I Speak, They Learn: Giving English

Lately I've been in the mood for an adventure to combat those winter blues. Winter gives me that crushing feeling of isolation, excessive cravings for hibernation and a tendency to be more reclusive than is mentally healthy. Instead of hopping a plane to visit a tropical island, where I'd likely do nothing but beach myself like a dead whale - I signed up to be part of a language exchange programme in Spain called Vaughan Town.

Vaughan Town brings English speaking volunteers to spend an intensive week talking with Spanish people. The Spanish participants come to be immersed in conversations with people from throughout the English-speaking world - our group included native English speakers from England, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and America. Beyond our countries of origin, the Spanish people soon discovered that the English language is as diverse and distinctive as its people - they faced dialects of Jordie, Irish, South African and my own native tongue of New York City. They got innundated with numerous expressions, slang terms, clichés and received enthusiastic prompting and support from the English speaking volunteers. The onslaught of conversation
was a barrage that began immediately upon arrival, and it was a sink or swim situation for our new Spanish friends. We helped to sharpen our new friend’s language skills, but perhaps more importantly to become confident, and to have a good time.

In exchange for sharing conversation, the English speaking volunteers are treated to luxurious, all expense paid, accommodations in the mountains outside of Madrid, in a small town called Barco de Avila, staying at the nearby 4-star Puerta de Gredos hotel. I had a duplex, including my own fireplace and Jacuzzi from Sunday, February 25^th – Friday, March 2^nd. Here are some photos of the resort and my private digs for a week:

During our stay, we dined on cuisine of Spain, sharing formal meals with very enjoyable people. This was a class-act holiday, coupled with plenty of late night entertainment surprises from participants and guided professionally by the two fantastic programme coordinators – Rob Grams and Carmen Villa.

Rob originally hails from Manchester, is an award winning entertainer with many successful Edinburgh Fringe Festival  performances to his credit, as well as formally being a radio host in Britain. He also composes and performs original music. Rob rocked as our Master of Ceremonies, leading our group of 16 English speakers and 18 Spaniards on an experience that included theatrical performances, comedy skits, a moving performance from a Mime artist who studied with a Marcel Marceau-trained teacher, Irish ballad music from the very entertaining and talented Fergal and a true let-your-hair down Karaoke night. And, oh so much more was on offer. Carmen handled the logistics of the programme, and with activity-packed days for all participants, this was no easy task. More than once, she helped me get to the right place on time and made sure that the schedule ran smoothly. Although the programme was staffed by just two Vaughan Town staff members, it was as if Rob and Carmen were successfully pulling off the jobs of a multitude - serving as instructors, entertainers, event coordinators, translators, friends and more. Above all, they were kind people and gracious hosts.  

Vaughan Town Includes Daily Group Activities

I generally think of exchange programmes as being valuable to others when you can help people build homes, create agricultural farming in their community and build bridges or other much-needed resources for survival. I can’t build a bridge, design crop rotation systems or install a sewage plant, but I can talk and talk and talk. Of course, in this programme, the people you speak with are the bridge builders, technology leaders, finance directors, doctors, lawyers and top business executives of Spain, so they don’t need help in solving their country’s infrastructure necessities – they just want to learn English!

Among the Spanish participants, I met students, employees of Vodafone, Pfzier, a key finance executive from Spain’s electric company Endesa, a salesperson for SAP, a television journalist, an important security technologist from the Bank of Spain, Barcelona’s top ear, nose, eye and throat doctor and many more talented professionals. I was honoured to have the opportunity to spend time with people I consider to be high-powered. Even more, I was shocked that I could offer them something of value. English, like it or not, is the world’s universal language and the key to success for many people. Here are some of my new Spanish friends:

 

Beyond language sharing, plenty of cultural exchange also naturally occurred from all participants. Mid-week, we chased away evil spirits with Quemada, a traditional Galician drink, from a northeastern region of Spain with Celtic ancestral roots and mystical lore. Much like a witch’s brew, Quemada is concocted in a clay cauldron over a fire, alit with fire, and chanted over in ceremonial tradition. The hot, sweet beverage is served in small clay cups, with the intention of chasing away everyday troubles and worries, to initiate a night of magic. Here’s the recipe:

