Letra Hispánica
School of Spanish language and hispanic cultures.

In the last two years (2008 and 2009), out of the 19 students who took the DELE, 15 of them passed (79%).

Accredited or Associate Centers:

• Meet certain quality standards in the teaching of Spanish.
• Meet the legal requirements for carrying out teaching activities.
• Have adequate teaching resources.
• Have a properly qualified and trained teaching team.
• Have a teaching plan guaranteeing satisfactory progress.
• Realizan una publicidad veraz en relación con la oferta
• Set a maximum number of students per class.
• Issue certificates.
• Present publicity which reflects accurately the services offered.
• Outline course and supplementary services fees clearly.
• Address complaints.

The Instituto Cervantes carries out periodic inspections and renews accreditation permits every two years.
Only Accredited and Associate Centers may use Instituto Cervantes logos:

Letra Hispánica is Accredited Center by the Instituto Cervantes.

Friendly Salamanca. With a population of 170,000, it's a safe and peaceful city. You can placidly travel through the city from edge to edge in 30 minutes. The people are open and friendly to travelers. From the words of Cervantes, who knew the city well, "Salamanca enchants the will because once you have experienced its placid character, you have to go back".

Collegiate Salamanca. Salamanca, in the past called "the castilian Athens" and "the little Rome", has three universities with more than 40,000 students. The public university was founded in 1218. This tradition has been vividly maintained for you can find many libraries, theaters, cinemas and art exhibitions. Students have also many opportunities for leisure. The city does not close at night because student activity is always alive. In the early hours of daylight one can continue the "movida" in bars and clubs, listening to "la tuna" on the terrace or tranquilly walking along the illuminated monuments.

Monumental Salamanca. Declared "Human Heritage City" by UNESCO, Salamanca possesses a variety of historic buildings unique in the world. The rock of Villamayor with its unmistakable hues, has given origin to the famous expression, "Salamanca, ciudad dorada." Of special interest are the magnificent Plaza Mayor, the two cathedrals and innumerable convents, palaces, and churches.

Humanist Salamanca. From the "Cantigas de Alfonso X el Sabio", passing through the famous author of the first Spanish grammar, Nebrija and authors Fray Luis de León, Fernando de Rojas, Garcilaso, the anonymous author of Lazarillo, Góngora, Espronceda, to Unamuno, Carmen Martín Gaite and Torrente Ballester, among many others, Salamanca has always been closely related to Spanish language, philosophy and literature.

The founding council, faculty and collaborators.
They are all PhD's or have universtiy degrees (licenciados) with specific training in ELE, and with years of experience in teaching, organizing cultural events and directing programs for foreign students.

Founding council:

• Ada Calvo Robles, Licensed in Spanish Philology (Spanish Literature), University of Extremadura. Graduate in Social Work at the University of Salamanca. Director of Cultural Activities and Professor of Public Administration.
• Alvaro García-Miguel García-Rosado, Doctor of Fine Arts University of Salamanca, painter and sculptor.

Collaborators:

• Francisco Bautista Pérez, Doctor in Spanish Philology. Professor of Spanish and Latin American Literature, University of Salamanca.
• José Luis Dader García, Doctor of Informational Sciences, University of Navarra, Professor at the University Complutense of Madrid.
• Abel B. Franco, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Salamanca, Licensed in French Philology, University of Salamanca, Teaching Assistant at the Pittsburg University.
• Amelia Gamoneda Lanza.Professor of French Philology at the University of Salamanca.
• Fernando Gil Sinaga, Doctor of Fine Arts, University of Salamanca, Professor at the University of Salamanca. Sculptor.
• José Miguel López Novoa, Doctor in Biology, University Complutense Madrid, Professor of Physiology at the University of Salamanca.
• Esteban Pujals Gesalí, Doctor of English Studies, Universidad Complutense, Madrid. Professor at the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid. Literary critic.
• Pedro Emanuel Rosa Grincho Serra, Doctor in Portuguese Philology, University of Salamanca. Professor of Language and Portuguese Literature at the University of Salamanca. Essayist.
• Fernando Rodríguez de la Flor, Doctor of Informational Sciences, Complutense University, Madrid. Professor of Spanish Literature at the University of Salamanca.
• Amalia Rodríguez Monroy, Doctor of English Studies, University of Salamanca. Professor of Theory of Translation at the Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona. Essayist and translator.
• Iris M. Zavala, Doctor of Philosophy and Letters, University of Salamanca. Professor at several american and european universities. Philosopher.
• Ilse Borchard, Licensed in German Studies and Sociology, University of Hannover. Sociologist.
• Manuela B. de Mena, Licensed in Classical Philology and Hispanic Philology, The University of Salamanca. Professor of Spanish.
• Leonor Benito de la Lastra, Licensed in Fine Arts, University of Salamanca. Photographer.
• Victorino García Calderón, Licensed in Fine Arts, University of Sevilla. Photographer and painter.
• Miguel Ángel García Velasco, Licensed in Medicine, University of Salamanca, Licensed in Musicology, University of Salamanca. Musician.
• Florencio Maíllo Cascón, Licensed in Arts, The University of Salamanca. Professor of Art. Painter.
• Antonio Marcos Sánchez, Licensed in Informational Sciences, Doctor of Fine Arts, University of Salamanca, Expert in Spanish art and film.
• Felipe Núñez Santos, Licensed in Philosophy and Educational Sciences. Poet and essayist.
• Azucena Sánchez Domínguez, Licensed in Philosophy and Letters, Informational Sciences and Journalism, University Complutense Madrid. Institute Professor.
• Julián San Valero Hernández, Licensed in Geography and History ( Art History), University of Salamanca.
• Pilar Vázquez Álvarez, Licensed in French Philology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Translator.

