Notes from Spain podcast 55 - El pueblo ingles

[Ben]

Forum member Richardksa talks to Ben and Marina about his experiences with the Pueblo Ingles. Listen here (http://www.notesfromspain.com/702/), read Richard's article about his experiences here (http://www.notesfromspain.com/696/), and sign up to be an Anglo here (http://www.morethanenglish.com/anglos/index.asp)!

Richard is ready to answer all questions!

[Edith]

Wow Richard, you sound like a natural-born teacher! I really enjoyed the Yolanda story too.

[ValenciaSon]

Is it true that native spanish speakers are disqualified?

[greytop]

Interesting podcast. Sounds like a week of hard work but as Richard says you get to meet a lot of interesting people. Do any of them leave screaming half way through;D

[richardksa]

Vs, yes, native speakers are not allowed. The company want to place the victimas in as difficult, edge of the seat position as possible. After all, there will be no one to hold their hand when they take their English out into the big wide world. The students are told that none of the Anglos speak Spanish, although, for those of us that repeat they must realise we speak a little and, it is surprising that, after a week of only speaking English, how much more Spanish I have learned.

Gt, no student has left screaming yet, although the police chief did ask me on the second day, with a smile, to speak Spanish to him. So I did. I said "No". But I have seen several Anglos "escorted off the premises" for breaking the rules - speaking Spanish, too much drinking and so on. It is hard work for both Student and Anglo, but probably the most enjoyable work you can find. Where else would I find new audiences for my stories and where else would attractive women actually pay to speak to me!!:rolleyes:

[Ben]

Where else would I find new audiences for my stories and where else would attractive women actually pay to speak to me!!:rolleyes:That's why Richard has such a big smile on his face in his forum photo!

[Diana]

Where else would I find new audiences for my stories and where else would attractive women actually pay to speak to me!!:rolleyes:

Now I am beginning to understand. To me it does seem like really hard work (not vacation) having to talk all day - and then to folks who might not be fluent.

[ValenciaSon]

Have speakers ever been canned for being too brutal on the victims?

[richardksa]

VS, one Alglo tried to be a psychiatrist and "analyse" the victims. No one complained at the time, but he had a few girls in tears. He will not be back!! At the end of the week the Anglos get "pink-slipped" to make sure that those found to be not suitable do not get to come back.

Ben, I was wearing that smile as I was standing next to someone very beautiful and special at the time. She's mean when she makes me speak Spanish though!!

[eldeano]

Vs, yes, native speakers are not allowed. The company want to place the victimas in as difficult, edge of the seat position as possible. After all, there will be no one to hold their hand when they take their English out into the big wide world. The students are told that none of the Anglos speak Spanish, although, for those of us that repeat they must realise we speak a little and, it is surprising that, after a week of only speaking English, how much more Spanish I have learned.


Richard - it sounds really interesting and I'll have to look into it in more detail. I see that there is a kids version (from 14) and my lad (14 next year) is already planning his week in 2008.

Am I right in that you only have to cover flights and spends? Do you get any time off during the week to do a little shopping - or are the local shopkeepers made to speak English, too? :rolleyes: Anyway, thanks for a really interesting interview.

[richardksa]

The teen sessions are very popular. Many parents come at the same time as their offspring and spend a week at one of the other venues while their kids are having a (well chaparoned) ball at La Alberca. Beware, some kids have had to leave early due to homesickness, which ticks the organisers off . For some it's the first time away from home and if affects some differently from others.

Yes, You must pay your own way to Spain and cover any expenses before and after the week, like hotels etc. But from the time they get you on the bus to a week later when they drop you off they pay for everything except your booze. Some of the venues have a nearby town. Others do not. The local shopkeepers are nothing to do with the company and Spanish can be spoken to them. Ditto to the staff at the hotel, but they are all eagerly learning English for free. So you could end up doing free sessions during your siesta time. Not so hard if the barmaid is pretty, as one was at Valdelavilla.

[richardksa]

Now I am beginning to understand. To me it does seem like really hard work (not vacation) having to talk all day - and then to folks who might not be fluent.

The students come with all levels of English. Some have even taught me new English words! Others are, I will admit, hard work and the time spent with them can be very frustrating. We had one last year, called Carmen. Her vocabulary was limited and her accent impenitratable. She never became fluent, but at the end of the week had gained enough confidence to stand up and make a presentation to the whole group. The accent was still thick. She herself called it "CarmEnglish". And if you can make puns in a foreign language, surely you are on your way to fluency. Despite her low level, she won the award for the most improved English speaker. (On another occasion it went to an Anglo from Liverpool!!!!!)

[Jules]

Richard
Its taken me ages to get round to listening to your adventures.... Absolutely fascinating.

