Move towards Spanish Cultural Institute

MUNDO CELTA

JAS

Move towards Spanish Cultural Institute  

A Move which may lead eventually to the creation of a Spanish Cultural Institute in Dublin has been begun by a young Spanish lecturer in Trinity College, Dublin

   Senor Antonio Sierra Lumbreras, from Avila, near Madrid, has set up, in the Language Centre of Ireland, Dublin, a course in conversational Spanish at all levels, a guide to latest publications in the Spanish language, and information on the latest methods of teaching Spanish. He is seeking financial support from the Spanish Government, and hopes eventually to develop extensive cultural exchange programmes between Ireland and Spain.

    Senor Lumbreras' centre, called Centro Español de Documentación e Intercambios Culturales, started this week. It is directed immediately at all Spanish teachers in Irish schools and at students of advanced Spanish.

     Its instigator is concerned about the level of Spanish teaching in Irish schools. "I believe", he says, "that a complete reform is needed, both at university and at post-primary level. As long as students of Spanish in the universities continue ro read , write and speak in English, improvement in post-primary schools will always be necessary.

     "There is also a need to introduce modern methods in all post-primary schools, and a compulsory oral examination. " I cannot change the system. I can only offer my experience to all those teachers, higher diploma students and final-year students who wish to maintain their present fluency or to improve it".

      A meeting will be held on Thursday at 7.30 p.m. in the Dominican Convent, Eccles street, Dublin, to discuss details of the proposed conversation course.

Fuente

The Irish Times, 

Monday, January 13, 1970