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'Casa de Cultura'
There are more options open than ever before for learning Spanish in Andalucia. In most Andalucian towns and also in some villages, the Town Hall has a separate department, which organises cultural events and runs many different kinds of courses - including Spanish classes for foreigners. This department (often housed in a separate building) is aptly named the 'Casa de Cultura'.
Amongst the numerous courses offered, (e.g. yoga, pottery, Spanish and Latin American dance, photography, etc.) there are invariably Spanish classes for foreigners. Although timetables and teaching methods may differ from one town to the next, the classes are generally given by native Spanish teachers and are well worth looking into.
Casa de Cultura courses generally begin in September/October and end in June. The course usually follows the lines of an academic calendar with breaks for Bank Holidays, Christmas and Easter, etc. Often the classes are held during the day or early evening, normally lasting one or two hours. The price of the course is very reasonable because the Town Hall provides the resources and subsidizes the cost. You can expect to pay as little as 60 Euros for each quarterly term.
Attending courses of this type, run by the local authorities, not only helps you meet new people in the area, but also keeps your finger on the pulse of other events and courses being posted on the notice board. If you live in the municipality, ask for information at the Town Hall. To enrol in a course beginning in the autumn, there will normally be a specific date, towards the end of September, when you should personally pass by the Casa de Cultura (or the Town Hall itself) to register and pay the fee for the first quarter. These courses have become so popular, that places are limited. You can usually obtain a further discount on the price of the course, if you register your name in the Town Hall Census and receive a document called a 'Certificado de Empadronamiento'. To qualify for this certificate, you must prove that you own or rent a house or flat in the municipality. Take the certificate with you on enrolment day and you may get as much as a 20% discount in the price of the course.
The 'Casa de Cultura' is often in the centre of the town and is quite a meeting point and a hubbub of activity. Spanish classes may whet your appetite for other activities on offer. You will certainly find out what's going on in the town or village you live in, including sporting events, rock concerts, local festivals, poetry readings, Christmas Carol services, and much more.
Check out what Spanish classes are on at your local 'Casa de Cultura' and you could discover a whole new lease of life.
For further information on courses, times, prices etc. in a specific area, ask at the local Town Hall.
