Talking the talk - Spanish style
By: Keith KellettNormally, on a long-distance bus or coach ride, I go to sleep. But, on this one, heading for the Gredos mountains, in western Spain, I couldn't. 'Talk to the Spaniards' was the order of the day, and I was going to spend ten hours a day, for the next five days, doing just that.
The idea was to teach English to the Spaniards who accompanied us. Not the 'phrase book' English of asking the way, or booking a hotel-room, though. This is an intensive course for business people and the like to learn real English . from Americans, Geordies, Scotsmen and Australians, to name just a few of the dialects to be heard on a Vaughantown programme.
All the English speakers are volunteers. Vaughan Systems, the parent company will feed and accommodate you from the moment you step on the bus in Madrid to when it drops you off five days later. And, what accommodation! We had rooms in the Puerto de Gredos Hotel, near Barco de Avila, in the west of Spain.
A word of warning, though! The name of the organisation is Vaughantown; the website is www.vaughantown.com. There is another organisation in Madrid, with a similar name, offering a similar programme. I do not, however, wish to be partisan in this matter, and only mention it to prevent any confusion which may arise.
Usually, there are about eighteen English speakers, or 'Anglos', and a slightly smaller number of Spaniards. This is to allow for illness and no-shows, and to allow the Anglos a little free time.
Programmes, which start at breakfast at nine o' clock, consist of conference telephone calls, and one-to-one telephone calls. But, the favourite activity has to be the 'one-to-one', where an 'Anglo' and a Spaniard simply talk to each other for about 50 minutes. And, as they talk, they can walk . down to the River Tormes, about 20 minutes away was a favourite . or just sit in the sun, or in the shade; even around the fire, if it gets cold enough!
And, speaking Spanish is strictly forbidden! Only English is allowed. It's much harder on the Spaniards than the Anglos; although both parties look forward to lunch . and the siesta afterwards!
At 5 p.m. the programme re-starts, usually with a 'group activity', maybe a light-hearted game to break the ice. Then, it's back to the 'one to ones', with a skit, a play or a talk, given by Anglos or Spaniards. After dinner, it's officially 'free time', in which participants can socialise, 'party', if they feel like it . or go to bed!
On one day of the week, there's usually a demonstration of the old Celtic 'queimada' ceremony, which is fascinating to watch . although the resulting drink is a bit of an acquired taste.
Towards the end of the five days, the Spaniards must give a 'presentation', in English, to the Anglos. They've been slipping away to rehearse throughout the week, so the presentations are good . and show the confidence gained in only a few short days to speak a foreign language.
So, what kind of people volunteer as 'Anglos' at Vaughantown? So far, I've met Irish, Scots, Americans, Canadians, Australians . even a German lady. But, surprisingly, few English. Could it be suspicion of something sounding 'too good to be true'? Let me say here, I've found absolutely nothing to be suspicious about.
The biggest deficiency, however, is not in nationalities but in age groups. Nicole Escario, of Vaughan Systems, told me they get plenty of backpackers in their teens and early twenties; plenty of retired people in the 50+ age group.
"But, we get very few people in the 30-40+ age group" she said. That's a pity, because that's the age group of the majority of the Spanish students. So, why not have a look, and see what Vaughan Systems have to offer.
It's not a free holiday, but it's not unpaid work, either. It is, to use an overworked word, an 'experience'. And, it's an experience I enjoyed, and would like to repeat as soon as possible.
For more information, and to check programmes and dates, visit www.vaughantown.com
