Spanish Language Course at Instituto Andalusi

This summer I spent four weeks in Málaga in Spain to work on my Spanish, thanks to the European Studies Council’s language funding. In these weeks, I was able to improve my modern Spanish, study 17th century Spanish for my dissertation, and learn more about the rich history of Málaga, Andalusia, and Spain.  

Málaga is a large city on the southern coast of Spain thought to be one of the oldest cities in the world. The city’s immense history can be observed in its architecture. Remains from Phoenician presence can still be found below the Picasso museum; there is a Roman Theatre right next to the Alcazaba—a fortress built in the eleventh century for the Taifa king of Granada; close to which a Catholic cathedral boasts its power and glory. Andalusia has long been an area of diverse peoples, which is reflected in its culture based in Muslim, Jewish, and Catholic heritage.  

I stayed in El Palo, a smaller community to the east of the city. Historically this was a fishing village that is now transforming into a tourist hot spot. The long beaches are framed by low-key seafood restaurants selling the catch of the day. One of the most important religious festivals in El Palo is the day of the Virgen of Carmen, patron saint of mariners, which took place in my first week there. I witnessed how the statue was carried around town and brought into the water at sunset by a large crowd of people, which was very impressive.  

My school, Instituto Andalusi, is a small institution hosting students of all ages and abilities. Every morning, I was in a class that focused on all aspects of language learning from grammar to conversation to reading comprehension. The early afternoon a conversation class followed, in which we often discussed topics of social relevance and played games to help language acquisition. Classes were small. Usually, we were four or five students and a professor, which made communication easy and learning pleasant. Through these classes I leveled up to B2. Finally, I booked  eight one on one sessions with one of the professors, Antonio Romero, to focus on my dissertation research. In these sessions, we’d close-read La Fuerza Lastimosa by Lope de Vega, helping me develop a deep understanding of the language as well as its context.  

The school offered many opportunities to learn more about the region and its history. I joined on a trip to small towns in the area. This included the caves of Nerja, which are lined with prehistoric drawings, and a visit to the stunning town of Frigiliana. The trip was a great way to get to know the region more, as well as to make new international friends and practice our Spanish.