The Department of Romance Languages was set up in 2007 by the transformation of the Department of French.
The Department of Romance Languages highly values its cooperation with foreign universities, which it tries to develop further. Currently, it offers the opportunity to study at ten Spanish universities through the Erasmus+ programme. In the framework of this programme, and thanks to the Mobility Fund, colleagues from foreign universities are invited to the department. Recently lectures have been given by Silvia Botti from the University of Bologna, a specialist in Spanglish, and Rafael Roca from the University of Valencia, a specialist in Catalan literature.
Every year the academic year is diversified by activities beyond the regular curriculum. Among the department's traditions are an event called Spanish Cultural Week, which takes place every spring. Over the past few years, students and members of the public have had the opportunity to dance flamenco, listen to lectures on Peru, Ecuador or the Basque Country, or enter quizzes to test their knowledge of Spanish-speaking countries. One of the popular activities during the cultural week also include a tapas competition and a micro-story writing competition. Another of the department’s traditional activities is the Café español conversation group, thanks to which students can chat with lecturers or Spanish students over a cup of coffee.
In 2008, the department initiated the tradition of meeting Hispanists from (not only) Czech universities. Guests of honour included the Spanish writer Teresa Garbí and Ignacio Bosque, a leading Spanish linguist and member of the Spanish Royal Academy.
