He Language Service The University of La Laguna's Language Center has celebrated 30 years of opening its doors to the world, providing access to new cultures and knowledge through the teaching of 14 languages—the largest language offering on the island. The celebration was marked by a gala held yesterday, November 20th, in the university's main auditorium, an event filled with emotion and a strong commitment to this service that provides new skills and competencies for a globalized world.
In these 30 years, more than 5,000 courses have been taught through 45,000 enrollments, using different teaching methods, adapting to the times and to remote teaching, such as
The rector, Francisco García, at the beginning of the session.
also to new locations outside the university campus. Yesterday's ceremony clearly demonstrated the passion of this teaching staff for their work, very proud to observe the progress of their students, from basic to advanced levels, and to see how many return to the service learning new languages. In this video, The session began with a review of its main milestones throughout this time.
The evening unfolded in a distinctly humorous tone and was hosted by comedian Petite Lorena. Rector Francisco García highlighted the “three decades of effort and dedication to learning” and championed the team's effectiveness, “not by doing the same thing all the time, but by adapting to changes and new times.” In his opinion, it is a “magnificent service for responding to many challenges as a society and the urgent need to internationalize,” he said, something further reinforced by our tricontinental position.
The head of studies, Reinhard Dlugay, proposing a round of applause for all the teaching staff of the department.
He also referred to the stagnation of productivity in the Canary Islands since the beginning of the century. “The best way to overcome this situation is to do things better, inject talent, and offer added value, and language skills are one of those capabilities that can set us apart,” he pointed out. “This service has a bright future thanks to its highly skilled workforce, and it is a source of pride for this public university.”.
Julio Brito, managing director of the General Foundation, which oversees the Language Service, also spoke at the session, stating that the service has more than fulfilled its purpose. “It has been an example of dedication from professionals to the university community, demonstrating remarkable resilience and providing significant added value.”.
Serafín Mesa, the CEO of Youth and Training at the Tenerife Island Council, also praised the service's track record and its strategic collaboration with the island corporation in the task of internationalizing Canarian youth, even pointing out that the Language Service of the University of La Laguna is a benchmark for the younger sector, something that seems quite complicated in these times of multiple channels and training offers.
For her part, the Vice-Rector for Internationalization and Cooperation, Inmaculada González, added that language learning can transform lives in many ways, “bringing us closer to other cultures, connecting us with other people, and helping us understand their perspective on the world.” She affirmed that speaking several languages in an increasingly globalized world is a highly valuable skill in the workplace. “Furthermore, we travel with greater confidence, make more friends everywhere, and enjoy the literary and artistic creations of our destination countries more fully.” The Deputy Minister of Education for the Government of the Canary Islands, José Manuel Cabrera, pointed out that services like this are key in such a rapidly changing world, broadening minds and preparing young people for the future.
Reinhard Dlugay, head of studies at the Language Service, played a leading role in the ceremony. “Thirty years ago, mobile phones didn't exist, and this week I taught an online class.”
A moment from the session.
"German with one student in Colombia, another in Zurich, and another in El Hierro." Dlugay proposed a resounding round of applause for the teaching staff and also a sincere tribute to the teachers who no longer teach in the department.
The service also serves as a preparation and examination center for official exams, including those for obtaining professional certifications such as those in Nautical Studies, which are essential for accessing certain jobs. It registers over two thousand enrollments annually, and 92% of students have expressed satisfaction with their training, according to the latest survey. “We have a truly exceptional student body, highly engaged. How else can you categorize students who carve out time in their busy academic schedules to study a language, or professionals who combine work and study?” the survey concluded.
Acknowledgments
The presentation of diplomas and statuettes recognizing the role of key agents in the growth and expansion of this service was a very moving event. The first honorees were the academic staff of the faculties where the classes were held, made possible by the provision of space: Education, Law, and the Section of Nautical Studies, Marine Engineering, and Naval Radioelectronics.
The Tenerife Island Council and the Adeje City Council, as well as the Canary Islands Government's Department of Education, were also recognized. There was also an opportunity to highlight the institutions that enable the highly relevant language accreditation, namely Oxford University Press and Cambridge Assessment English, both of which have placed their trust in the Language Service as an examination center.
In the student section, several outstanding students were honored. These included Luis Capote, a student who has studied ten languages and is currently a professor of Civil Law; Ciro Hernández, a teacher who began with basic English and has now reached the advanced C1 level; and Concepción Cruz Pérez, a student who started with basic Japanese and has now completed the intermediate level with outstanding grades.
Naira Serra and Daura Vera, from the Communication and Marketing Unit of the General Foundation.
The role of the General Foundation's Communication and Marketing Unit team was also recognized at the ceremony for developing a unique corporate image for this service and its various adaptations and formats, which has increased its visibility. Designer Naira Serra and journalist Daura Vera accepted the award.
Finally, Beatriz Hernández and Reinhard Dlugay presented several sculptures by the artist Alfonso García to recognize special distinctions. One of these was awarded to the Employment Department of the Tenerife Island Council, represented by Serafín Mesa, for its commitment to promoting language teaching. Another was given to retired professor Plácido Bazo, a specialist in language policy who has served as an advisor on this subject for both the service and the university itself. “When this service began its work in language teaching, the Canary Islands were a wasteland in this area, and at the universities we radically changed the way languages were taught, moving towards a much more communicative approach,” he commented.
Isabel Rodríguez – Marita – an English teacher at the Language Service since its inception, was also recognized at the Paraninfo ceremony. She is an inspiring teacher, much loved by colleagues and students alike. Deeply moved by the award, Marita highlighted the excellent collaboration with the teaching staff, praised the teamwork of all these years, and noted that the University of La Laguna's Language Service is now a leading center for language learning.
The tributes brought the ceremony to a close with recognition of the entire technical team behind the teaching work, that is, the administration, accounting and support services.
The ULL Polyphonic Choir closed the event.
generals of the General Foundation. The award was accepted by one of its professionals, Domingo Hernández.
The event was closed by the Polyphonic Choir of the University of La Laguna, a group that prepared a repertoire in several languages for this ceremony, and which demonstrated the good work of this choral group and the care it pays to the study and complexity of each work and, once again, the value of languages to communicate with the world.
Spanish 
English 
French