Pueblo Ingles

I’m sitting on the bus returning from our Pueblo Ingles week. I didn’t keep up with my journal during the week so this weekly summary will have to suffice. 

I didn’t know what to expect as I had only read online reviews, but I would highly recommend this program to anybody. It’s a program for people that want to learn English. It’s open to groups and works as a result of English speaking people joining the program to act as teachers for the week. We started every fay with breakfast at 9, had a 2 hour break and then continued until 11. As a volunteer, I am only supposed to speak English - no problem! At meals, we are to alternate our seating pattern - volunteer, partner, volunteer, etc. We are also encouraged at meals to sit with different people so that we can talk with all of the students and it naturally turns out that other volunteers are included in the conversations. The program moves quickly, but is very engaging. We did 1 on 1 talks, group discussions with prepared questions, prepared skits, skits we developed, listened to volunteer presentations and student presentations, telephone calls and group computer meetings. One day we walked into town for a ‘special’ meal. We had appetizers in the square, then moved into the restaurant for a meal. Another night we participated in a Campanada, which is an old Spanish tradition of witches saying spells to ward off the bad spirits. Such a great, great experience. At the beginning of the week, it was easy to see that most of the students were nervous as they were being totally immersed into a second language.

The setting was absolutely beautiful. We were a 15 minute walk from a World Heritage site, the village of La Alberca. Sometimes we walked down there during our 1 on 1 conversations, sometimes on our break.  

BUT, the real success of this program is the relationships that quickly built up on just a week among the 21 individuals, led by a master of ceremonies and a program director. As the week went on, it was amazing to see their English improve, their confidence grow tremendously and our conversations in time became more personal. We shared stories of our families, lives, country, travels, and best of all was when the laughter broke out. When we were in groups doing skits, it seemed the sillier, the better! When a student referred to his toes as fingers, and soon realized he had made a mistake, it led to numerous jokes. Then at ‘graduation’, each student was asked what they learned this week.. A student replied that his vocabulary had decreased over the week,there was stunned silence and he started to giggle and the room erupted in laughter. So  many fun and happy moments that I could never begin to list them all. But, the care we developed will always remain with me. It was a week when the outside world was left behind and we existed in our own little bubble. I went to bed tired every night and thought that I would sleep on the 4 hour bus ride home. The bus is quiet, apparently we are all tired. As students began to leave, our emotions swelled as we said our goodbyes. Lots more goodbyes when we get to Madrid. This week I was privileged enough to see the best side of humanity, strangers from several cultures come together and become friends. It’s a week that I’ll always remember - and now the tears are starting to flow. 😊😢❤️❤️❤️🇪🇸🇺🇸🌎