Spanish City Celebrates Linguistic Diversity on European Day of Languages

A cosmopolitan city, Leganés is appealing for the linguistic diversity that makes it so special. Although Spanish is also the most spoken language in the countries of origin of the immigrants living in the city, Moroccan (darija), Romanian, French, German, Portuguese, Bulgarian and Chinese are also spoken in Leganés.

The languages can be heard in all neighborhoods, although they are more likely to be spoken in the northern district with an immigration rate of 24.34%, followed by La Fortuna with 21%. Polvoranca has barely 6.20% immigration, while there are nearly 9.64% in El Carrascal.

According to the municipal census, in Leganés, 15.21% of the population is foreign. A percentage in line with the average of the Community of Madrid which stands at 14% and above the national average of 10.7%, according to the INE.

Most of the migrants living in Leganés come from Colombia (3,908), Morocco (3,499), Romania (3,481) and Ecuador (2,615). Then come Peru (2,262) and Venezuela (1,490).

In its vocation to support all those who newly arrive in Spain, so that they can quickly access the language, the city has launched a project in recent years.

Animated by a group of volunteers including women over 25, this project has helped several people to grasp the Spanish language and integrate easily into the community.

The success of this project and the impact produced have also earned the city of Leganés the "Approaches to Cultures" Prize, awarded on June 8, 2012, by the UNESCO Madrid Sur Center, based in Getafe.

This is a prize that encourages and supports in particular the intercultural program of the Department of Education and Culture of the city of Leganés, for the work carried out to promote the integration of Moroccan women in the municipality, the same source points out.