Oct 1, 2017
School time for me. Totally r̶e̶a̶d̶y̶ for tomorrow
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School time for me. Totally r̶e̶a̶d̶y̶ for tomorrow
Disclosure: Pueblo Español hosted me as a student on the immersion program. As always, all opinions are my own.
Am I actually going to do this? 8 days of no English? 8 days of 12+ hour days entirely in Spanish? I can do this. No, I can’t. I’m doing it.
That was pretty much my exact thought process the night before I started Pueblo Español. I was packing my bag at 1 AM (an annoying habit that I can’t seem to shake) mentally ricocheting between excitement and worry. I’d done Spanish classes in the past, but this was a whole new level of language learning. The immersion methodology is precisely why I wanted to do it.
What is Pueblo Español?
I’d first heard of Pueblo Español after volunteering for their counterpart, Pueblo Ingles. Essentially, Pueblo Español is an incredibly intense 8-day language “camp” for adults. Students are immersed in an all-Spanish environment with native volunteers for 8 days, 12 hours a day. No English allowed – just lots of conversations, activities, and more conversations. The program is meant to improve confidence and fluidity in Spanish without the classroom.
How does it work?
Although the program is officially from Friday to Friday, the fun began the Thursday before, when I met the other students and the tour leader for lunch. The next day at the train station, each student was paired with a native Spanish volunteer and spoke Spanish for the entire ride to the venue (~4 hours). The rest of the week was a jam-packed schedule of activities, meals, and one-to-ones….all in Spanish.
The volunteers:
Pueblo Español does an excellent job of sourcing a diverse group of volunteers from various parts of Spain, ensuring maximum exposure to different accents. The volunteers came from a variety of ages and backgrounds, but they all have one thing in common: they wanted us to improve our Spanish!
Me, Ali (student), and Jennifer (Volunteer)
The activities:
One of the best parts about Pueblo Español is the diversity of events. Rather than sitting in a classroom and learning grammar all day, we participated in a ton of different cultural activities. I’ve included an overview of some of the major aspects of the schedule below.
Tú a tú: This was one of my favorite activities because I prefer speaking to people one to one. Students typically do anywhere from 3 to 6 one to one’s per day. Not only was this an excellent way to get to know people, but it was also a low-pressure way to really focus on comprehension. I felt incredibly comfortable asking people to slow down or explain a word or concept. Plus, it took the pressure off of meeting people in a large group. Win, win!
Meals: Not going to lie, meals were definitely the most challenging part of the day. We were purposefully seated student-volunteer so nobody would be tempted to speak in English…or rapid-fire Spanish either. This worked for the most part, although there were definitely a few moments where it felt like I was concentrating on a game of ping-pong! Between the eating and multiple people talking, mealtime is definitely when I had to fully concentrate.
Theater and presentations: Every day we had a variety of theatrical skits and presentations by both the volunteers and the students. I don’t voluntarily do theater in English, but somehow ended up doing it in Spanish. At the end of the week, all of the students also had to give presentations on a topic of their choosing, something which would intimidate me in English. When Pueblo Español promised I’d improve my confidence, they weren’t kidding!
Group discussions and projects: As a break from one to ones, we were oftentimes grouped together in small discussion groups. The topics were really entertaining and creative: everything from creating a marketing campaign for a city to deciding how we would rebuild the world after an apocalypse. Not only did I learn a ton of new vocabulary, but I also gained insight on cultural values as well…everyone has a different idea of what makes a city great, for example.
Cultural Activities and Social hour(s): What good is immersion if you aren’t interacting with locals from the city itself? Pueblo Español arranged for us to do several fun excursions outside of our “classroom” (aka the hotel) throughout the week. I was at the Úbeda venue in Jaén when I did the program, so our excursions included a city tour, olive oil tasting, and local artisan visits. We also visited the nearby towns of Baeza and Cazorla, and even went on a hike in Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park. Learning about Spanish history in Spanish definitely did a number on my head, although it was fascinating to visit these small towns I would have never visited otherwise! In the evenings, we oftentimes had cool (mostly optional) events scheduled after dinner such as a game night, a Galician Quemada, and a tapas night. The fun (and learning) never stopped!
