The Spanish Language Schools of the University of Salamanca have signed an agreement to open a new Spanish teaching franchise in Tehran, consolidating their international presence and strengthening cultural and academic ties between Spain and Iran.
The agreement signed will allow Spanish to be taught as a foreign language with the quality seal of the oldest university in Spain, renowned for its prestigious language teaching program. This project’s main goal is to promote Spanish learning among Iranian students and enhance academic and cultural exchange between both countries.
This new location is part of the University of Salamanca's strategy to internationalize Spanish, which already has a broad network of schools in seven countries. The opening of this new center in Iran highlights the growing interest in Spanish in the region and the importance of the language as a tool for communication and academic development. With this initiative, ELE USAL reaffirms its role as a global reference in Spanish language teaching.
To learn more about this decision and its future in Iran, we spoke with its director, Maryam Haghroosta, who explained the reasons behind opening the center and the opportunities it will offer to Iranian students interested in the Spanish language.
Why choose ELE USAL?
The University of Salamanca (USAL) stands out as one of the most prestigious educational institutions in Spain, especially in the field of internationalization. Its international courses have attracted numerous individuals interested in teaching Spanish as a foreign language (ELE), drawing students from all over the world who wish to study in its classrooms.
My connection with ELE USAL dates back over ten years when I had the privilege of receiving a scholarship for a Teacher Training course. Since then, I have maintained a constant connection with this section of USAL, witnessing its dynamism and leadership not only in Spain but also globally.
What is your professional background in the world of Spanish?
My passion for Spanish began in 1990 and led me to earn a degree in the language in Iran. My training continued at the University of Havana, Cuba, where I completed my studies with a doctorate in Latin American Literature in 2005, achieving the highest grade of Outstanding Cum Laude.
After returning to Iran, I founded the Department of Spanish Language and Literature at the Faculty of Foreign Languages at the University of Tehran, where I taught Spanish language and literature. Later, I established the Department of Spanish and Latin American Studies at the Faculty of World Studies at the same university.
In 2015, I launched the journal Cultura y Literatura Iberoamericana, the only Spanish-Persian bilingual journal in Iran. Two years later, in 2017, I founded a private Spanish language institute, which quickly became one of the most well-known institutes in Iran, offering Spanish courses at various levels with the help of both Iranian and native teachers. The institute not only taught Spanish language courses but also offered classes on culture, literature, history, music, cinema, jewels, and precious stones, trade and economics, politics, and international relations, all related to the Spanish and Portuguese-speaking world.
My commitment to promoting Hispanic culture continued in 2018 with the creation of the Center for Hispanic Studies at the University of Tehran. Finally, three years ago, I founded a publishing house dedicated to translating works from the Spanish-speaking world into Persian, thus consolidating my work in promoting Spanish and Hispanic culture in Iran.
The location, city, and country
The ELE USAL school will be located in Tehran, the capital of Iran. This city is situated in the northern part of the country. Tehran is a multicultural city that has received people from various cities across the country and currently has a population of 15 million inhabitants.
Additionally, Tehran is considered the political and economic center of the nation, with more than half of the country's industry concentrated in the capital.
The demand for Spanish in Iran and the motivations of the students
Considering the historical ties between Spain and Iran, one notices that these relations date back to very ancient times, and their connection continues to grow day by day. Through extensive historical studies, it is revealed that there were numerous exchanges between both nations in the cultural, commercial, and political fields.
It is true that the relationship between the two countries has always existed, which has fueled the interest in the Spanish language in Iran up to the present day. Nowadays, Spanish is offered as a university major in only three universities in the country, which highlights the growth potential of this language in the Iranian academic field. Furthermore, there are many private and non-governmental institutes dedicated to teaching foreign languages, including Spanish. The interest in this language is also seen in the steady increase of learners who participate in courses offered by these private institutes. This is evidence of Iranians' interest in learning a second (and sometimes a third) foreign language and shows that the interest in Spanish in Iran is experiencing consistent growth, with a growing number of young people dedicated to its study.
Therefore, it is important to note that, with the increasing interest in the Spanish language, the reasons behind it are also varied. The close relationship between Iran and Spain and Spanish-speaking countries is one reason why many Iranians are interested in learning this language. We can see how this preference continues to grow day by day compared to other languages. This trend leans more towards economic reasons, but Spanish is considered one of the foreign languages chosen by students seeking work in the academic or business sectors.
Another important reason, which could even be the primary drive towards learning a language, is the "cultural" aspect. For example, one could mention the music and dance of Spanish-speaking countries: flamenco, guitar, Cuban salsa, Argentine tango, and others.
Another key factor in Iranians' increasing interest in Spanish is the translation of works from Hispanic literature. The translation of works by famous Spanish-speaking writers has a long history. It is worth mentioning that, unfortunately, few Hispanic literary works have been translated directly from Spanish, although in recent years, there has been a growth in Spanish to Persian literary translations.
Looking at the list of works translated into Persian, one notices that works like Don Quijote and those by Lorca are among the most well-known and were translated in Iran in the 1970s. Almost all of Lorca’s works have been translated into Persian. Recently, plays by the Spanish playwright Lorca and some chapters from Don Quijote have been performed in various theaters. Additionally, works by Juan Ramón Jiménez and Miguel de Unamuno are also part of the repertoire. Today, the large number of Spanish literary works translated into Persian is another sign of the great interest of the Iranian people in Hispanic culture and the richness of Hispanic literature.
Nevertheless, although the introduction of Spanish in Iran has advanced, much remains to be done in this regard.
The future...
After having experienced the excellent quality of the international courses offered by USAL, as well as the seriousness and professionalism of its management and teaching staff in the area of ELE USAL, I am extremely interested in collaborating with ELE USAL to contribute to improving Spanish teaching in Iran and meeting the growing demand for Spanish among the local population.
Considering that travel is a fundamental tool for learning a language and immersing oneself in its culture, the creation of an ELE USAL school in Tehran would allow for more effective dissemination of Spanish language teaching in Iran with high standards of quality, while promoting Spanish culture in its various manifestations.
The opening of an ELE USAL school in Tehran would strengthen the ties between both countries and their citizens, fostering greater connection between Iranian students and the Hispanic world and the richness of Spanish culture.
