About us

Spanish Language and Culture Foundation of Cartagena

Welcome to FUNCARELE – Your Spanish school in Cartagena

FUNCARELE is a specialized school for teaching Spanish as a foreign language, located in the heart of the three-thousand-year-old city of Cartagena, Spain. Since our founding in 2008, we have helped nearly 10,000 students from around the world learn Spanish in an easy, dynamic, and effective way.

As an Accredited Center by the Instituto Cervantes, we guarantee high-quality teaching. We offer a wide range of Spanish courses, both general and specialized, tailored to all ages and proficiency levels, available in in-person, online, or hybrid formats. Our classrooms are equipped with cameras, allowing students to join their classes live even when they cannot attend in person.

We are also an official examination center for:

  • DELE – Diploma of Spanish as a Foreign Language
  • SIELE – International Service for Spanish Language Assessment
  • CCSE – Constitutional and Sociocultural Knowledge Test of Spain
  • Trinity College London – Official English exams

Additionally, we take great pride in our close collaboration with the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT). Since our inception, we have maintained a strong partnership to share teaching methodologies and quality standards in Spanish language education for the entire university community.

Enjoy unique facilities in a prime location

You will have access to unique facilities, located in the heart of Cartagena’s historic center, just a few meters from the Mediterranean Sea. Our activities take place primarily in two buildings: Palacio Molina (our main headquarters) and the Faculty of Business Studies.

Here, just steps from the Mediterranean, you will enjoy an exceptional cultural, historical, and maritime environment, along with full access to the university’s facilities, including libraries, study rooms, dining halls, and a vibrant academic atmosphere.

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.

Diseño sin título (1)

Palacio Molina

The Casa-Palacio Molina: a building with history

You will study Spanish in a majestic 19th-century historic building that was once home to King Alfonso XIII himself — a place full of history, charm, and character.

Funcarele offers two modern classrooms, a teachers’ lounge, and a library to help you improve your Spanish. The center also includes a Head of Studies’ office, a multi-purpose room for activities and exams, and an administrative office.

All our classrooms enjoy natural light and are equipped with heating/air conditioning and screens to enhance your learning experience. We also have spacious common areas where you can relax, chat with other students, enjoy a coffee, exchange books, or unwind between classes.

Palacio Molina is located in the heart of Cartagena, surrounded by museums, bars, restaurants, shops, banks, and more. Everything you need is just a short walk away, allowing you to fully enjoy the city while you study.

Faculty of Business Studies

Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena (UPCT)

Funcarele actively collaborates with the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT), supporting its Language Service with Spanish classes and using its facilities for school group courses, as well as for official Trinity and DELE exams.

Thanks to this partnership, our students can enjoy unique spaces such as study rooms with stunning views of the Mediterranean, a library, a cafeteria-dining hall, and a vibrant university atmosphere.

The visible face of this collaboration is Juana Mari Belchí, academic coordinator of the Spanish area at the UPCT Language Service.

MEET OUR TEAM

We are very proud of our teaching staff, all of whom have been carefully selected based on their professionalism, experience, enthusiasm, empathy and vocation.

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.

Mónica Palacios Gutiérrez

Head of Studies, SIELE Coordinator and Spanish teacher

Hello! My name’s Monica and I’ve been providing classes with an “Argentinian touch” at Funcarele.

I’m a primary school teacher, a DELE examiner and hold a degree in Languages and Translation (Spanish and Portuguese).

With a career spanning 30 years, I have received training in 4 countries and taught 3 different languages ​​(Spanish, Portuguese and English) at all levels of education, in both public and private institutions. I have also participated in government education commissions and been a member of Higher Education Assessment Tribunals.

In Funcarele I work as Head of Studies, SIELE Coordinator and Spanish teacher. I prepare and examinate students for DELE (all levels) and I also work as teacher of trainee and future teachers. I collaborate with the Administration of the CCSE exams. I keep on learning and enjoying my beautiful job.

Whether teaching my students, sharing ideas with them or learning from them, I can honestly say that I love my profession. I enjoy working in Funcarele as it enables me to discover new cultures and learn all about them thanks to my foreign students.

Rocío Martínez Torres

DELE examination coordinator and Spanish teacher

Hi, I’m Rocío, the longest serving Spanish teacher in Funcarele. Besides teaching, I am the DELE examination coordinator.

I graduated from the University of Granada with a degree in Slavonic Studies, later obtaining Qualified Teacher Status certification at the University of Murcia. Since then, I have completed many courses for teachers of Spanish as a Foreign Language, and continue to refresh my skills on a yearly basis.

I started my career as a Spanish as a Foreign Language teacher in 2000, and have worked in various official language schools and private centres, both in Spain and abroad. Since 2008, I have been working at FUNCARELE, where I teach Spanish language and culture classes at all levels, as well as being a DELE trainer and examiner, providing teacher training, and I also continue to train in my speciality. I also speak English and Russian.