Our fearless director!
The hills of Úbeda
Pottery visit!
Exploring!
Where is it?
Pueblo Español currently takes place in two locations: Úbeda in Andalusia and La Alberca in Salamanca. I’ve been to both places and they’re both incredibly comfortable and charming. The venue in Úbeda is a traditional hotel whereas the venue in La Alberca consists of bungalows with two rooms each: one for a volunteer and one for a student. The food is better at the Úbeda location…just saying.
Went into hermit mode in the tiny Andalusian town of Ubeda, Spain, where I spent 8 days in a Spanish immersion program, @puebloespanol! Not only did we talk to natives all day, every day, but we also got to explore the town and nearby surrounds. Imagine learning about this historical town in another language! 😅 Have you ever participated in an immersion program? #ad #spanishimmersion #learnspanishinspain #puebloespañol
A post shared by Sally • Food & Travel Writer (@passportandplates) on Mar 31, 2017 at 2:02pm PDT
When is it?
Pueblo Español for adults is currently offered every month between March and November, with the exception of August. They also offer several student programs throughout the summer. You can see the full calendar here.
What’s included?
The program includes transport to and from the program, full room and board for 7 nights, excursions, and travel insurance. The students have to cover travel costs and accommodation to and from Madrid plus any additional purchases made during the program (snacks, souvenirs, etc.). The cost is €1950 per person, but Pueblo Español does offer discounts for early booking. Send them an email with any questions or concerns.
Mealtime!
My review of the experience:
My brain was hurting by the end of the week but in a good way. I never dreamed that I’d be able to stand up in front of an audience and give a presentation, act in a theatrical skit, or do a conference call, all in Spanish. By the end, I was no longer hesitant or worried about my Spanish abilities and felt confident enough to brave language exchanges and social events without breaking a sweat (for the most part).
Doing theater in Spanish…no words
While I thoroughly enjoyed the week, I have a few suggestions for improvement:
Choosing meals was initially a bit of a challenge due to the fact that several of us had dietary restrictions. The kitchen allowed us to create our own meals but I do wish we had more non-pork options on the menu.
The wifi at the hotel wasn’t great, making it difficult for me to work during my free time. I understand that most people don’t need to work, but it’s important to me.
While I loved the excursions, there was a couple that I felt were a bit long. I believe that time would have been better spent speaking one to one (maybe that was just me).
Springtime in Andalusia is magical, especially at Boveda del Rio Cerezuelo in Cazorla! I would have never discovered this place if it weren't for our fabulous guide and program leader at @puebloespanol! Not only did I learn a TON of Spanish during this immersion program, but I also discovered some awesome local destinations as well! #ad
A post shared by Sally • Food & Travel Writer (@passportandplates) on Apr 3, 2017 at 3:00pm PDT
Does the program “work?”
If your goal is to improve your fluidity and confidence in speaking Spanish, then this is the program for you. My brain did a total 180 during the week, to the point where I was thinking and dreaming in Spanish. Forget about translating or conjugating verbs in your head – by the end of the week, the words will flow naturally.
Cristina, our program director
Ali and I presenting a marketing campaign
Who should do it?
Firstly, in order to do this program, you have to schedule a level assessment with the Pueblo Español team. In order to get the most out of this program, you need to be at least intermediate in Spanish.
Given the intensity and cost of the program, I recommend it to people who are currently living (or plan to live) in Spain, doing business or studies in Spanish, or planning extensive travel in Spanish-speaking countries.
Pueblo Español offers two packages: the 8-day full immersion program or the program plus 4 days of intensive Spanish classes beforehand. I chose the latter option and found that the first day was much less difficult since I’d already warmed up in Spanish.
I’ve tried my fair share of Spanish classes in the past: everything from traditional schools to language apps to meet ups. I can honestly say that this was by far the most helpful program in taking my Spanish fluidity and confidence to the next level. If you’re eager to take your Spanish from mal to major, Pueblo Español is the way to do it!
Tell me: Have you ever done a language course in another country? What was your experience like?
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How to Take Your Spanish From Mal to Mejor: Spanish Immersion in Spain Disclosure: Pueblo Español hosted me as a student on the immersion program. As always, all opinions are my own.
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