Spanish Language & Culture
“If we spoke a different language we would perceive a somewhat different world.” ~ Ludwig Wittgenstein
We want to help you learn Spanish! 
We have classes for beginners through professionals, including programs in Spanish language, Spanish literature, Spanish culture, Spanish civilization, Spanish business, and traveling in Latino countries. CEUs are available for most programs.
Conversational Spanish classes in Madison
Instructors for Spanish classes
Distance learning in Spanish
Online Spanish classes
Spanish for reading knowledge
Join the mailing lists for Spanish programs
Conversational Spanish classes in Madison
Hablamos en Español (We speak Spanish): Offered in an informal setting, this class is open to all levels of fluency and focuses on speaking and practicing what you already know. Whether you've studied Spanish for years or have begun to learn it while visiting a Spanish-speaking country, you have abundant opportunities to practice in this class. An experienced Spanish instructor clarifies grammar 
questions and native speakers from various countries put language into cultural context. Instructor: Antonio Noguera.
Beginning 1: Learn to converse in Spanish in a variety of social and cultural situations. No previous Spanish necessary. Texts: Jarvis, Lebredo, and Mena-Ayllon, Basic Spanish Grammar, 6th ed. Instructors: Antonio Noguera or Araceli Alonso.
Beginning 2: Continue learning to converse in Spanish in a variety of social and cultural situations. Prerequisite: one course in beginning Spanish, equivalent background, or instructor's consent. Text same as for Spanish Beginning 1. Instructor: Antonio Noguera.
Intermediate: Continue learning to converse in Spanish in a variety of social and cultural situations. Review grammar and develop writing skills. Prerequisite: Spanish Beginning 2, equivalent background, or instructor's consent. Texts same as for Spanish Beginning 1. Instructor: Magdalena Coll-Palombi
Advanced: Those who need instruction and practice on a level higher than intermediate continue learning to converse in various social and cultural situations. Review grammar and writing skills, and read selections from Hispanic culture. Prerequisite: Spanish Intermediate, equivalent background, or instructor's consent. Text same as for Spanish Beginning 1. Instructor: Arsenio Cicero.
If you aren't sure which level is right for you, please contact the Spanish classes coordinator at spanish@dcs.wisc.edu.
Browse upcoming Spanish classes in the Continuing Education Catalog online.
Spanish for Reading Knowledge: Primarily for graduate students who need to demonstrate reading competency in a foreign language as a degree requirement, this class is also open to other interested people. It prepares you for the university's Spanish Reading Knowledge Exam. Text: Spanish for Reading Knowledge by Jeff Kirsch (course instructor), available at 21 N. Park St., Room 7470 or 7467 or purchase first day of class. $45 for enrollees. Please bring text to first class. Instructor: Jeff Kirsch. For more information, see the Spanish for Reading Knowledge page.
Browse upcoming Spanish classes in the Continuing Education Catalog online.
Textbooks for language classes are available for preview and purchase on campus in the University Book Store's lower level, in the outreach section. The University Book Store is located at 711 State St., Madison (at Lake St., on the Library Mall).
See campus map.
Your instructors
Araceli Alonso (PhD in anthropology) is a native of Madrid. She has extensive experience teaching Spanish at all levels, including medical Spanish at the UW Medical School.
Magdalena Coll-Palombi, born in Barcelona, speaks Catalan and Spanish. She teaches at Edgewood College, MATC, and UW–Madison, and loves to communicate with her students.
Arsenio Cicero (MA) is a native of Cuba, an experienced Spanish instructor, and a PhD candidate in Film and Latin American Literature in UW–Madison's Department of Spanish and Portuguese.
Jeff Kirsch (PhD, UW–Madison) has taught at Tulane University and UW–Madison. He has authored three published novels, many Independent Learning courses in Spanish and Portuguese, and the textbook Spanish for Reading Knowledge.
Antonio Noguera (PhD in Spanish, UW–Madison) is from Madrid, where he managed his own company for many years. He has taught language and culture courses at UW–Madison, Edgewood College, and Minnesota State University.
Distance learning in Spanish
If you can't attend our face-to-face classes, or if you want to work on culture, composition, or literature, take our Independent Learning courses.
- Earn transferable college credit or high school units.
- Work one-on-one with our experienced Spanish teacher Jennifer Morgan via e-mail or postal mail.
- Start your course at any time, all year round.
- Work at your own schedule for as long as one year to complete each course.
- Check current Independent Learning Spanish course offerings.
Online Spanish
Online Spanish offers a flexible learning opportunity. To learn more visit the online Spanish page.
How to register
Call 608-262-2451, 7:00 am-4:00 pm, M-F. Specific program numbers and links to the mail-in registration form or to register online can be found in the continuing education catalog.
Contact us
- Madison area registration questions: 608-262-2451.
- Independent Learning questions: toll-free 1-877-UW-LEARN or info@learn.uwsa.edu.
- UW-Madison Continuing Studies in Spanish coordinator Antonio Noguera: anoguera@dcs.wisc.edu or 608-262-5929.
- The UW-Madison Department of Spanish is a separate unit, not part of Continuing Studies.
Thank you for your interest in learning Spanish!
