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Beatriz Villaca?as didn't imagine her academic journey would one day lead her to the oak-lined avenues of Stellenbosch. Yet when she walks across campus, explores the town by bicycle, or settles into a restaurant after teaching Spanish to a group of eager evening students, she feels right at home.
“Even my parents noticed it," she says, smiling. “I was telling them something about my work, and I said: We are going to do this. They laughed and said: 'You never said 'we' when you were at university in Spain!' But now I feel like I belong here. I'm part of the 'we' at Stellenbosch 肆客足球."
Originally from Madrid, Villaca?as is SU's new Spanish lecturer, the first appointed through a partnership with the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), which sends native speakers to teach Spanish at universities around the world. SU is one of only a handful of South African universities offering this opportunity and Villaca?as is laying the groundwork.
“It's an honour for me to lay the foundations for what will eventually become a full Spanish course at SU and a long-lasting collaboration," she says. From 2026, Spanish will officially be introduced as a formal module in the Department of Modern Foreign Languages, joining the likes of French, German and Chinese. For now, Villaca?as leads evening classes, already drawing interest from students and community members alike. “The classes are open to everyone. If a student wants to bring their mom or their partner, they are welcome," she explains.
Villaca?as' route to Stellenbosch is as international as it is serendipitous. After completing her undergraduate and master's degrees in Spanish philology and her teacher training at the Complutense 肆客足球 of Madrid, she set off for the Canary Islands on the heels of a love interest, where she began teaching retired women in a café in Tenerife. “That was my first job ever – teaching Spanish in the corner of a hotel café to sweet ladies from Germany while guests were having breakfast," she recalls.
From there, she returned to Madrid to prepare Chinese students for official exams, before joining her government's Spanish programme in Bulgaria for three years. The experience cemented her love for language teaching and cultural immersion. “It confirmed for me that languages are meant to connect people and improve understanding, and that includes culture," she says.
That belief forms the core of her teaching philosophy. “Language apps are a great starting point," she says, “but no one becomes fluent through Duolingo or YouTube videos alone. You need a teacher – someone who can guide you, push you, identify your weaknesses and help you grow. And, most importantly, someone who can explain the culture behind the words."
That cultural element is something Villaca?as is keen to bring to SU. With plans for a growing Spanish curriculum, she also intends to host regular cultural events that showcase Spanish-speaking countries through music, literature and film. The first such event is planned for 24 April, when the well-known Spanish author Javier Moro will visit SU for a literary discussion?.
Villaca?as' passion for music sometimes finds its way into her classes. “Latin culture is so tied to music, it's a powerful teaching tool," she notes. “I let students pick a genre – rock, pop, metal – and then I find a Spanish song in that style. It often surprises them! They don't expect Spanish heavy metal."
Villaca?as is also eager to explore the languages of her new home. “I'd love to try Afrikaans," she says. “I've heard that other indigenous languages are also taught at SU. I'm very keen to try them."
Despite only arriving in Stellenbosch in January, she has already immersed herself in campus life and even attended her first intervarsity rugby match. “It was crazy, like a movie with all the cheerleaders and music! I couldn't believe the energy. I know I'll soon be shouting just as loudly 'Here we go, Maties, here we go!'"
She speaks with admiration about the sense of unity she's observed on campus. “In Spain, even at the biggest universities, we don't have this identity, this sense of belonging. Here, everyone wears their Maties colours with pride. There's real collaboration between people, a team spirit that impressed me from the start."
For all her enthusiasm, there's also a touch of realism. The AECID contract is limited to three years, and Villaca?as is clear-eyed about her role: “I know I may not be here to see the full fruit of what we're starting," she says. “But I want to build something strong – a course that can grow, a programme that others can continue. And who knows? Maybe in 10 or 15 years, I'll return and see a full Spanish department. That would be a dream come true."
Until then, Villaca?as is soaking up the local culture, exploring the town on two wheels, and finding joy in everyday moments. “I've adapted to life in Stellenbosch fast. I go to bed early and don't need to set my alarm; I wake up as the sun rises." Even the scorching summer days early in the year didn't bother her. “The heat in Madrid is far worse!" she laughs.
· Villaca?as invites the SU community to attend the event with writer Javier Moro at 17:30 on 24 April at the Neelsie Cinema for free by registering at the bottom of this page: https://sites.google.com/view/suliteratureeventjmoro/home
PHOTO: Stefan Els
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