02 Oct Learn Spanish in Strasbourg: courses, levels, methods and advice

Do you want to learn Spanish in Strasbourg, pick up the Spanish you studied at school, or finally certify your level with an official qualification? Before choosing a course, there are a few questions worth asking: What is your actual level? How long does it take to make progress? Is it better to join a small group or take private lessons? DELE or SIELE? And above all, what are the specific difficulties faced by French-speaking learners, who have a head start thanks to the similarities between the two languages… but also a few traps of their own?

This guide, written by the teaching team at ELE USAL Strasbourg, answers these questions in practical terms, with sources to back it up.

Why learn Spanish in Strasbourg?

A global language, far beyond Spain

Spanish is not just the language of Spain. According to the annual report El español en el mundo 2025 published by the Instituto Cervantes, almost 635 million people speak Spanish around the world, while the number of native speakers is around 520 million, making Spanish the world’s third-largest native language community after Mandarin Chinese and Hindi. The same report counts more than 45 million Spanish speakers living in the European Union outside Spain.

Learning Spanish therefore gives you access to around twenty countries, from Mexico to Argentina, including Cuba and Equatorial Guinea, as well as a huge range of literature, cinema and music. A good course should not lock you into a single variety of Spanish: from intermediate level onwards, you will encounter Spain’s vosotros alongside the widespread use of ustedes in the Americas, Madrid’s coche alongside Mexico’s carro. That is perfectly normal.

Spanish is also a very familiar language in France: it is by far the second most widely studied modern foreign language (LV2) in secondary education, ahead of German and Italian. In 2024, 57.5% of middle-school pupils and 74.8% of students in general and technological upper-secondary programmes studied Spanish (DEPP, French Ministry of Education). Many adults who enrol in a Spanish course therefore do not start from scratch: they have school-level foundations, often a little rusty, that need to be reactivated.

Strasbourg, the city where the A1 to C2 levels originated

This is something many people in Strasbourg do not realise: the A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2 levels used throughout Europe today come from the Council of Europe, whose headquarters are in Strasbourg. The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) was officially launched in 2001, during the European Year of Languages, and a preliminary version had been discussed in Strasbourg in April 1997 (Council of Europe). A Companion Volume, published online in 2018 and then in French in 2021, expanded the descriptors, particularly those relating to mediation and online interaction.

Learning Spanish here therefore means learning with a framework that was developed just a few tram stops away.

Spanish levels from A1 to C2: where are you?

The CEFR describes six levels, grouped into three broad stages: basic user, independent user and proficient user (Council of Europe). The descriptors are written in terms of “I can…” statements and apply to all languages.

Simplified table for educational purposes; the official CEFR self-assessment grid provides detailed descriptors for each skill, including listening and reading comprehension, production and interaction.

How many hours does it take to move up a level?

There is no single official figure: it depends on your starting point, the pace of your classes and the amount of independent work you do. As a useful benchmark, the curriculum published by the Instituto Cervantes in Beirut provides the following volumes:

This breakdown is specific to one centre and adapted to its learners. French-speaking learners generally have a genuine advantage in reading comprehension thanks to shared Latin-derived vocabulary, but that advantage becomes less significant in speaking and grammar. The key point is this: class hours alone are not enough. Regular contact with the language between lessons is what makes the difference.

Which Spanish course should you choose in Strasbourg?

Strasbourg offers a wide range of options: language schools, adult education providers, professional training organisations and private-tutor platforms. Rather than comparing names, compare the different formats.

Small-group classes

Group size is a decisive factor. In a group of fifteen, each person may speak for only a few minutes per lesson; in a group of six or eight, speaking becomes the norm. Always ask about the maximum group size, the number of teaching hours per session and the textbook used.

Private lessons, in person or online

Private lessons are particularly suitable for specific objectives: preparing for an interview in Spanish, getting ready for a professional stay in Latin America, or preparing for a DELE exam on a specific date. Their effectiveness depends on structure: a good private lesson is not simply free conversation, but a progression built around objectives, correction and regular reviews.

In person or online: how do you decide?

Online classes save travel time. In-person classes offer greater concentration, spontaneity and human interaction, which can be particularly valuable for speaking practice. A common solution is to take an in-person course and supplement it with occasional online sessions, for example when travelling.

