Overview

School Language Lab celebrates the International Day of Women and Girls in Science with a film on pioneer mathematician Andresa Casamayor.

The Instituto Cervantes Manchester presents a new edition of its School Language Lab, led by teacher Ana Valbuena, specially designed for students preparing for GCSE or A-Level exams. These sessions offer pupils the opportunity to learn and practise Spanish through cinema in an engaging and educational environment.

This activity is part of the celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, a global initiative that highlights the vital role of women in science and encourages young girls to pursue scientific careers, and the North West Festival of Languages.

The event includes an accessible introduction in Spanish, followed by the screening of the documentary Andresa Casamayor: la mujer que soñaba con números, directed by Mirella R. Abrisquete, with English subtitles. After the screening, students will work with a specially designed learning pack that explores the main themes of the film — the pioneering figure of Andresa Casamayor and the importance of scientific education — while allowing them to practise Spanish in a meaningful way aligned with curriculum content.

Film: Andresa Casamayor: la mujer que soñaba con números (Spain, 2020 | Spanish with English subtitles)

Synopsis: Docudrama about the story of Andresa Casamayor, a mathematician from Zaragoza born 300 years ago, author of the first scientific work known to have been written by a woman in Spain. The National Library holds the only surviving copy of Tyrocinio Aritmético, a simple mathematics manual designed to teach the most basic operations to everyone. Andresa had to publish her first book under a male pseudonym, and her later works have been lost. Her life reflects the difficulties faced by women who wished to dedicate themselves to science throughout history.

The feature film uses a fictionalised narrative to tell the story of this brilliant self-taught woman and other figures of her time, the Enlightenment. In parallel, a distinguished group of scientists and historians provide essential insights into her life and the historical context in which she lived.

Registration Process

1. Register on Eventbrite, indicating the total number of students and teachers who will attend.
2. Send an email to cultman@cervantes.es, including: Name of the school, and name and contact details of the person in charge.

Important: The venue has a maximum capacity of 50 people. The Instituto Cervantes will confirm the booking directly with each school.

Free activity as part of the celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2026, and the Language Fest North West.