Holiday in Spain for Free
Talk to Real Spaniards in the Heart of Spain at Vaughantown
If you love to talk, and meet real Spaniards, this six-day stay in a four-star resort outside Madrid could be just for you. All it costs is conversation!
How often do you come across a travel experience that is stimulating, enriching...and free? Amazingly, that’s what Vaughantown offers: a six-day expenses-paid stay at Puerta de Gredos, a four star resort two hours from Madrid in Spain, plus the opportunity to talk yourself silly with Spaniards from all walks of life. All you need is your mother tongue and a willingness to communicate. Oh, and a healthy appetite would be useful, as well.
Six Days of Non-stop English in Spain
The Vaughantown concept was established in 2000 by Richard Vaughan, director of Vaughan Systems, one of the most successful providers of English language tuition in Spain. Realising that there was a profound difference between classroom English and that spoken in everyday life all over the planet, he devised a program involving groups of Spaniards with at least a basic knowledge of English, and native English speakers of various nationalities.
His plan was to put them together in a remote location for six days, and let them eat, drink, chat and party together - all in English. It’s a radical concept that has obviously taken off: Vaughantowns are held almost every week of the year, with no apparent lack of clients. With English becoming more and more the linguistic currency of the world, businesses and career-minded Spaniards are all too aware that fluency improves their chances of success.
For English speakers (or Anglos, as they are designated in the program, much to the chagrin of some Irish participants) the rewards are less tangible, but no less valuable. With a program based around one-to-one hour long conversations - as many as six in a day - the possibilities for cultural learning are endless. Chatting with a naval architect, a telecommunications consultant and a fireman one after the other opens up insights that the casual tourist may never uncover.
Casual Conversation the Key
Meal times open the way for communication on another level, as well as the chance to exercise that healthy appetite. With two Spaniards and two Anglos to a table, conversation becomes more animated (although the wine could also have something to do with it). The English speakers spark off each other, speaking more quickly and using far more slang and colloquialisms than in a one-to-one. Bemused Spaniards do their best to keep up, and by the end of the week are often throwing around English idioms like the best of them.
Then, of course, there’s time for fun. Group activities and a bit of amateur theatre bring some respite from the incessant chat. Be warned, though: vocal chords already strained by 14 hours of talk do not respond well to karaoke. Many a Spaniard or Anglo has croaked their way through the next morning’s sessions.
By the end of the six days, it’s obvious that fluency in English is just one of the outcomes for participants. Friendships are formed, details exchanged, and the bus trip back to Madrid is a little sad for some who know their window on Spanish life is closing - for now. Many take the opportunity to reopen it with repeated visits, something encouraged by the Vaughantown staff who see the value in eager participants who know the ropes.
Details
Approved English-speaking participants in Vaughantown are required to make their own way to Madrid, and are responsible for any accommodation costs before and after the program. Apart from that, the experience is free, and includes transport to and from Madrid, private room, three meals a day and drinks with meals (bar beverages extra). To apply online or for more information, go to the Vaughantown website.
