Welcome!
Welcome to the Spanish Language and Culture courses at the University of La Rioja, in the ‘Cradle of the Spanish language’!
As you may already know, this is where the first words in Spanish were written; found in the monasteries of San Millán de la Cogolla, listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
This geographical setting is the core of the Valle de la Lengua Project, an international benchmark in Spanish language activities related to learning, tourism, culture, science and artificial intelligence.
Get to know La Rioja
La Rioja is known for its rich linguistic history and also for its delicious food and wine culture. Our region is famous for its top quality wines, made in the many wineries scattered across its geography. Logroño, its capital city, has a lively nightlife, particularly in Calle del Laurel, where you can enjoy the best local food in a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere.
As for Spanish language courses, our university offers a wide variety of options for students at all levels. Our highly-qualified teachers will teach you to speak, write, read and understand Spanish effectively and quickly. Furthermore, our classes are small and personalised, allowing you to receive individual attention and detailed feedback to improve your language skills.
The University of La Rioja is a prestigious academic institution and our Spanish courses are designed to help you achieve your language goals effectively and in a stimulating academic environment.
In short, the Spanish courses at the University of La Rioja offer you a unique opportunity to learn Spanish at its birth-place while enjoying the delicious food and wine culture of our region. Join us today and discover all that La Rioja has to offer!
The Spanish Language and Culture Courses at the University of La Rioja take place in a unique setting, in the ‘cradle of the Spanish language’, the Monasteries of Yuso and Suso in San Millán de la Cogolla. This historicartistic ensemble enjoys international recognition, being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and located in the French Route, the ancient Pilgrim’s Way to Santiago de Compostela.
The first texts in the Castilian language were written in the eleventh century in this idyllic setting in the district of Nájera and the Upper Najerilla and its tributaries (especially the rivers Cárdenas and Tobía). This geographical setting is the core of the Valle de la Lengua Project, an international benchmark in Spanish language activities related to learning, tourism, culture, science and artificial intelligence.
Academic activities take place mainly in the modern facilities of the University of La Rioja, a dynamic and innovative institution, and they include educational, cultural and recreational stays in the surroundings of San Millán and in other iconic locations that are part of La Rioja culture (activities related to winemaking, such as winery tours and wine tastings, local feasts, shoe crafts, and many more).
The courses are taught by specialist university lecturers and experienced professionals. They employ innovative methods and feature applied technologies. This training is offered at various levels, in line with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, and it is complemented by courses in various aspects of Spanish culture.
This linguistic immersion allows you to:
ACTIVITIES
Culture and leisure
As part of the Valle de la Lengua, our training programme offers students the opportunity to attend the many courses, events and cultural activities that take place throughout the year.
You can enjoy creative writing workshops led by renowned writers; meetings with national and international writers, scriptwriters and film makers; attend the Voces de la Lengua shows (an innovative poetic, theatrical and musical experience in Spanish), discover crafts, visit museums and wineries, and more. This combination makes the University of La Rioja a unique place for cultural immersion, ideal for learning Spanish as a foreign language.
The academic offer is complemented by cultural activities that include guided tours and excursions to different points of interest in La Rioja and trips to nearby cities of great cultural interest, such as Bilbao, San Sebastian and Pamplona. There are also daily connections to Madrid using all means of transport, including by air. Following are some of the activities scheduled during the course that take advantage of the rich natural, historic and cultural assets of La Rioja.
Guided tours of wineries and grape growing areas:
Vineyards, winemaking processes, artisanal utensils, tastings, etc..: López de Heredia Viña Tondonia Winery, Valenciso Winery, Vineyards and Winery Valpiedra, etc.
Stretches along The Way of St James:
Logroño-Navarrete and Navarrete-Nájera.
Tours of the Monasteries of San Millán de la Cogolla:
Yuso and Suso.
Dinosaur routes:
Finds dating back 140 million years.
Museums:
Vivanco Museum of Wine Culture and Winery, Würth Museum, La Rioja Museum, etc.
Guided tour of Logroño’s Old Town:
Palace of the Chapiteles, La Rioja Museum, Amós Salvador Hall, House of Sciences, Showroom Lagares, Cubo del Revellín and City Walls, House of Dance, etc.
Visits to curious localities in La Rioja, near Logroño:
Haro (the largest concentration of hundred-year-old wineries in the world), Ezcaray (mountain sports), Calahorra (a two-thousand-year-old Roman city), Santo Domingo de la Calzada (listed as a cultural asset), etc.
Culinary and wine experiences:
Pinchos in Calle del Laurel.
Complementary
Courses
• Conversation and Communicative Practices
• Basic Spanish Language Skills
• Introduction to Spanish Culture and Civilisation
• Introduction to Hispanic Culture through Music
• Introduction to Spanish for Tourism
• Introduction to Spanish-American Culture and Civilisation
• Business Spanish
• Spanish Culture and Civilisation
• Creative Writing
• An Introduction to Regional Diversity in Spain
• An Introduction to Contemporary Spanish Literature
• The Media
• An Overview of Spanish Society through Short Films
Personalised attention
One of our hallmarks is personalised attention, based on a direct and close relationship with teachers and administrative staff. Support in all processes is assured:
BEFORE YOUR JOURNEY:
DURING YOUR STAY:
AFTER YOUR STAY:
ACCOMMODATION:
CERTIFICACIÓN
Courses and prices
| Spanish language | Spanish culture | Total training hours |
Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Full Academic Year 29 September 2023 - 6 June 2024 |
450 hours | 135 hours | 585 hours | 3.695 € |
|
Semester Courses Fall: 29 September 2023 - 15 March 2024Spring: 9 January - 6 June 2024 |
300 hours | 90 hours | 390 hours | 2.595 € |
|
Quarterly Courses Fall: 29 September - 14 December 2023Winter: 9 January - 15 March 2024Spring: 19 March - 6 June 2024 |
150 hours | 45 hours | 195 hours | 1.425 € |
|
Monthly Courses October: 29 September - 27 October 2023Janaury: 9 January - 2 February 2024April: 8 April - 3 May 2024May: 6 - 31 de May 2024 |
60 hours | 615 € | ||
|
SUMMER COURSES Spanish Language & Culture 24 June - 19 July 2024Spanish, Literature, Culture & Civilisation 24 June - 19 July 2024 |
80 hours
|
80 hours |
80 hours 80 hours |
795 € |
In addition…
Intensive summer courses
Specialised one-week intensive courses are offered:
• Specialist courses for Teachers of Spanish as a Foreign Language.
• Spanish language courses for specific purposes: Spanish for Wine Culture.
Grants
Throughout the year, there are calls for applications for grants to cover the tuition fees for Spanish Language and Culture courses, as well as for specialist intensive courses (for teachers of Spanish as a Foreign Language and Spanish for Specific Purposes).
Customised courses
The University of La Rioja offers personalised courses for groups from universities, institutions and companies that wish to receive training adapted to their interests in specific areas of Spanish: business, tourism, winemaking, literature, etc. These courses, which are organised throughout the year, offer a choice of programme content, dates and duration.
Some examples of courses offered in the past:
• Spanish Language for Specific Purposes: winemaking, foreign trade, food, business and tourism, among others.
• Spanish Culture and Civilisation
• Spanish Language Literature and Cinema.
If you are part of a group interested in deepening your knowledge of any of these or other topics, please send us your proposal or idea together with the group’s specific needs to valle.lengua@unirioja.es and you will receive an adapted proposal without compromise.
Registration
You can register through the following link.