FEALAC
I. Project Brief Info
Spanish for foreigners
| Project Type | National |
|---|---|
| Working Group |
CYGS |
| Host Country |
Colombia
|
| Date | Jun. 11, 2025 ~ Dec. 31, 2025 |
| Project Status | Completed |
| Venue | Bogotá D.C. |
| Participants |
Member countries FEALAC Members |
|
Organizations Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Traditional Knowledge / Caro y Cuervo Institute |
II. Executive Summary
- Project Purposes
- This project aims to contribute to the strengthening of teacher training and professional development processes for Spanish language educators in Asian contexts, through an academic proposal that integrates language instruction with a comprehensive perspective on the linguistic and cultural diversity of Latin America.
Within the framework of the Master's Program in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign and Second Language at the Instituto Caro y Cuervo —a postgraduate program that has been a leader in training teachers and researchers in this field from a critical and Latin American perspective—this initiative proposes the development of a specialized training space aimed at Asian educators interested in deepening their knowledge in key areas such as Spanish as a foreign language pedagogy, the linguistic varieties of Latin American Spanish, and Latin American culture.
This initiative reflects the Caro y Cuervo Institute's institutional commitment to the international promotion of the Spanish language and Hispanic American cultures, and also seeks to strengthen academic and interinstitutional cooperation between Colombia and Asian countries.
The project's activities will take place in person at the Institute’s headquarters, located in the historic center of Bogotá, a city that offers a rich cultural and academic environment ideal for language immersion and intercultural exchange.
- Activity Description
- Phase 1 – Training without tuition fees:
In this initial phase, the Instituto Caro y Cuervo offers free access to academic training programs (no tuition fees) for teachers and advanced students specializing in Spanish as a Foreign Language.
Important: This offer does not cover expenses related to airfare, accommodation, meals, or local transportation for selected participants.
In-Person Offerings
Spanish as a Foreign Language Course, Levels B1–B2
Number of Places: Up to 30 participants
Aimed at:
- Spanish teachers in basic or higher education institutions with an undergraduate degree
- Undergraduate students in their third or fourth year of Spanish studies
- Graduate students in their second or third year of a Master's in Hispanic Linguistics or Spanish Philology
Duration: 6 weeks (between September and November 2025)
Hours: 84
Modality: In person
Result: Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate of studies including academic hours and credits. Credits may be validated as elective courses in the Master’s in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign and Second Language (in-person or virtual modality).
Includes:
- One weekly cultural outing to emblematic sites in Bogotá (snacks and transportation not included)
- Unlimited access to the Español para Extranjeros collection of the Rivas Sacconi Library
Course on Linguistic Variation and Latin American Culture for the ELE class
Number of Places: Up to 30 participants
Aimed at:
- Spanish teachers in basic or higher education institutions with an undergraduate degree
- Undergraduate students in their third or fourth year of Spanish studies
- Graduate students in their second or third year of a Master's in Hispanic Linguistics or Spanish Philology
Duration: 3 weeks (between August and November 2025)
Hours: 40
Modality: In person
Result: Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate of studies including academic hours and credits. Credits may be validated as elective courses in the Master’s in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign and Second Language (in-person or virtual modality).
Includes:
- One weekly cultural outing to emblematic sites in Bogotá (snacks and transportation not included)
- Unlimited access to the Español para Extranjeros collection of the Rivas Sacconi Library
Virtual Offer
Academic cycle of the Master's Degree in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language and Second Language
Number of places: Up to 10 participants
Aimed at:
- Spanish teachers in basic or higher education institutions with an undergraduate degree
- Undergraduate students in their third or fourth year of Spanish studies
- Graduate students in their second or third year of a Master's in Hispanic Linguistics or Spanish Philology
Duration: 10 weeks (from October 7 to December 15, 2025)
Modality: Virtual (asynchronous courses with synchronous meetings on Saturday mornings, Bogotá time)
Result: Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate of studies including academic hours and credits. These credits may be validated in the Master’s in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign and Second Language (in-person or virtual modality).
Includes:
- Access to two Master's level courses
- Latin American culture talks with students from the Instituto Caro y Cuervo
General requirements to access the face-to-face and virtual offer:
- For Spanish teachers from basic and higher education institutions:
1. Copy of undergraduate diploma translated into English or Spanish
2. Labor certificate as a Spanish teacher translated into English or Spanish
3. Letter of recommendation from the employer translated into English or Spanish
4. Certificate of proficiency in Spanish (minimum level B1 according to the CEFR) translated into English or Spanish
5. Letter of motivation (in Spanish)
6. Physical and psychological medical certificate confirming fitness for a stay in Colombia (applies to in-person offer)
-For students:
1. Current enrollment certificate (undergraduate or graduate in the specified fields)
2. Academic Letter of Recommendation
3. Certificate of competence in Spanish (minimum level B1 according to the CEFR)
4. Letter of motivation (in Spanish)
5. Physical and psychological medical certificate confirming fitness for a stay in Colombia (applies to in-person offer)
Note: Pre-selected applicants will be invited to an interview in Spanish with teachers from the Master's Degree in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language and Second Language.
Phase 2 and following – Specialized offer:
Upon request, the Instituto Caro y Cuervo may offer a portfolio of specialized courses and diploma programs in teaching Spanish as a foreign and second language. This programming is intended primarily for teachers, will be tailored to their specific needs, and will be subject to prior quotation requests.
- Outcomes
- The initiative generated significant interest, receiving 73 applications, 28 of which came from candidates from Asia. The Institute is currently carrying out the verification and selection process, with the expectation of publishing the final list of admitted participants on August 31. Likewise, the implementation of the program in a virtual modality is considered feasible for this edition.
These figures confirm the real demand for Spanish in Asia and reinforce its value as a strategic asset of Colombian cultural diplomacy. Programs such as this not only strengthen the international presence of the Caro y Cuervo Institute, but also help position Colombia as a reference in the field of teaching Spanish as a foreign language.
- Next Steps
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III. Appendices
- Project details
- Reports, websites or resources (links or soft copies)
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- Photos and other available information
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IV. Project Contact Point
| Name | Johanna Muñoz Pascagaza |
|---|---|
| Position | Advisor |
| Department/ Organization |
General Directorate of the Instituto Caro y Cuervo |
| Country | Colombia |
| johanna.munoz@caroycuervo.gov.co |