Master's Degree in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign or Second Language

2025/2026 · 60 credits

What you learn

MELE provides the knowledge, skills and tools needed to teach Spanish as a foreign and second language in a variety of contexts. Students learn how to plan, manage and assess teaching and learning processes, design teaching resources and materials, and address the linguistic and cultural needs of diverse learners. The programme also provides solid training in research applied to Spanish language teaching and develops competences for working in a dynamic and international professional environment.

Complete study skills

Generic skills

  1. Apply theoretical and practical knowledge of second language teaching and learning in educational and professional contexts.
  2. Solve problems related to second language teaching and learning in broad and multidisciplinary settings.
  3. Formulate informed judgements and propose solutions based on theories and methods that respect linguistic and sociocultural diversity.
  4. Communicate research findings to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
  5. Develop new working methods adapted to the field of Spanish as a Foreign and Second Language.
  6. Work collaboratively and participate in research projects and scientific or technological partnerships.

Specific skills

  1. Identify and apply methodological approaches to second language teaching and learning.
  2. Integrate pragmatic and sociolinguistic aspects into Spanish language teaching.
  3. Plan, manage and assess Spanish FL/L2 teaching and learning processes.
  4. Analyse grammatical and lexical issues relevant to Spanish language learning.
  5. Design, adapt and evaluate teaching materials and resources.
  6. Develop teaching proposals for different learning contexts.
  7. Design activities and tasks aimed at developing communicative language skills.
  8. Apply corpus-based methodologies to Spanish language teaching.
  9. Adapt teaching practices to specific contexts and learner profiles.

Transversal skills

  1. Apply theoretical and practical knowledge of second language teaching and learning in educational and professional contexts.
  2. Solve problems related to second language teaching and learning in broad and multidisciplinary settings.
  3. Formulate informed judgements and propose solutions based on theories and methods that respect linguistic and sociocultural diversity.
  4. Communicate research findings to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
  5. Develop new working methods adapted to the field of Spanish as a Foreign and Second Language.
  6. Work collaboratively and participate in research projects and scientific or technological partnerships.

Professional and academic career

Professional environment

The competences acquired through MELE are applicable to contexts related to language teaching and learning, linguistic and cultural education, the design and development of teaching materials, educational innovation, and research in language teaching. These competences enable graduates to pursue professional and research activities in national and international educational settings, both face-to-face and online.

Professional and academic career

Graduates of MELE may pursue professional careers in areas related to the teaching of Spanish as a foreign and second language, the design and development of teaching materials, the planning and management of teaching and learning processes, linguistic and cultural education, and educational innovation. The programme also provides solid research training, enabling graduates to pursue doctoral studies and participate in research projects in the field of Spanish as a Foreign and Second Language.

Companies and institutions involved

MELE collaborates with a range of institutions and organisations that contribute to students' practical training through external academic placements. These include the UDC Language Centre, the CUFIE E-learning Unit, the UDC International Relations Office, the Official Language School of A Coruña, the Official Language School of Culleredo and Erre que ELE. Students may also undertake placements within the Spanish Language and Culture Programmes (ALCE) abroad, an initiative of the Spanish Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports that promotes Spanish language and culture internationally.

Planning for teaching

MELE is a one-year master's programme comprising 60 ECTS credits. The curriculum combines compulsory and elective specialised training in the field of Spanish as a Foreign and Second Language, together with external academic placements and a master's dissertation. This structure enables students to acquire solid theoretical, methodological and research training, while also gaining practical experience in professional contexts related to Spanish language teaching.

This study has teaching guide
You can read it to learn more about the study. In the table below you can see the individual teaching guides for each subject.

Study structure

The masters are organized by modules. Click on a module for more information.

  Guide Type QTR. credits
Compulsory First Quadmester 6.0 ECTS
Compulsory First Quadmester 6.0 ECTS
Compulsory First Quadmester 6.0 ECTS
Compulsory First Quadmester 6.0 ECTS
Compulsory First Quadmester 6.0 ECTS
Compulsory Second Quadmester 6.0 ECTS
Elective Second Quadmester 3.0 ECTS
Elective Second Quadmester 3.0 ECTS
Elective Second Quadmester 3.0 ECTS
Elective Second Quadmester 3.0 ECTS
Elective Second Quadmester 3.0 ECTS
Elective Second Quadmester 3.0 ECTS
Master's Dissertation Second Quadmester 9.0 ECTS

External references

The academic structure of MELE is based on current research in the field of Spanish as a Foreign and Second Language, the professional needs of the sector, and the growing international relevance of Spanish. The programme draws on the teaching and research experience of the participating universities and follows the principles of the European Higher Education Area.

Query procedures used

The programme was designed taking into account the teaching and research experience of the participating universities, as well as the educational and professional needs of the field of Spanish as a Foreign and Second Language. The development of the curriculum considered the demands of the education sector and the most relevant academic and scientific approaches in this area.

Teachers

The study is taught by the following teachers:

The masters are organized by modules. Click on a module for more information.

  • Acuña Ferreira, Antonia Virginia
  • Estévez Rionegro, Noelia
  • Fernández Sanmartín, Alba

Student mobility

UDC holds student mobility agreements with universities and other third-level institutions across four continents. Students are offered several opportunities each year to apply to study abroad in one of these centres (for a single term or for a whole year), with the guarantee that all credits obtained will be duly recognised in their academic record upon their return.

For each round of applications, the University publishes the list of exchange options available to students and, where relevant, the specific conditions associated with each. Students may also apply to the University for funding for international work experience placements and internships.

Work experience placements are accredited in the student's academic record and the European diploma supplement. Students are free to decide in which host company or academic institution within the EHEA they wish to carry out their placement. To assist them in their search, the University has created an online noticeboard with jobs postings and other news.

Work-study placements in A Coruña are arranged by the International Relations Office (ORI) of the UDC in collaboration with the international relations coordinators in the student’s home university. The general entry criteria, rights and obligations of students, and admission and acceptance procedures for the programme, are regulated by the UDC Mobility Policy.

Particular centre actions

MELE students may take part in the national and international mobility programmes offered by the Universidade da Coruña through its International Relations Office (ORI). Opportunities include Erasmus+ programmes, bilateral exchange agreements with foreign universities, SICUE mobility schemes and placements in international institutions and organisations. The University also provides information, guidance and complementary grants to support student participation in these programmes.