recent history. Can I get a certificate after I finish the Spanish and Latin American entertainers, course? filmmakers, authors and artists regularly Yes, all our courses have an official win the most prestigious awards in their certificate. We can issue yours on request. respective fields internationally and their popularity continues to increase. Do you offer specialised Spanish courses? Yes. We also offer conversation classes, • Make new friends at home and abroad. workshops with a theme (art, cinema, literature and current affairs), business • Communicate with more than 500 million Spanish, and tailor-made courses for people in the world who speak Spanish. individuals and companies. Spanish: A language for dialogue Be part of the Spanish global community! 4 Frequently Asked Questions/Why study now? Spanish language courses Instituto Cervantes offers comprehensive Spanish language courses aimed at developing the students’ ability to understand, speak, read and write in Spanish. Instituto Cervantes is proud to announce to interact with other students. Grammar that, in line with recommendations from is used as a tool to reinforce students’ the Council of Europe, a new curriculum language skills, so during the class there has been implemented for our academic will be time for both fluency and accuracy programme. practice. The Common European Framework of The minimum age to join general courses is Reference (CEFR) provides a basis for 16 years old. the mutual recognition of language qualifications, thus facilitating educational Instituto Cervantes also organises courses and occupational mobility. for children and teenagers from 3 to 15 years old. At the end of each level, students are required to pass an exam in order to Levels proceed to the next course level. We The Common European Framework divides can issue a Certificate for each level on learners into three levels and six sub-levels. request. These Certificates are official and They describe what a learner is supposed to recognised worldwide. be able to do in reading, listening, speaking and writing at each level. These categories Communication is the main focus of the may be applied to all of the languages class. Students are encouraged to make spoken in Europe. active use of the language from day one Spanish language courses 5 General language courses 60 hour 30 hour Diplomas CEFR Levels courses courses DELE The student can understand and use familiar everyday Breakthrough expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can introduce him/herself and others A1.1 and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/ A1.1 she has. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person A1.2 talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help. Level A1 The student can understand sentences and frequently-used Waystage expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, A2.1 A2.1 local geography, employment). Can communicate in simple A2.2 and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. Can describe A2.3 in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate A2.2 environment and matters in areas of immediate need. A2.4 Level A2 The student can understand the main points of clear standard Threshold communication on familiar matters regularly encountered at work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations likely B1.1 B1.1 to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is B1.2 spoken. Can produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest. Can describe experiences and B1.3 events, dreams, hopes & ambitions and briefly give reasons and B1.2 explanations for opinions and plans. B1.4 Level B1 Vantage The student can understand the main ideas of complex text B2.1 on both specific and abstract topics, including technical B2.1 discussions in his/her field of specialisation. Can interact with B2.2 a degree of fluency and spontaneity that facilitates regular B2.3 interaction with native speakers without difficulty for either party. B2.2 Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and B2.4 explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options. B2.5 B2.3 B2.6 Level B2 ProficiencyC1.1 C1.1 C1.2C1.1 Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and C1.1 recognise implicit meaning. Can express him/herself fluently and C1.3C1.2 spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. C1.2 Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic C1.4C1.3 and professional purposes. Can produce clear, well-structured, C1.2 detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of C1.5C1.4 organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices. C1.3 C1.5 C1.3 C1.6 C1.6 Level C1 Mastery Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. Special Courses Can summarise information from different spoken and written Further Training courses sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. Can express him/herself spontaneously, very Conferences fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning Seminars even in more complex situations.