The course has an online option for busy travellers

The cheeky offer - prompted by the England football captain's impending move to Real Madrid - has a serious side.

The OU has offered Spanish courses for years, but found from its market research that many people found the pre-requisite of an A-level in the subject too off-putting.

So it has moved the goalposts, and is offering a one-year beginner's course in Spanish language and culture.

Practicalities

Cecilia Garrido, sub dean of the OU's Faculty of Education and Language Studies, said: "Spain is a fabulous country with a great social and cultural life and I am sure that David and his family are going to love it, but learning the language will make the experience much more fulfilling both on and off the pitch."

The new course, Portales ("gateways") takes students through a range of practical situations such as travelling, shopping, working and eating out.

It involves about five hours a week study time.

There is also an online tutorial system so people can continue studying while on foreign trips - such as the Beckhams' current promotional tour in Japan.

"Apart from the benefits to them personally, the Beckhams could increase the appeal of language learning in the UK and give it a much-needed boost," Mrs Garrido said.

There was no immediate comment on the offer from David Beckham's agent.

Flexibility

The fees are a few minutes' earnings for the Beckhams but also within reach of mere mortals, at �335 for the year.

If people want to take their learning further they can continue to take further modules towards a BA degree.

A spokesman for the university accepted that most people's first thought for language learning might be to take a course through their local further education college, but said many were unable to commit the regular time slots this required.

The OU says studies have consistently shown that the UK lags behind the language skills of its European neighbours, and government research has found that 21% of British firms have lost business because of a lack of linguistic skills in their workforces.

Learning modern foreign languages in school has been in decline in recent years.

In England the government has responded by making it optional after the age of 14 - although it is encouraging more study in primary schools.