We offer a wide range of programs, activities, classes (language, literature and different cultural aspects such as film, art and history), workshops, cultural trips, seminars and conferences (please see page of courses).

For foreign institutions interested in a Study Abroad program we organize it according to their needs and requests. If you are interested in this modality ("Letra Mensajera"), please ask for a special program for your group, and we will be happy to design it and provide a group budget.

On a separate page you will find a calendar of courses and prices.

These are special classes where the students put into practice some aspect of Hispanic culture, develop their creative capacities and have fun working in a group setting.

• ¡Acción!: Stage adaptation of a play.
• ¡Flash!: Workshop of photography and making of an album.
• ¡Conócelos!: Reading of works by well-known writers.
• ¡Ponte al día!: Latest news.
• ¡Vaya, vaya, aquí no hay playa!: History of Spanish culture through song.
• ¡No te enteras, Contreras!: Study of the values of Spanish society and situations of cultural shock for foreign students.

These include activities outside the classroom to learn and enjoy Spanish culture.

• Paradiso: Welcome party, Farewell party. Traditional Salamancan celebrations.
• La ciudad de los prodigios: Trips through monumental Salamanca, literary (la Salamanca insólita de Azucena) and visits to the city museums (Casa Lys, splendid collection of Art Nouveau and Art Deco, Film Museum, among others), galleries and art exhibits.
• Señas de identidad: Contact with Salamancan folklore and typical food.
• Los gozos y las sombras: Afternoon in the Salamancan country and bullfight. "Toro Carnival" at Ciudad Rodrigo. Holly Week processions.

This involves showing and commentating different films once a week. Here is a list of examples for film cycles:

• Ciclo Luis Buñuel (Tierra sin pan, El ángel exterminador, Simón del desierto, Nazarín, Tristana, Viridiana, etc.)
• Ciclo Pedro Almodóvar (Qué he hecho yo para merecer esto, La ley del deseo, Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios, ¡Átame!, Todo sobre mi madre, etc.)
• Ciclo "humor negro" (El cochecito, Plácido, El verdugo, Faustino, un asesino de la tercera edad, etc.)
• Ciclo sobre conflictos sociales (El pisito, El sacerdote, El diputado, Los santos inocentes, Cartas de Alou, Alas de mariposa, Familia, Barrio, Solas, etc.).

This is an exchange program to practice Spanish with other Spanish students.

We have wanted to create an aesthetically beautiful environment that is conducive to the enjoyment and discussion of the arts. This is why the walls of Letra Hispánica are decorated with works by Spanish artists, in a series of temporary exhibitions.

We also exhibit books by our collaborators and other recent important publications. We organize, periodically, presentations of books and poetry readings. And finally, our Aleph room is a meeting point for friends of Letra Hispánica.

A magazine-book produced by students from one of the workshops.

Whether lodging with a family or residence, they are carefully selected by expert members of Letra Hispánica. Optionally, we help to find a flat with other students.

When a professor accompanies a group of students, apart from the welcome party, we will offer help to find a place to stay, a guide of Salamanca, the possibility of attending "Con Mayúsculas" access to the internet and orientation about the posibilities of study, culture and leisure time in Salamanca. We also offer our director, Ada Calvo, to take charge of the group, if a professor does not come with a group of students.

Certificate of assistance to Letra Hispánica when a student has attended 90% of the classes.

Certificate of Proficiency when a student passes the final exam.

Courses to obtain the official title D.E.L.E.

Credits valid in foreign universities, once we have made an agreement with the university. We will be pleased to talk to your advisor so that he/she can supervise course work and determine class numbers. For more details about the validity of credits, please contact Ada Calvo.