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English Towns in Spain

When I first heard of the Pueblo Ingls language schools, I was rather sceptical. The deal was you paid only for your fare to Madrid, and your first and last night's accommodation. They paid for luxurious accommodation and splendid food in between the two Fridays.

And, all you had to do in return was to spend most of your time talking, in English, to a group of Spanish learners.

I'd been caught that way before. Some years ago, I'd been offered a free holiday in Spain' which turned out, on closer investigation, to be a hard sell on timeshare apartments. So, I investigated thoroughly before committing myself to anything

But, the more I delved, the more convinced I was that they were on the up. People who had been before couldn't speak highly enough of them, and were more than happy to go again. And, they positively encouraged writers to take part in their programmes; indeed, they give them priority which I don't think they'd do if they had anything to hide.

It's probably misleading to call it a free holiday', because holiday it's not. You're there to work, and it's hard work but it's fun. You spend ten hours a day, talking to Spanish and Portuguese people who want to learn English. You don't need to be a teacher; just a talkative person whose first language is English. Nor do you need to speak Spanish for, once inside Pueblo Ingls, no Spanish is allowed.

The organisers think their clients will learn more useful English by talking with a Tynesider with a bad cold speaking of his home and job than by learning to complain about their hotel room in Received Pronunciation' from a CD. Most of the participants know school English'. They're there to learn colloquial English.

At the time of my first visit in 2005, Vaughan Systems, as it was then called, had three centres in Spain; at Valdelavilla, near Soria, Gredos, near Avila and La Alberca, near Salamanca

I chose La Alberca, at the foot of the chestnut tree-covered hills of the Sierra de Francia. The centre was based in the modern and luxurious rural complex at Abadia de los Templarios', about half a mile outside the village.

Our activities consisted of presentations, games and telephone calls. But, the favourite activity had to be the one to one,' where an Anglo' and a Spaniard just spoke with each other for an hour, talking about anything and everything. And, while they talked, they could sit in the sun or in the shade or, walk around the complex, into the woods or into the village.

We hadn't come here

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