The Language Advisory Service of the Consell de Formentera has teed up ten sets of courses from the A2 to C2 level to help students prepare for the next official round of Catalan language exams expected in January 2021.

Lessons begin 5 and 6 October and registration runs from tomorrow 15 September to the 25th. Enrolment can be completed online on the OVAC (Virtual Citizen Information Office, https://ovac.conselldeformentera.cat) or in person at Carrer Ramon Llull, 6, in Sant Francesc. In-person appointments must be scheduled online or by calling 971 32 10 87 between 3.30pm and 8.30pm.

Free courses, limited space and preventive actions
The ten cohorts include four beginners’ groups (A2), two B1, two B2 and two C1-C2 level groups (C1 and C2 groups are mixed). Public health constraints mean that this year space will be limited and students may not participate in more than one course at a time. Individuals who have completed enrolment will receive a confirmation e-mail before the start of lessons, expected to take place the first week of October. Classes are free.

Raquel Guasch, who heads the department responsible for normalising Catalan use, described pandemic-driven protocol as “crucial” to continuing to organise courses in promotion of the local language. In 2019 a total of 210 islanders signed up to take the free language courses from the Consell de Formentera.

15 September 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera

The sports office reports that the Nautical Sports Centre of Formentera (CENF) began operations this September. Alejandra Ferrer, Paula Ferrer and Alex Figueiras —the island’s chief officer, the consellera of sport and the municipal sailing school coordinator, respectively— took local media representatives on a tour of the new facilities.

With an office and a reception area that is complete with a space for a tourist information point, the CENF also contains a secondary office space, training room, storage unit, changing rooms and conference room available for use by La Savina community groups. The CENF doubles as the sailing school’s headquarters and the backdrop for activities and courses.

President Ferrer called the CENF’s opening a “milestone in the enhancement of a local landmark”, and and one that, together with the regulated moorage scheme at Estany des Peix, “will put us in a position to not only protect the sea, but bring it within reach for a new generation of islanders”. Ferrer described the CENF as a boost to the island’s offering in year-round active nautical tourism—“a boon to the effort to ween Formentera off summer-centred tourism”, she said.

Lively space for local clubs and community groups
“The CENF is a means to actively encourage islanders to take part in nautical sport”, asserted Formentera’s head of sport. She said local sailing enthusiasts had been a decisive factor in construction, and insisted the facilities would “help cement nautical sports and give them the prominence they deserve”. “We envision the CENF as a dynamic space where clubs, groups and businesses centred on motorless nautical activities can find a place to promote their work”, she quipped.

Mr Figueiras said sailing courses for children would continue through autumn and winter and told islanders to expect more classes for adults, plus expanded hours and activities. He added that, weather permitting, the coming months would see a continuation of this summer’s activities with students from the Centre de Dia.

Occupying one thousand square metres and two separate structures, the CENF was designed for minimal environmental impact by hometown architect Marià Castelló. The centre was built according to green building standards and wood figures prominently, with inspiration coming from the dry docks of the island’s past.

In 2019 and at the initiative of the Consell de Formentera, the €1-million building was paid for in full with funds from the Sustainable Tourism Levy.

9 September 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera