New initiative launched to inform new arrivals of options for learning Catalan language

The Department of Language Policy, in collaboration with the Consortium for Language Normalization (CPNL), is launching a new linguistic welcome program with the aim of introducing new arrivals to Catalonia to the Catalan language.

The initiative is titled 'Benvinguts a Catalunya, benvinguts al català', translated into English as 'Welcome to Catalonia, welcome to Catalan'.

The aim is to inform people who have just arrived to the country about the importance of learning Catalan and to facilitate their access to training resources available.

Welcome materials are provided, as well as guidance on places to learn Catalan. The program has begun to be rolled out in 21 municipalities across Catalonia, with a total of 31 distribution points, 11 of which are in Barcelona.

At these points, the welcome pack people are given includes a basic illustrated vocabulary, information on Catalan courses available near the registered address, as well as a bag, a notebook and a pen.

These welcome desks are located in Badalona, ​​Barcelona, ​​Cornellà de Llobregat, Figueres, Girona, Granollers, l’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Lleida, Manresa, Martorell, Mataró, Reus, Tarragona, Terrassa, Tortosa, Sabadell, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Vic, and Vilanova i la Geltrú.

The welcome material also includes a letter from the Minister for Language Policy, Francesc Xavier Vila, addressed directly to the newcomers. “I want to welcome you, hope that you will soon feel at home among us and give you some useful information about languages ​​in Catalonia,” the minister writes to the new arrivals.

Filling the Sink podcast

In December 2024, Catalan News released an episode of our podcast, Filling the Sink, looking at the topic of learning Catalan as a foreign national. 

Catalan is currently spoken by more than 10 million people in four different countries: Spain, Andorra, France and Italy. It is a Western Romance language that evolved from everyday Latin spoken during the Roman Empire.

 

Press play below to listen or subscribe on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or Spotify.