> Spanish Courses at Leon > University of LeonUniversityof Leon
The University of León was originallyestablished in 1979 as a branch of the University of Oviedo. Various schoolsand faculties had existed previous to this date in León (its oldest facultydates back to 1843), and these came together to form the new university. Today,the University of León is fully independent and makes up two campuses: the mainone in León – known as the Veganza campus – and one in Ponferrada(approximately an hour west of León).
Perhaps the most celebrated graduate ofthe University is current Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero,who was born in León. Zapatero graduated from the University’s Law Faculty andfor several years taught there as a professor of constitutional law.
The University of León consists of 15schools and faculties and offers over 90 distinct undergraduate, masters anddoctorate-level degree programs. Its Centrode Idiomas (Language Center), where Spanish classes are imparted, islocated in the center of León next to the Jardínde San Miguel gardens. It is a popular language instruction center in León– more so even than the city’s Official School of Languages center (the localbranch of a national network of state-run language schools).
The Language Center not only offersquality Spanish courses to foreigners but also provides courses to nativeuniversity students and León residents in modern languages such as French,German, Italian, Japanese, Arabic and Chinese. This guarantees a high level ofcontact between foreigners studying Spanish and Spaniards taking other languagecourses at the Center, providing ample opportunity for practice andfamiliarization with Spanish in social circumstances.
Spanish Courses At University of Leon
León’s geographical location makes itan ideal Spanish course destination; the Spanish spoken in the area is known tobe pure and correct, free from the influence of other languages and dialects.The University of León’s Centro deIdiomas (Language Center) has a long tradition of teaching Spanish toforeigners from across the world. The center was established in 1956 and todayenjoys its own facilities (independent of the main campus) in León’s citycenter.
Personalizedattention by highly trained teachers that care for students in and out of theclassroom helps foster an atmosphere of friendliness and familiarity at theCenter (maximum class size is 12). Spanish courses at the University of Leónare complemented with numerous activities programmed for weekends and holidaysaimed at developing the student’s understanding of Spain’s natural, historical,artistic and cultural heritage
