Intensive morning lessons and afternoon explorations of Andorra's heritage, landscapes, and festivals help

Around 30 university students from 12 countries are taking part in the 25th University Catalan Language Campus this week in Sant Julià de Lòria. The programme pairs intensive morning language sessions at A2 and B1 levels with afternoon visits to heritage sites, lectures on local culture and excursions across the parish to boost fluency through immersion.

Participants, aged 18 to 52, arrived in Andorra after a week of classes in Girona. They represent Canada, Japan, Ukraine, Scotland, Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, France, the UK, the Netherlands, Russia and Slovakia. Afternoons and evenings provide opportunities to practise with residents, from casual chats to everyday interactions like ordering coffee.

On Monday morning, the group received an official welcome at the town hall from Health Minister Helena Mas, First Consul Cerni Cairat and Second Consul Sofia Cortesao. Mas described the campus as a key tool for promoting Catalan internationally and fostering cultural exchanges that strengthen ties between participants and Andorra. Cairat encouraged them to immerse themselves in the parish's history, festivals and Catalan music traditions.

Eva Royo, head of the Catalan Language Area in the Department of Language Policy, noted that Catalan serves as the common language for the diverse group, given that many do not share other tongues like Spanish or French. She outlined the structure: three hours of morning lessons followed by real-world application in cultural and social settings.

Students shared their motivations for joining. Jacob, a Polish student from the University of Warsaw, discovered Catalan during an Erasmus stay in Barcelona two years ago and has pursued it since, attracted by its novelty and conversational potential. Paula from the Czech Republic began learning after meeting a girl from Menorca at a UK summer school; keen to bond with her friend's family, she advanced her skills while living in Manresa, where her partner played professional basketball.

Launched in 2002 with support from Andorran and Balearic authorities, the campus has involved the Ramon Llull Institute, the Andorran government and Catalan partners since 2003. The government highlighted its role in blending language learning with insights into Andorra's social, cultural and historical context.