the course schedule for Spanish and all languages
We offer language and communication courses and training activities in several formats and durations to address our clients' needs.
Welcome to the Spanish Language Programme!
¡Bienvenidas/os al Programa de Español!
Spanish is spoken by more than 559 million people globally and is the world's second-most spoken native language. It is the official language in 20 United Nations Member States, with over 460 million native speakers. In 1945, Spanish was recognized as the official language at the UN Secretariat; in 1948, during the third period of sessions of the General Assembly, Spanish was recognized as a working language of the UN.
At the Language and Communications Training Unit (LCTU) we offer Spanish general language courses (all levels, all skills) and specialized high-level communication skills courses to both native and non-native speakers, either face-to-face, online or in a blended format. Our courses are aligned with organizational goals and priorities and with the UN Language Framework (UNLF), which is unique to the needs of our Organization but also in line with the most recent research and other recognized frameworks for language learning. *See the Spanish Programme Overview here for detailed information on the progression of courses in alignment with the UNLF.
Our Spanish general courses follow a variety of teaching methodologies, the most prevalent being the Communicative Approach. The Communicative Approach emphasizes interaction as both the means and the ultimate goal of study. Therefore, active participation in every session of our courses is key for learners to develop their communicative competence in Spanish.
Format & Method:
The courses use various techniques to enable students to effectively use the target language. These include hands-on activities such as role-plays, small group and pair work, forum interactions, information gaps, and interviews among others.
General Spanish Courses:
Our general language courses aim to help participants develop their speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. Each UN Level (UN I, II or III) builds on the previous one to ensure that students progress with a solid foundation. Our general courses, therefore, focus on developing the knowledge and skills needed to interact in personal, public and professional contexts using the Spanish language. These courses are offered in different formats and modalities, but a typical 30-hour general course usually includes (1) a live component (synchronous) and (2) a self-paced learning component (asynchronous) hosted in a virtual environment. All the general courses currently offered are aligned with the UN Language Framework.
Specialized Spanish Language Courses:
Our specialized language acquisition courses help participants to develop specific language skills. They are designed to complement the general Spanish language courses and help participants acquire a specific UN level (UN I, II, or III). Our specialized courses focus on reinforcing the knowledge and skills needed to interact in professional contexts in Spanish. These courses are offered in different formats, lengths and modalities. Some examples of specialized courses are: UN I- First contact with Spanish, UN II-Aconsejar en subjuntivo, UN II-Cómo usar el español de forma inclusiva en cuanto al género, UN II-Hablemos de desarrollo sostenible and UN III-LPE Spanish Preparation Course.
Communication Skills Courses:
The Spanish Programme offers a series of courses on writing skills specifically aimed at working professionals who are dedicated to writing or revising texts for later publication and/or desire to improve their written communications. The series “UN III-Redacción eficaz” includes the courses: Creación de textos, Claridad y precisión and Cohesión de ideas. They complement each other and can be taken independently.
Assessment:
Assessment is an integral and mandatory part of our general language courses as it ensures homogeneity and effectiveness in each course. We implement a continuous analysis of learners´performance based on their active participation in the synchronous sessions and asynchronous activities and through specific task-based projects in at least two particular moments of the course. Our expert teachers provide participants with feedback regularly in a formal and informal manner to help them get the best learning experience.
Our specialized language courses have different completion requirements according to the specifities of each course. Most specialized courses require active participation in the live sessions and forums and 75% of completion of activities.
Language Learning Resources for the Six UN Official Languages
Learners can find a variety of authentic language resources to develop, practice and reinforce their language skills. Enjoy Learning the Six UN Official Languages on Your Devices is a package of resources featuring mobile applications for language learning and UN applications as a source of authentic language. *The package has been compiled for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement of any of the products described.
Customized Training Solutions
Request a tailor-made learning solution for the communication needs of your office or department. Contact the Customized Training Team via DOS-CDOTS-TRAINING@un.org
Language Proficiency Exam
Prepare for the LPE (Language Proficiency Exam), an internal United Nations exam. See the registration instructions on the LPE page of the HR Portal. Prepare for the exam by taking one or more Language Programme courses.