Visiting the Instituto Cervantes of New York

Once we arrive to New York, we will begin to visit many important and interesting places. In order to have a general background about them, we each have to do a report on a determined place. I have chosen the Instituto Cervantes.

The Cervantes Institute:

The Cervantes Institute is a worldwide non-profit organization created by the Span

ish government in 1991. It is named after Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547–16

16), the author of Don Quixote and perhaps the most important figure in the history of Spanish literature. A governement agency, the Cervantes Institute, is the largest organization in the world responsible for promoting the study and the teaching of Spanish philology.

The main goals of the Institute Cervantes are:

-to promote the education, the study and the use of Spanish universally as a sec

ond language

-to support the methods and activities that would help the process of Spanish language education

-to contribute to the advancement of the Spanish and Hispanic American cultures throughout non-Spanish speaking countries

What does the Cervantes Insitute do?

-It designs courses of Spanish language (offers two kinds of courses, general and special).

-It offers the examinations of the Diplomas of Spanish as Foreign Language (DELE) on behalf of the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport. It is subdivided into three different levels: beginner, intermediate, and proficiency.

-It improves the methods of Spanish education:

>On-line Spanish language learning environment

>Creating social, cultural, and educational environment in each center

>A student-centered plan, focusing on the dialogues between teacher and student over objectives and contents

-It supports "Hispanismo", the study of Hispanic American and Spain's culture.

-Holds the lectures, book presentations, concerts, art exhibitions, The Spain Film Festival and Festival of Flamenco. Supported by other organizations and communities.

-It encourages to spread the Spanish language throughout the world.

>The Institute works with Spain’s national radio and television to deliver Spanish language courses.

>Publications, on-line bibliographies, library holdings, the hosting of major conferences on the state of the Spanish language.

-It also establishes the libraries and centres.

-It also publishes the “Anuario del español” to analyze and report the situation and development of the Spanish language in different places.

-It supports the Centro Virtual Cervantes in internet since 1997.

General language courses are offered at four different levels, elementary, intermediate, advanced and high advanced:
1)Improving specific language skills, such as reading, speaking, and writing
2)Teaching Spanish for specific purposes, such as business, medical, legal, or translation
3)Learning about the literature and cultures of the Spanish-speaking countries
4)Preparation for Diplomas of Spanish as Foreign Language

Administration:
The administration of the Cervantes Institute is subdivided into three parts:

1)El Patronato: The Cervantes Institute is overseen by “El Patronato", which is a governing body. "El Patronato" normally includes the King and the Spanish President on its board, as well as representatives from the world of culture and letters in Spain and in Latin America. The King of Spain Juan Carlos I is its President of Honor. The executive presidency exercises the Secretaries of State, of Education and Science, Culture, the president and vice-president of the Council of Administration, the Director of the Institute, 25 elect members for cultural and the language institutions. It gives the general directions of the activities of the Institute and to inform its annual activities.

2)El Consejo de Administración: It is a management body and approves the general plans and projects of the Institute. It consists of representatives from the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Education, Culture and Sport, Treasury, and Home Affairs, as well as from “El Patronato.” This administration is presided by the Secretary of State of International Cooperation and consists of two vice-presidents (Undersecretary of the Science and Education Department and the Undersecretary of the Department of Culture), two advisers of the patronage, and four advisers from the Secretaries of State, Education and Science, Culture and of Economy and Treasury and the Director of the Institute.

3)El Director: It is named by “Consejo de Ministros”. Its purpose is to guide the direction of the Institute, and other pertinent executive and administrative works.