CEPOL Spanish Language Development Seminar

“Language Development” (Spanish Language) was the subject of the CEPOL seminar held at the Spanish Police Training Division in Madrid, Spain, on 28 June - 16 July 2010.

The aim of the seminar was to improve participants’ language skills in Spanish, provide an opportunity to learn about the host country’s police systems as well as to increase participants’ knowledge of police cooperation with a European context.

The seminar was organised with the support of France, Germany, Austria, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The Spanish Chair of the CEPOL Governing Board, Francisco del Barrio, warmly welcomed the 10 participants from seven countries to Spain.

The seminars activities were split into three main parts:

• Participants’ presentations
• Judicial systems/police terminology
• EU and International institutions (Interpol, Europol, Sirene, Frontex and International Unit).

Each participant gave a presentation in Spanish based on law enforcement issues in their own countries (France, Italy, Bulgaria, Hungary, UK, Poland and Germany).

Eleven experts took part in the course giving different presentations about police matters as well as two language trainers.

In addition, different study visits were organised to Alcalá de Henares University, Cervantes’s Museum, Avila Police Training Center, Santiago Bernabeu Football Stadium and Prado Museum.

The Head of the Police Training Division thanked the participants for their contributions during the course and encouraged them to continue improving their Spanish language skills.

One very satisfied participant, before leaving Madrid said: “I am now able to compare three different policing systems and also have a better understanding of Spanish police terminology and of the EU institutions. This course has started an extremely solid and useful network between colleagues.”