However I think I would die of frustration at having no opportunity for Spanish conversation... but then I see you must have got some chance because you say your Spanish improved. Can you please elaborate? e.g. Is the bus ride at the end of the week back to base off limits for Spanish practice?

However it sounds as if the hard work pays off not just in the immediate creature comforts but in the many friends you have clearly made in the process ... and with whom you can now speak to in Spanish.

[Alan]

This sounds great, but I don't know if I would want to go because I want to speak Spanish. How much opportunity is there to do that? Are you "on" 24 hours a day or can you slip out to a bar and speak Spanish to a barman for a bit?

[richardksa]

Guys,

It is a week of speaking English. As I said in my article, to even think in Spanish is a hanging offence. You are given the free week in exchange for working with the Spanish to improve their English. There is no chance for speaking Spanish. If that's what you want to do, then Pueblo Inglés is not for you. Except for the ride back, may be. When my Spanish really improves I dream of getting on the bus at the end of the week of English and seeing the reaction of the Spanish when I speak fluently in their language. It probably will remain a dream, but I'm working on it.

However, you will meet lots of new and interesting Spanish folks who, after a week on speaking English will be only to pleased to give your Spanish a run for its money, but only once you have left the village.

Jules, it's interesting about the amount of Spanish you pick up. No one uses the language during the week, except maybe (and this is against the rules but helps) when, in order to keep the conversation flowing, a quick check in the dictionary for the Spanish word is necessary, or perhaps the Spaniard says it out loud to try to pull the English word from his memory, and somehow the word sticks. That does not mean the conversations cannot be about the differences (and similarities) between the two languages, and then the cognates surface, which can be educating!!

[Alan]

Many thanks Richard for a very interesting podcast.

[landlady]

Just finished listening to this podcast. Thank you Richard, (Ben & Marina too off course) very interesting and informative.

[Jules]

or perhaps the Spaniard says it out loud to try to pull the English word from his memory, and somehow the word sticks. That does not mean the conversations cannot be about the differences (and similarities) between the two languages, and then the cognates surface, which can be educating!!

Thats very interesting because in Spanish class/practice people are forever seeking prompts aloud & I usually find I remember a higher proportion of these compared to when I look up unknown words I have just read in a book.

I dream of getting on the bus at the end of the week of English and seeing the reaction of the Spanish

Every bus trip brings you closer to realising that dream!
You must already get some interesting reactions from the victims e.g. :o

[djS]

listten to the ipod cast 55 and love the chat love to head off there and work for few weeks
jurdy

[Maria S.]

It was very interesting and entertaining to listen to what you do during that week of teaching English in Spain.
I pretty much do the same thing working for a Swiss-based language trip agency. I get students to come for "German in Germany" on an immersion programme.
He/She comes to stay for a certain number of weeks with regular lessons (15/20/25 hours a week) and the rest is done in conversation and joining our daily life.
I have had some very nice students here. Occasionally I get two siblings, but more often it is a single student.
We have established some wonderful contacts with people allover the world. My last student was a Chinese girl staying in a boarding school in Switzerland and she came for three school holidays in a row. She ended up inviting us to visit her in China during her summer holidays and my son and I took her up on this offer.
Most of my students though are from the French-speaking part of Switzerland. Yes, it helped improve my French, too.
This job can be a lot of fun, I can vouch for it.

Maria S.

[Jimmy]

I have a friend travelling to spain during May and she's been accepted into something similar called Vaughan Town (http://www.vaughantown.com/). (or is this the same place?)

Looks like a whole bunch of these joints will start up - I guess it's a good business opportunity in any country !!!!!

[richardksa]

Richard Vaughan started the whole Pueblo Inglés concept five years ago. A year ago he and the guy who now owns PI had a falling out. So PI carried on and Richard, the brains behind the whole shebang, started Vaughan Town. It's a long story.

Richard is a nice guy. You will get to meet him. He's a Texan, came to Spain thirty years ago to teach English for a short time and has stayed on.

So basically, Vaughan Town and PI are exactly the same thing, although Vaughan also runs highly intensive grammar weeks with smaller groups and only teachers with the students. A friend of mine returned from one of those weeks totally exhaused, but her English was much improved.

Have a good time.

[richardksa]

For a taste of Vaughan Town, look up Vaughan Radio on the internet. It is a broadcast to teach English to the Spanish, but it can be used in reverse to pick up good Spanish phrases.

[Jimmy]

Thanks Richard - I'll let her know !!

I think she'll really give the spanish a challenge - even we have to slow down her english !! Spain, get ready for some hi-speed australian !!! Heading your way soon !!!!!

[richardksa]

I have just received an excited e-mail from a spaniard. She writes that she had just read my article in NFS and wrote, "...I was one of those five executives who spoke until three thirty." She was, and I remember her well. So happy she remembered me. She's taking me out for dinner next time I'm in Spain! Yet another advantage of Pueblo Inglés. Free food! ;D