Instituto Cervantes is an institution founded by Spain in 1991 to teach and promote the language and culture of Spain as well as the coofficial languages of Spain and the Hispanic-speaking countries. The Instituto Cervantes is present in almost over 70 cities from 40 countries spread out in the five continents.
The Instituto is the organization of reference around the world for the teaching training of Spanish as a second language, with more than 11,000 enrollments a year. In almost 10,000 Spanish Courses and seminars, that are held in Spain and in the countries where there are Cervantes centres, the teachers update their linguistic knowledge and teaching techniques. Furthermore, the Institute counts with the Centro de Formación de Profesores en Alcalá de Henares (Training Centre for Teachers) in Alcalá de Henares (Madrid), birth city of Miguel de Cervantes.
The work of the Instituto Cervantes is guided by representatives of the scholarly, cultural and literary communities of Spain and Hispanic America. In Chicago, the Institute collaborates with museums, galleries, theaters, publishers, and other cultural institutions from Illinois, as well as institutions from Spain and Latin America.
The Instituto also:
- Organizes the DELE (Spanish as a Foreign Language Exams) as well as issuing the official Spanish Language Certificates and Diplomas to our students.
- Organizes Spanish courses: general, skills, enrichment, specific purposes, for corporations, etc
- Offers professional development classes for teachers of Spanish.
- Supports Spanish Language and Culture researchers.
- Promotes cultural activities and events together with other organizations.
