Gibraltar College Language School launched

The Gibraltar Government yesterday launched a language school to fill the void left by the closure of the Cervantes Institute.

The project was announced at No 6 Convent Place as the Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, Education Minister, Dr John Cortes, and Daniel Benrimoj, co-ordinator for adult education at the Gibraltar College, set out the importance of bilingualism in the community.

The closure of the Cervantes Institute in Gibraltar last year left a gap in the teaching of Spanish for very young children.

The Government was very keen to ensure that without the need for an external agency Gibraltar was able to provide that tuition, Mr Picardo explained to reporters.

“Bilingualism is one of the strengths of the Gibraltarian,” Mr Picardo said pointing to social and economic reasons particularly the ability for Gibraltarians to work in other markets.

Starting next month, the Gibraltar College will offer classes in Spanish, French and Italian to pupils aged between six and 16 years of age.

Courses cost £80 for 10 lessons and will cater for a range of levels and abilities with the aim of developing pupils' abilities to speak, listen, read and write in a foreign language.

These classes will be held at the College from 4pm till 5 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The aim of this venture is to promote bilingualism in Gibraltar’s young people and to build language skills in order to that pupils have the skills necessary to communicate with people of other nationalities and other cultures.

A 20-week course is also on offer for students preparing for their GCSE examinations.

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