The Teaching of the Spanish Language in Northern Morocco: Between Strength and Decline

Abstract

Teaching the Spanish language in Northern Morocco: between strength and decline: The current situation of the teaching of the Spanish language in the North of Morocco is experiencing a notable setback due to the lack of interest of Moroccan youth in studying the language of Cervantes compared to other languages such as English. This work aims to know the current state of Spanish language teaching in northern Morocco and its future prospects, placing emphasis on its strengths. On the one hand, its vitality stands out from different elements: the historical Spanish presence in Morocco, the economic, political and cultural relations between both countries, immigration and its influence on the dissemination of Spanish, the media and the influx from the Moroccan audience in the north to the Spanish channels. On the other hand, we reflect on the different causes that have caused a quantitative decline in the demand to study Spanish.

This study is based on the survey technique as a research method, with the aim of finding out the current state of Spanish language teaching in northern Morocco. As a notable result, the Spanish language, especially in the northern fringe, there has been a decrease in the interest of Moroccan youth in the study of the Spanish language in recent years. The great global economic crisis of 2008 and subsequent years; the serious financial problems of developing countries and of Europe itself in particular, much more burdensome for southern countries like Spain; the stoppage of investments, cancellation of agreements, suspension of in-person classes, etc. caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic: these are some of the main causes that have motivated such a decline in the demand for Spanish studies.