What is the EIM?

The School of Modern Languages (EIM) of the University of Barcelona offers language services to the whole of the university community and to a range of public and private institutions. The EIM was founded in 1953 and is currently managed by the Vice-Rectorate of Students and Linguistic Policy of the University of Barcelona. The EIM works actively to promote formal, quality language learning in universities. There are currently over 40 members of teaching staff, offering tuition to 4000 students in 16 languages: Amazic (Berber), Arabic, Chinese, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian and Swedish.

The above languages are taught through two types of courses: standard language courses (in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Russian) and special introductory courses, level activation courses, spoken fluency courses, exam preparation courses, and courses for students from different university disciplines. Courses are taught entirely through face-to-face classes, with the exception of English, which combines face-to-face and distance learning.

EIM courses can lead to the award of free-choice academic credits, according to applicable regulations in each case.

The EIM offers a range of language services including level tests that constitute official recognition of degrees of competence in specific languages.

The EIM also runs an External Language Service (SEI), which provides language tuition to professionals with all the guarantees of teaching quality offered by the EIM. Courses and assessment provided by the External Language Service are managed directly by the corresponding department in the School of Modern Languages and adhere to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment (CEFR) of the Council of Europe.