Observatory of Spanish in Europe
Observatory of Spanish in Europe | OSE
The Observatory of Spanish in Europe is a research center founded in 2023 at Heidelberg Center for Ibero-American Studies (HCIAS), Heidelberg University. Its main goal is to offer data that can help tackle the emerging trends related to Spanish and its speakers in Europe.
News
Prof. Dr. Óscar Loureda Lamas at the 36th International ASELE Conference
Prof. Dr. Óscar Loureda Lamas took part as a plenary speaker in the 36th International Conference of the Asociación para la Enseñanza del Español como Lengua Extranjera (ASELE), held in Leuven from September 8 to 12, 2026. On September 10, he delivered the plenary lecture El español como lengua de herencia en Europa.
In his lecture, he presented findings from the HERESPA survey on the use and transmission of Spanish among Spanish-speaking families living in Europe. He also addressed the perspectives and challenges surrounding the intergenerational transmission of Spanish as a heritage language in European contexts.
More information about the conference: ASELE 2026
Dr. Pilar Valero Fernández at the 36th International ASELE Conference
Dr. Pilar Valero Fernández took part in the 36th International Conference of the Asociación para la Enseñanza del Español como Lengua Extranjera (ASELE), held in Leuven from September 8 to 12, 2026. On September 10, she presented Aprender español en Europa no es igual para todos: perfiles del alumnado de español en la educación preuniversitaria.
In her presentation, she analyzed the presence of Spanish in primary and secondary education across Europe from a demolinguistic perspective.
More information about the conference: ASELE 2026
New publication: El español en los sistemas educativos europeos: alcance, desafíos y perspectivas
The report El español en los sistemas educativos europeos: alcance, desafíos y perspectivas, authored by Dr. Pilar Valero Fernández and Prof. Dr. Óscar Loureda Lamas, has been published.
It analyzes the presence of Spanish in European education systems, with particular attention to its teaching as a foreign language and as a heritage language.
Read the full report here.
New HCIAS Podcast episode on heritage speakers in the Spanish language classroom
A new episode of the HCIAS Podcast “Hablantes de herencia en el aula de ELE: Identidad, pragmática y el reto de las clases mixtas,” is now available.
In this episode, Dr. Eva González Melón, Assistant Professor at KU Leuven (Belgium), explores the challenges of Spanish as a Foreign Language (ELE) classrooms, where heritage speakers and traditional learners study together. She also reflects on the role of identity, pragmatic competence, and linguistic diversity in these learning environments, highlighting the importance of recognizing heritage speakers’ linguistic and cultural backgrounds as valuable resources for learning.
Listen to the episode here.
Read the content of the episode here.
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