While planning a trip to Europe this past fall to visit her son in Vienna, Mary Rhoads discovered a program called "Vaughan Town," a business in Madrid, Spain, offering Spanish-speaking professionals the opportunity to attend a week-long immersion program where only English is spoken. She learned Vaughan Town would pay for her room and board for the weeks she volunteered to talk to the Spaniards. It's a program she encourages Canyon Lakers to look into and one she describes in this special series that began in the December 23 issue. This is the third in the series.
A day in the life of a Spaniard
By Mary Rhoads
Columnist, The Friday Flyer
Hola amigas! No habla espanol – all week! If you speak only Spanish and know some English, perhaps grammar and vocabulary, immersing into an English-only program for a week will send chills down your spine. Vaughan Town is a program for Spaniards to learn advanced conversation in one week. With the help of volunteer Anglos from England, Australia, America and New Zealand, among others, time stands still as both interact in conversations from breakfast through dinner.
For our group, a few diversions occurred during the day, including group sessions where small groups of four to six Anglos and Spaniards could play a game to guess if you were telling a lie or the truth, along with improvising a commercial, participating in telephone conference calls and phone conversations, or rehearsing for a skit.
There was little time for television, and no cell phone conversations or internet. Conversation in English was relentless for the Spaniards. By the end of the day, they were mentally tired. They were physically tired as well, because most wanted to walk and talk around the beautiful grounds of the old pueblo village and beyond into the hills.
The result in every case was confidence in speaking English. My new friend, Olga, on the first day told everyone at introductions that she wanted to go home. Soon after, I had an hour-long “talk” session with her and, although she has an executive position with her company, she felt displaced and wondered if she could make it through the week.
I thought she did quite well as she told me about her twin sons and what kinds of jamon (cured ham) are the best to eat. I could tell she was struggling and spoke slowly. Greg, our master of ceremonies and casting director, asked her twice to be in a skit the next day but she refused. No one wants to make a fool of themselves, and especially not the Spaniards.
Two days later, Olga played a journalist interviewing a superstar. She found her confidence after her acting stint was over. It was this role, performing in a skit where the lines were totally improvised, that she found her (English) voice.
Francesco, an inspector for Spain's Nuclear Safety Consulate from Tarragonia, Spain, went on a walk with me outside of the pueblo. This was our “talk time” and he nervously told me about his family's summer trip to Florence, Italy. I talked away about my upcoming trip through Europe and he contributed much information about Florence, where I would soon be traveling. It is difficult to correct some of the Spaniards' simple mistakes, but they seemed to appreciate it when explained.
My next “one-on-one” was with Santi. All of the men I noticed were very polite, Santi included. He seemed to speak English very well. We hiked uphill as we chatted about his travel in Asia, Bhutan, Tibet and the Himalayans. He spends his days as an engineer for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. I wondered why he needed the immersion, but he felt there was room for improvement.
As the week went on, we all became more comfortable with one another. The Anglos teased the Spaniards after looking at the “talking schedule” and said things like, "Hmm, it looks like you are my next victim!"
Personalities began to stand out and our resident “class clown” became Juan Jo. He had a fun-loving attitude and was generous with his Anglo friends. His custom was to have a beer before lunch and dinner and, if you had a session with him at these times, he would gladly invite you to have one with him, generously paying the Anglos's tab.
The days filled with "one-on-ones," three delicious meals a day, no television and fun skits and activities slipped away all too quickly. I enjoyed getting to know the Spaniards and my fellow Anglos. All are very special individuals whose lives touched mine through the shared experiences of Vaughan Town.
If you like to talk and want to immerse yourself in the Spanish culture, I highly recommend participating in a program like Vaughan Town. Valdelavilla was a great experience and, while the Spaniards improved their English, they gave me their friendship and “insider information” not available in any guide book. Are you up for the adventure?
Find out more about Vaughan programs at www.grupovaughan.com.