ELE USAL consolidates its leadership in Spanish teaching with three events that break down boundaries.
SALAMANCA, June 30, 2025. During the last week of June, Salamanca confirmed its position as the world capital of Spanish. Taking advantage of the eighth edition of the International Spanish Language Congress, ELE USAL linked it with other international events: "Crossroads. Literature, Identity, and Borders" and the annual meeting of the University of Salamanca's Spanish Language Schools franchises.
Literature to Look at the Other
The annual meeting's program kicked off with "Crossroads," held in the International Courses auditorium at the University of Salamanca. Photographer Carlos Spottorno presented The Crack, a visual diary made with Guillermo Abril that explores the borders of the European Union from Africa to the Arctic. Reporter Mariangela Paone, along with Rezwana Sekandari, presented A European File, a chronicle that questions the asylum system. The session was closed by Margaryta Yakovenko, a journalist from El País, who analyzed how her novel Desencajada explores identity in migratory contexts. The audience agreed that the border can become a bridge when words are shared.
A Massive Conference
From June 26 to 28, the Palacio de Congresos (Conference Center) became a hotbed of ideas as it hosted the 8th International Spanish Language Conference, sponsored by the Regional Government of Castile and León. More than 1,100 specialists from 44 countries discussed the present and future of the language in 112 activities—plenary sessions, roundtables, and workshops—ranging from neurodidactics to digital humanities.
ELE USAL occupied a prominent position with a stand for all schools and two highly acclaimed presentations: Monica Bedana (ELEUSAL Turin) with "The Poetry of ICTs in the ELE Classroom as a Strategic Support for Metaphorical Competence in Global Education," while Sara Hanea (ELE USAL Barcelona) presented "Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language for Tourism in Egypt." The result: three intense, vibrant days with a clear underlying message—Spanish continues to grow at the pace of its global vocation.
Global Roadmap for ELE USAL Schools
In turn, directors and heads of studies from the ELE USAL franchises in Brazil, China, Spain, Italy, Iran, Nepal, and France—some in person and others online—met at the International Center for Spanish in Salamanca. The headquarters announced strong growth for ELE USAL, supported by the recent signing of master franchises in Brazil and China, as well as the new locations opened in Tehran and Kathmandu. Furthermore, the schools have achieved record enrollments during 2024. Looking ahead to 2026, the roadmap includes a qualitative leap in quality processes, a renewed digital marketing strategy, and the integration of artificial intelligence systems that further enhance the learning experience.
A "we" without borders
From literary reflection to institutional planning, the three meetings conveyed the same message: teaching Spanish through ELE USAL means building cultural bridges. With their sights set on the next edition of the congress and new school openings, the Spanish Language Schools of the University of Salamanca bid farewell to June, aware that the language continues to expand horizons and that the "we" is increasingly written with shared ink.
Click on the image to watch the video summary of the meeting on YouTube:
