The Department of Spanish and Portuguese offers many opportunities for students to engage with the Spanish language and cultures of Spanish-speaking countries and communities.

Among these opportunities include guest lectures and workshops with world renown writers (through the Ida Cordelia Beam Distinguished Visiting Professorship Program) and a regularly held conversation hour, Cafecito Cervantes, in which students are able to practice their Spanish speaking skills with peers.

The department also holds film screenings, holiday events and activities (i.e. our Dia de los Muertos altar) in our Center for Language and Culture Learning. We are also home to our very own undergraduate student organization, the Spanish Club, which plans events throughout the year for students of the department.

Events

Stanley Award for International Research - Information Session  promotional image

Stanley Award for International Research - Information Session

Tuesday, October 20, 2026 2:30pm to 3:30pm
Virtual
The Stanley Award for International Research gives UI students up to $2,500 to design and carry out international research or fieldwork projects.
Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) - Study Abroad Scholarship - Information Session promotional image

Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) - Study Abroad Scholarship - Information Session

Wednesday, October 21, 2026 11:30am to 12:30pm
Virtual
The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) is a fully funded program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State that gives undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to participate in intensive language learning and cultural immersion abroad.
Spanish Literature Club promotional image

Spanish Literature Club

Wednesday, October 21, 2026 5:00pm to 6:00pm
Phillips Hall
Spanish Literature Club
Cafecito Cervantes promotional image

Cafecito Cervantes

Thursday, October 22, 2026 4:00pm to 4:45pm
Virtual
Cafecito Cervantes Fall 2026
Bate Papo - Portuguese Conversation Hour promotional image

Bate Papo - Portuguese Conversation Hour

Thursday, October 22, 2026 4:30pm to 5:30pm
Phillips Hall
Bate Papo is a Portuguese conversation hour that takes place on Thursdays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Center for Language and Culture Learning in Phillips Hall
Club Bilingüe promotional image

Club Bilingüe

Thursday, October 22, 2026 4:30pm to 6:00pm
Phillips Hall
Club Bilingüe
Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) - Study Abroad Scholarship - Writing Workshop promotional image

Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) - Study Abroad Scholarship - Writing Workshop

Tuesday, October 27, 2026 4:00pm to 5:30pm
Virtual
The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) is a fully funded program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State that gives undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to participate in intensive language learning and cultural immersion abroad.
Cafecito Cervantes promotional image

Cafecito Cervantes

Thursday, October 29, 2026 4:00pm to 4:45pm
Virtual
Cafecito Cervantes Fall 2026
Bate Papo - Portuguese Conversation Hour promotional image

Bate Papo - Portuguese Conversation Hour

Thursday, October 29, 2026 4:30pm to 5:30pm
Phillips Hall
Bate Papo is a Portuguese conversation hour that takes place on Thursdays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Center for Language and Culture Learning in Phillips Hall
Cafecito Cervantes promotional image

Cafecito Cervantes

Thursday, November 5, 2026 4:00pm to 4:45pm
Virtual
Cafecito Cervantes Fall 2026
Bate Papo - Portuguese Conversation Hour promotional image

Bate Papo - Portuguese Conversation Hour

Thursday, November 5, 2026 4:30pm to 5:30pm
Phillips Hall
Bate Papo is a Portuguese conversation hour that takes place on Thursdays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Center for Language and Culture Learning in Phillips Hall
Club Bilingüe promotional image

Club Bilingüe

Thursday, November 5, 2026 4:30pm to 6:00pm
Phillips Hall
Club Bilingüe
Cafecito Cervantes promotional image

Cafecito Cervantes

Thursday, November 12, 2026 4:00pm to 4:45pm
Virtual
Cafecito Cervantes Fall 2026
Bate Papo - Portuguese Conversation Hour promotional image

Bate Papo - Portuguese Conversation Hour

Thursday, November 12, 2026 4:30pm to 5:30pm
Phillips Hall
Bate Papo is a Portuguese conversation hour that takes place on Thursdays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Center for Language and Culture Learning in Phillips Hall
Night at the Museum: Fall Frames promotional image

Night at the Museum: Fall Frames

Thursday, November 12, 2026 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Stanley Museum of Art

Join us for another installment of Night at the Museum, a series of monthly events for students that occur on Thursday nights, when the museum is open late.

In honor of the end of Dia de los Muertos, this Night at the Museum will be centered around remembrance and appreciation of loved ones through photos and decoration of picture frames in a collaboration with Club Bilingüe, centered around giving community for Latino students on campus. Using foil embossing, collaging, and paint marker drawing...

Spanish Literature Club promotional image

Spanish Literature Club

Wednesday, November 18, 2026 5:00pm to 6:00pm
Phillips Hall
Spanish Literature Club
Bate Papo - Portuguese Conversation Hour promotional image

Bate Papo - Portuguese Conversation Hour

Thursday, November 19, 2026 4:30pm to 5:30pm
Phillips Hall
Bate Papo is a Portuguese conversation hour that takes place on Thursdays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Center for Language and Culture Learning in Phillips Hall
Club Bilingüe promotional image

Club Bilingüe

Thursday, November 19, 2026 4:30pm to 6:00pm
Phillips Hall
Club Bilingüe
Bate Papo - Portuguese Conversation Hour promotional image

Bate Papo - Portuguese Conversation Hour

Thursday, November 26, 2026 4:30pm to 5:30pm
Phillips Hall
Bate Papo is a Portuguese conversation hour that takes place on Thursdays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Center for Language and Culture Learning in Phillips Hall
Stanley Award for International Research - Information Session  promotional image

Stanley Award for International Research - Information Session

Tuesday, December 1, 2026 1:30pm to 2:30pm
Virtual
The Stanley Award for International Research gives UI students up to $2,500 to design and carry out international research or fieldwork projects.
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