"We must teach Moroccans not only Spanish but also Spanish culture, emphasizing the existing differences between these and the Arabic language and the Arab-Islamic culture". This was stated by Rosa Salgado, professor at the University of Granada, in the framework of a seminar organized by the Institute for Culture and Society (ICS) of the University of Navarra.

The expert indicated that didactic methods for teaching languages have been changing over the last few years. Among other aspects that are very much taken into account today, she emphasized "knowing the student, being aware of their linguistic and cultural reality". In his experience, agreement , this better understanding has a very positive influence on the dynamics of the classes. 

"Teaching language is vital to break down barriers on both sides," he explained. "The more I get to know the other person," he added, "the less stereotypical ideas I will have about them, and the same goes for us and our culture. 

Not only students from the primary sector: also university students

He recalled that, in recent years, the arrival in Spain and settlement of Moroccan and second-generation Spanish-Moroccan migrants in the country has increased increasingly, despite the difficulties in obtaining regularization. " There arecurrently 800,000 citizens of Moroccan origin. Their variant of Arabic is the second most spoken foreign language in Spain," he said.

Professor Salgado has expressed the ease and speed with which people of Moroccan origin learn language, due, she said, to the close relationship between Spain and Morocco. "Our country has made an effort over time. Today we have 14 Cervantes Institutes throughout the Arab world, six of which are in Morocco. In addition, in that country there are 11 Spanish-owned centers - Spanish-speaking schools and institutes," he said.

In this sense, he stressed that the profile of Moroccan students has changed: "Not only migrants related to jobs in the primary sector learn Spanish. Also attending class are young people with programs of study university degrees". 

Rosa Salgado is an expert in Arabic and Islamic studies. Her research at the University of Granada focuses on exploring different didactic methods for teaching Spanish to students of Arab origin, especially from Morocco.

His discussion paper was organized by the project MYOUROPE of the group 'Public discourse' of the ICS. This research seeks to understand in depth the discourses of people of Arab descent settled in Europe, in the context of the discourses of mass migrations to the European Union.