 

Jorge García Jiménez

Spanish teacher

Hello, I am Jorge, a graduate in Spanish Language and Literature from the Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), where I also completed a Master’s Degree in Teacher Training for Teachers of Spanish as a Second Language, in collaboration with the Instituto Cervantes. Additionally, I am trained as an AVE Global tutor and SIELE exam preparer.

Although I am a Spanish teacher, I also enjoy learning about the culture and language of my students, so, in a way, I learn from them as well. I am passionate about literature and history, and I am currently learning Japanese.

In addition to teaching Spanish at school with grammar-focused classes, I also offer conversation lessons. I truly enjoy seeing my students make progress in the language—it’s one of the most rewarding aspects of teaching.

See you soon!

Miguel Ángel Martínez Rodríguez

Spanish teacher

Hello everyone! My name is Miguel Ángel, and I have been a Spanish teacher at Funcarele since December 2024.

I studied a Bachelor’s Degree in Primary Education with a Specialization in Music at the University of Murcia (UMU) and a Master’s Degree in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language at the International University of La Rioja (UNIR). Additionally, I work as an educational support teacher in Primary and Secondary Education, mainly reinforcing Spanish Language and English. I speak Spanish, Catalan, and English.

I also take part in various cultural associations as a musician, which has allowed me to travel extensively across Spain and actively participate in its festivities, such as the Fallas of Valencia, Holy Week or the Bando de la Huerta in Murcia.

As a Spanish teacher, I would love to teach you my language and offer you a new perspective on my country. By learning Spanish, you will gain deeper insight into who we are, our customs, history, gastronomy, and music, allowing you to enjoy everything that Cartagena and Spain have to offer in a more immersive way.

Don’t hesitate to stop by Funcarele to learn Spanish! See you soon!

Marta Clemente Carrillo

Spanish teacher

Hello, I am Marta Clemente Carrillo. I have a degree in English Philology from the University of Murcia, where I also obtained the University Specialist Diploma in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language (ELE). I have extensive experience in language teaching, having worked as a language instructor at the Polytechnic University of Cartagena, where I taught English, German, and Spanish as a foreign language.

In 2009, I joined the Funcarele team, and since then, I have participated in various international conferences, as well as teacher training sessions and professional development events. Currently, I combine my work as an English teacher at the Official School of Languages with teaching, exam support, and cultural activities at Funcarele.

I am passionate about languages—I speak English, German, and Italian—and I love discovering different cultures and perspectives on life.

Marcela Benetó Ferrándiz

Spanish online teacher

Hi, I’m Marcela, a Spanish teacher and DELE examiner of all levels at Funcarele. I originally studied for a degree in Education, specialising in Spanish language and English, and I later obtained a Spanish Language and Literature degree from the National Distance Education University (UNED). I have also completed numerous training courses with various educational institutions in order to keep up-to-date with the latest methods and to continue developing my skills as a teacher of Spanish as a Foreign Language.

In my 28 years of experience as a teacher, I have prepared ELE students of all levels. In addition, I have provided teacher training and worked as a DELE examiner in several countries. I have been with Funcarele since 2009 and am currently an examiner and in charge of teaching classes and preparing students for all levels of the DELE exam via Skype.

I love literature, learning languages, hiking and music.

Mila Batrak

Head of administration

Hello, my name is Mila Batrak, and I have been the Head of Administration at Funcarele since its beginnings in 2008. I hold a degree in Tourism and a Bachelor’s in Advertising and Public Relations from the universities of Cartagena and Murcia, respectively. My main role is to coordinate daily administrative and logistical tasks, assist our clients, and organize the school’s activities and exams.

As a foreigner myself, I deeply understand the needs and concerns you may have when living in a different country. That’s why my goal is to anticipate your needs and support you in every way possible, both before and during your stay at Funcarele.

I can assist you in Spanish, English, Ucranian or Russian, and I’ll be happy to help make your experience with us enriching and enjoyable.

 

Alina Mihai

Administration, customer service

Hello, my name is Alina, I am from Romania, and I came to Cartagena through the Erasmus program. I have a degree in Public Administration and a master’s degree in Human Resources Management and Development, both degrees obtained at the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iaşi. I also have a degree in Political Science and Public Management from the University of Murcia.
I have been working at Funcarele since 2016, dealing with customer service and administration tasks. I love everything I do, from the first contact I have with people interested in studying the Spanish language, to organizing everything necessary for the DELE, CCSE and Trinity College London official English exams. I would be happy to provide you with all the information you need if you would like to come to Cartagena to learn Spanish or take any of the exams we offer throughout the year.

Miguel Martínez Bernal

President

Hi, I’m Miguel Martínez, a Law graduate and president of Funcarele. I’m responsible for the management of the foundation’s administrative, economic, commercial, fiscal and legal dealings, as well as overseeing our staff. In addition, I’m president of the Chamber of Commerce of Cartagena and of the Permanent Consortium of the Menéndez Pelayo University in Cartagena (UIMP). I am also a lawyer and an associate professor at the Cartagena Polytechnic University (UPCT).