The Centre for Languages at the University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM)in a drive for multilingualism at the institution has made an offer which included training in English, French, Italian, German, Japanese and Arabic. Moreover, it also offers teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language (ELE), language accreditation and other services for the university community and society in general.
The University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM) has a specific service for implementing its push for multilingualism in a context in which knowing languages is a competitive factor which makes people stand out in the world of work. Attached to the Vice-chancellor´s office for Internationalization, the Centre for Languages (CEL) has a broad training portfolio which includes courses in English, French, Italian, German, Japanese and Arabic apart from Spanish as a foreign language (ELE) which can be studied either presentially or online. These classes, which will finish in the forthcoming days, are given by teachers with wide-ranging experience in education and are focused on practising communicative skills which lead to the acquisition of language competence according to the international standard set by the European Qualifications Framework for Languages (CEFR).
The other large driving force in CEL is language accreditation. In order to foster the quality of university degrees of their graduates, UCLM students must accredit having a minimum B1 level in a foreign language. This requirement can be met by accreditation from the Centre for Languages. This service also provides an internationally recognised official certificate which best fits the needs of the students and the general public (making grants, Erasmus, civil service examinations, access to masters, etc) outstanding among which is the CertAcles seal for B1, B2 and C1 levels in English, awarded by the Association of Language Centres in Higher Education (ACLES) and TOEIC and Linguaskill multiskill exams in the same language.
In French, the CEL is the only regional recognised centre for issuing DELF-DALF certificates from the Ministry of Education in France. As for international students at the UCLM, they can take the SIELE multilevel exam which is supported by the Cervantes Institute among other high standing entities. As a new move, the Centre for Languages has opened an examining centre with this seal at the Spanish school in Samarkand (Uzbekistan) where there are currently around forty students enrolled who are interested in learning Spanish language and culture.
Apart from all this, the CEL actively participates in other projects of great significance which have a direct impact on Castilla-La Mancha society, such as the Castilla-La Mancha Active Talent Programme. This has drawn up and implemented the Orientation and Training Plan in B2 English for recent graduates who are unemployed and registered in the Youth Guarantee System, as well as the Programme for Linguistic reinforcement in English for preuniversity students: Brush up on your English at the UCLM, in collaboration with the General Foundation and its Programmes for Spanish as a Foreign Language in Cuenca (ESPACU) and in Toledo (ESTO).
Other activities which have been implemented from the CEL are related to selecting incoming and outgoing language assistants in English and French, permanent evaluation of the Management Units of the Campus for recognising the certificates for language accreditation, the participation of language evaluators in the UCLM on a tests basis and training of administration and services staff by the Professional Development Unit and Social Action, among others.
Ever eager to provide a public service, the Centre for Languages, which is constantly evolving and adapting is exploring new avenues of activity which will enable it to keep improving the quality of the services described. At the same time, it can set in motion other initiatives which will be beneficial for the university community and society in general.
UCLM Communication Office Ciudad Real, 16th of May 2022