About us

Spanish Language and Culture Foundation of Cartagena

Welcome to FUNCARELE, a school specializing in teaching Spanish as a foreign language, based in Cartagena.

We are an accredited Cervantes Institute Centre, where you will learn Spanish in an easy, pleasant and practical way, with the high standards of tuition that are to be expected. We are also an official exam centre for Diplomas in Spanish as a Foreign Language (DELE), the Spanish Citizenship Test (CCSE) and Trinity College London English exams.

You will have at your disposal unique facilities located in a privileged area of ​​the historic centre of Cartagena. We carry out the bulk of our activities in two separate buildings: The Palacio Molina and the nearby Faculty of Business Studies. In addition, our Academic Coordinator is in charge of the Languages Department of the Cartagena Polytechnic University (UPCT), which is located on the University’s “Muralla del Mar” campus, ELDI building, 3rd floor. Moreover, the centre also has the full support of the Town Hall.

Here in Cartagena, mere metres from the Mediterranean, you can enjoy the wonderful cultural offerings, and the historical and maritime surroundings. You will also have at your disposal all the services offered by the University: its libraries, computer rooms, study areas and dining facilities, all in a lively university environment.

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Palacio Molina

This magnificent 18th-19th century mansion serves as our administrative headquarters. It has 2 modern classrooms, a staff room, video library, cultural exhibition room and a library with over 500 books for studying Spanish.

Here, in the Palacio Molina, Alina and Mila of our administrative team are always on hand to take you through the registration process for our courses or exams. In addition, they will provide help finding suitable accommodation, recommend enjoyable activities, and deal with any queries that you may have.

Faculty of Business Studies

Built in the 18th century, the building originally served as a prison and later as a naval academy. Nowadays it forms part of the Cartagena Polytechnic University.

Here, we offer Spanish courses for school groups, summer courses, Trinity preparation courses, as well as carrying out official DELE, CCSE and TRINITY exams. Funcarele have two offices and 3 classrooms at their disposal in the faculty, with access to any additional rooms that may be required for our activities. Each classroom has plenty of natural light and is fully equipped with a projector, audio equipment, internet access, etc. In addition, our students have full use of the study and reading rooms, which offer spectacular views of the Mediterranean, as well as the library, dining room / cafeteria and a pleasant open-air courtyard.

Both buildings are fully accessible for people with limited mobility and are located within a five-minute walk of each other. View the map here.

Teaching staff

We are very proud of our teaching staff, all of whom have been carefully selected based on their professionalism, experience, enthusiasm, empathy and vocation. Our regular team consists of 8 marvellous teachers, of which our Academic Coordinator and two other members of staff are also Spanish teachers at the Languages Department of the Cartagena Polytechnic University.

During peak times, we work with additional teachers according to the number of students. These are all native Spanish speakers with university degrees and extensive experience, who specialise in the teaching of Spanish as a foreign language.

Our teachers work together to continuously develop, plan and update the centre’s educational programme; in order to keep up-to-date with the latest teaching methods, they attend annual training courses, partake in observational classes, and analyse their students’ progress.

Each staff member has worked hard to design a programme that is both interesting and highly effective. Their dynamism, outgoing personalities and vocational motivation all mean that you will come to look on them not just as teachers, but also as friends, both during and after your studies in Cartagena.

MEET OUR TEAM