• Pompeu Fabra logo

Getting to Know Catalonia: An Introduction to the Catalan Language, Culture and Society

Get an introduction to Catalan society, by learning about its history, language and culture.

5,678 enrolled on this course

​"Castells i castellers. Patrimoni Immaterial de la Humanitat" d'Editores Lunwerg, extret de Palau Robert Generalitat de Catalunya, Flickr. Llicència CC By-nd 2.0.
  • Duration

    3 weeks
  • Weekly study

    3 hours

Understand all things Catalan

You might have heard about Catalonia on the news, or visited Barcelona sometime. But how much do you really know about Catalan society?

This course will introduce you to the history, language and culture of Catalonia, from its origins to the present day.

You’ll become familiar with the social customs of Catalan society, including local folklore and other cultural traditions.

You’ll understand the main features of the Catalan language, as well as its evolution throughout time.

You’ll learn about the characteristics of Catalan art, and its influence across the world.

Download video: standard or HD

Skip to 0 minutes and 44 seconds They are from Catalonia You’ve heard something about it but what do you really know about Catalonia?

Skip to 0 minutes and 52 seconds Catalonia is a historical European nation

Skip to 0 minutes and 59 seconds a land that has seen the rise and downfall of a few civilitzacions that has existed since the middle ages with a distinctive culture and language

Skip to 1 minute and 21 seconds Through a series of interviews with experts in economics culture, media and society we will learn the basics in order to understand how Catalonia has evolved throughout its history What kind of economy it has and also what relationship it has with Spain and with the rest of Europe

Skip to 1 minute and 44 seconds Join this course!! You’ll have a much clearer idea about what Catalonia is and in what ways it has a key role in the future of Europe

What topics will you cover?

  • Economy, society and the welfare state in Catalonia
  • Catalonia as a millennial nation
  • Catalan media
  • The Catalan language
  • Catalonia’s main artistic and cultural expressions

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Identify the main economic sectors and knowledge points of Catalonia
  • Describe the main historical events in Catalonia, from the origins to the current political situation
  • Analyze the impact of the Catalan language within the communicative space of Catalonia, and abroad
  • Distinguish the characteristic features of the Catalan language, as well as its history and evolution
  • Explore the main artistic and cultural expressions of Catalonia

Who is the course for?

This course is aimed at anyone interested in the Catalan language, culture and society, but may be of particular interest to students looking to study in Catalonia.

Who will you learn with?

Professor of Linguistics and Terminology.

President of the Philological Section of the Institute of Catalan Studies.

Director of the Pompeu Fabra Chair of the UPF

Who developed the course?

Pompeu Fabra University Barcelona

Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) is a public, international and research-intensive university in Barcelona. In just 25 years, it has earned a place for itself among the best universities in Europe.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

Do you know someone who'd love this course? Tell them about it...

You can use the hashtag #FLcatalanculture to talk about this course on social media.