Cups of Quemada kicked off our Karaoke night, which had nearly everyone taking to the mic and dancing:

Despite Karaoke and Quemada hangovers, all the Spanish participants were required to make a public speaking presentation. The exercise seemed to be the hardest task of the week for many, as both the fear of being in front of an audience, and handling the language, brewed stress. The Anglo’s helped with presentations, and I used my mobile phone’s video camera to help Patricia rehearse the structure and diction of her presentation about the importance of approaching alternative medicine with good information, view her immpressive handling of English here:

During presentations, I learned from Lorena, a masters of English student, about Falleras the incredible annual festival of fire and art that takes place in her home of Valencia annually, in March. As a regular Falleras participant – and competitor for the prestigious role of festival Queen, she told me about the elaborate costumes the girls wear. Pricey, the outfits cost about €10,000 each. It takes a year for the city to create hundreds of fire pyres that are displayed, and then burned, in what has been the city’s custom since medieval times. This year the America’s Cup is also sailing to the ports of Valencia. Here’s some photos of the Fallas sculptures:

Valencia's Falleras Festival:

A highlight of my week included developing a script and skit with John, an American volunteer, based on the television show Blind Date (known as the Dating Game in America). For our “Vaughan Town Blind Date” We involved six Spanish young people, two Anglos and even produced a short film demonstrating our happy couple from a previous week’s episode. In our mini-movie, we even staged a wedding – doing some DIY styling for Rachel, the beautiful bride, using tablecloths, napkins and the lobby’s flowers. Australian volunteer Pete (who was finishing his 5^th week on the programme) performed as the ultimate game show host and kept the mixed language crowd laughing. Here’s some photos of our multi-media production effort:

 

New friends from Spain aside, I also enjoyed meeting the English speaking voluteers, who were a diverse and fascinating group, including:

• Jo, who with her friend Kathy, is building an eco-friendly outpost British community in Bulgaria
• Juliet who might help me with a mortgage someday!
• John who served as our very own Vaughan Town Steven Speilberg
• Judith who is the mom of several adventurous and creative children, and volunteered with her daughter Jessica
  
• Dave who is the most enjoyable, laid back Londoner I have ever met
• Pete who kept me laughing non-stop, especially at his after parties!
• Anneke who braved Madrid with me to find Picasso's Guernica
• Karla who helped rescue me when I was horribly lost in Madrid upon arrival
  
• Katie who is originally from my home region of the "Tri-State" of New York,New Jersey and Conneticut
• Janet who showed her Rocky Horror Picture Show side and let me scream "Janet Dammit!" everytime I saw her
• Fergal who was the best ambassador I've met for Ireland, not to mention a talented Opera and Irish ballad singer!
• Adam who was endlessly amused by my funny fashion sense
• Azhar who willingly submitted to being cast in skit, after skit, after skit
• Brent who strummed the guitar like a pro, and debuted his talent and an original song for the first time
• Rachel who has the most warming and uplifting smile - I swear she is like the sun itself!

While this programme is indeed worth while and I am recommending it to friends, family and Vox readers, do consider that this is a busy week – days and nights are packed full, making for a structured time and fairly exhausting experience. You’ll get to rest during Siestas, if you use them. I think you will get as much out of this experience as you choose to put into it. Try all the foods, get up on stage and participate in a skit, and sing a Karaoke song, even if you think you can’t sing!

For me, and other participants, the week at Vaughan Town was about stepping out of my own isolated sphere, moving beyond my comfort zone and overcoming fears I have.

Last Night In Spain:

So, do you want to sign up? Register here or email Vaughan Town’s volunteer and teacher recruitment director Ian directly, at: ian@vaughantown.com

 
(By the way, I am shamelessly plugging Ian - who is why I discovered Vaughan Town and decided to volunteer. He is the drummer in Donderdag the rock band I rep in London, and is also Vaughn Town’s UK recruitment rep for volunteers and English teachers. Thanks Ian!)

 YouTube Promotional Video of Vaughan Town:

Natural Beauty of Avila, Spain: