By Dr. Azlina Mohd Sera’a
Valladolid (SPAIN), Sept 1 – The Malay Language and Global Language Division, Centre for the Advancement of Language Competence (CALC), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) conducted a mobility programme, ‘UPM-Valladolid, Exploring the Spanish Language 2019’, in Fundación de la Lengua y Cultura Española, Valladolid, Spain.
The programme, led by a Spanish language lecturer, Dr. Azlina Mohd Sera’ai, involved four UPM students who enrolled in the Spanish language course at CALC, UPM.
CALC was proud that the Fundación de la Lengua y Cultura Española, in cooperation with the states of Castilla and León, awarded scholarships to all the four students to attend a 12-day Spanish language classes.
The programme also received sponsorship from the Centre for Management of Waqf, Zakat and Endowment (WAZAN) and PUTRA International Centre, UPM.
One of the objectives of the programme was to enhance the students’ language skills and confidence to communicate in the Spanish language with the local community. At the same time, students also gained new knowledge and a deeper understanding of the Spanish language and culture.
Various activities were conducted such as interactive classroom learning, churros eating session, visits to several places of interest in Valladolid's most interesting and important cities such as Cervantes House Museum, Christopher Columbus Museum, Valladolid Museum, Plaza Mayor, Val Market, Marquesina Market and Plaza de Torros.
In addition, the students also visited several main cities as well as historical cites in Madrid (Puerta del Sol, the Royal Palace, Prado Museum, Central Madrid Mosque, Gran Vía, Santiago Bernabéu Stadium), Cordoba (Mosque of Cordoba, Alcazar de los Cristianos, Puente Romano, Calahorra Tower, Calleja de las Flores, Madinat al-Zahra) and Salamanca (University of Salamanca, Plaza Mayor, Plaza del Corrillo, Casa de las Conchas, Cierecía, Calle Libreros, Iglesia da Muzim San Esteban, Plaza and Anaya Palace, New and Old Cathedral, Cave of Salamanca).
In general, the programme has successfully improved students' confidence and ability to communicate with the local community despite their short stay (12 days) in Spain.
CALC was extremely proud with the students’ achievement as at the end of the programme, two students were awarded with an A2 level language certificate while the other two students were awarded with an A1 level language certificate. - UPM