Funding your training with the CPF

DELE or SIELE: which Spanish certification should you take?

The two main certifications for Spanish as a foreign language are linked to the Instituto Cervantes, but they meet different needs.

The DELE (Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera) is an official diploma issued by the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of the Spanish Ministry of Education. There are six adult levels, from A1 to C2, as well as school versions for learners aged 11–17. The diploma has indefinite validity, and the speaking examination must be taken in person at an examination centre (Instituto Cervantes). The University of Salamanca, under delegation from the Instituto Cervantes, develops the examinations and is responsible for assessment worldwide (University of Salamanca).

The SIELE (Servicio Internacional de Evaluación de la Lengua Española) is promoted by the Instituto Cervantes, UNAM in Mexico, the University of Salamanca and the University of Buenos Aires. It is taken on a computer at an examination centre, by appointment (Instituto Cervantes).

Sources: Instituto Cervantes, SIELE FAQ and DELE/SIELE comparison.

The pitfalls of Spanish for French-speaking learners

Spanish and French are both Romance languages: their similarities are a major advantage at first, but they can also create misleading automatic habits. Here are some of the difficulties teachers most often encounter among French-speaking learners.

Pronunciation: what French speakers may not hear at first

• Word stress can change the meaning. In French, stress generally falls at the end of a rhythmic group; in Spanish, stress is mobile and is sometimes marked in writing: término (term), termino (I finish), terminó (he/she finished).
• Spanish has no nasal vowels. Un, con and tiempo are pronounced with a clear vowel followed by [n] or [m].
• The Spanish u is pronounced [oo]: luna sounds roughly like “loona”.
• The jota (jamón, gente) and the rolled r (perro versus pero) require genuine practice.
• All vowels are pronounced, including final e: noche, grande.

Grammar: ser, estar, the subjunctive and more

Ser / estar. French has a single verb corresponding to “to be”, whereas Spanish has two, and the meaning changes:

• The subjunctive after cuando. When talking about the future, French uses the future tense, whereas Spanish uses the subjunctive: ✔ Cuando llegue, te llamo, not ✘ Cuando llegaré.
• The subject pronoun is often omitted: Hablo español is enough; Yo hablo español puts emphasis on the subject.
• The verb gustar works in the opposite way from English and French: Me gustan los libros literally means “books are pleasing to me”.
• The personal a before a person as a direct object: Veo a mi madre, but Veo la catedral.
• Tú, usted, vosotros, ustedes. In Spain, vosotros is used among friends; in most of Latin America, ustedes is used for the plural “you”.

False friends to learn from the start

Methods and tips for making real progress

Practising Spanish outside class

Even without travelling to Spain or Latin America, you can multiply your contact with the language:

• watch films and series in the original language, initially with Spanish subtitles;
• listen to Spanish-language podcasts and public radio, and expose yourself to different accents;
• read short texts adapted to your level, then move on to online news media;
• find a language-exchange partner: in a European university city like Strasbourg, there are plenty of opportunities to practise;
• take part in cultural activities in Spanish available in the city.

How to choose a Spanish course in Strasbourg: the checklist

Learn Spanish in Strasbourg with the University of Salamanca

The University of Salamanca, founded in 1218 by King Alfonso IX of León, is the oldest university in the Hispanic world still in operation (Universidad de Salamanca). It was also in Salamanca that Antonio de Nebrija’s Gramática castellana was printed on 18 August 1492, the first European grammar of a Romance language. Its fifth book is devoted to teaching Castilian to people who speak another language (Biblioteca Nacional de España). In other words, Salamanca has more than five centuries of history in teaching Spanish as a foreign language.

1218 foundation of the University of Salamanca  ·  1492 first grammar of Castilian, printed in Salamanca

In Strasbourg, ELE USAL Strasbourg is part of the network of Spanish-language schools affiliated with the University of Salamanca. Located in the Neudorf district at 9 rue Saint-Aloïse, the school offers courses for all levels from A1 to C2, with a maximum of eight learners per group and a communicative approach. It is Qualiopi-certified and offers CPF-eligible training. Private lessons are also available, either in person or online. The school is also a DELE and SIELE examination centre, allowing learners to prepare for and take their certification in the same place.

Frequently asked questions