Chema Ramos, CEO and executive director of Editorial Edinumen, talked to ARS about their partnership with Cambridge University Press for publishing Spanish-language materials in the United States. Edinumen is a global publishing houses specialized Spanish-teaching materials, and Cambridge is a well-respected publisher, with experience in second language teaching.

What is the partnership between Edinumen and Cambridge University Press for publishing Spanish-language materials in the United States?

Our partnership is a strategic agreement for the development and delivery of a strong line of publishing for the teaching and learning of Spanish in the U.S. As people may already know, Edinumen is one of the most specialized and innovative global publishing houses for the teaching of Spanish all over the world, and Cambridge has always been one of the most well-respected publishers in the world, with a tremendous amount of experience in second language teaching. This agreement allows our companies to come together in service of our shared view that it’s extremely important for American students to acquire the skills for fluent communication in Spanish. We understand that this is the time to unite our efforts at the highest level in order to offer something innovative and new, which will add that extra freshness and effectiveness in learning that teachers and administrators are calling for.

What resources have been dedicated to developing Edinumen’s methods and technology in preparation for this agreement?

Right from the very beginning of the partnership, this has been one of the most ambitious editorial projects that we’ve ever undertaken. A multi-disciplinary team of over 80 people has been involved in developing this project – authors, experts in Spanish teaching methodology, editors, graphic designers, computer programmers and marketing and market experts. We’ve assembled a cutting-edge catalog of materials that have been specifically developed or selected for the American market, across all levels (K-12 and College). We’ve also developed a corresponding suite of new technologies and resources for language learning, from new video series for each course and sophisticated learning platforms, to the most innovative and cutting-edge resources available for digital learning.

What advantages does the Cambridge/Edinumen high school course Mundo Real have over other courses in the secondary market?

Several elements make Mundo Real unique and, from our point of view, really set it apart as a course with a totally different and refreshing methodology, one that’s firmly grounded in the techniques that we think make learning really effective for students. The course’s methodology, which is based on experiential communicative learning, is truly embedded in every aspect of the course – in every text, every activity, and in the structure of each unit and level. Our conviction is that the aim of a Spanish class is to grant young students the ability to communicate in Spanish in a long-lasting, practical way. Both the print textbooks and the sophisticated digital program that complements the book emphasize understanding and communication, together with vocabulary and grammar, in an outstandingly motivating way that is proven to work more effectively than other, less communicative methodologies.

Does your partnership with Cambridge extend to countries other than the United States?

This agreement covers the whole of the United States, as well as Canada, and all of the courses and projects developed under this agreement are available in both countries. Edinumen and Cambridge have worked together in other areas and on other kinds of projects in the past, but there is no doubt that this agreement involves a much higher level of intensity and joint investment.

What should those interested in finding out more about Edinumen and the Mundo Real course do to communicate with you?

For any information relating to Mundo Real or any of our other courses or projects, you can get in touch with us directly at Edinumen at edinumen@edinumen.es, or via Cambridge by contacting North American Sales Director Ken Clinton at kclinton@cambridge.org.

Additionally, teachers interested in finding out more about our experiential methodology are invited to register for our free teacher training program (cambridge.org/cambridgespanish/blog/register-now-free-professional-development-program) where they can interact online, completely without charge, with a community of over 5000 teachers, and share experiences with a number of leading experts in this field.