Fun and Free – Speaking English in Spain

I have done it four times now, and after each, I always say it was one of the best weeks of my life!
For me and fellow native English speakers (“Anglos”), it’s as natural as breathing – just speak English to Spaniards for 5-7 days in exchange for free room in a nice, secluded hotel a few hours outside of Madrid, and free meals, with wine at lunch and dinner. From the time you step on the bus as a volunteer in Madrid until you return to Madrid and get off the bus at the end of the program, your only expenses are what you order at the bar or other personal miscellaneous expenses.
The Spaniards pay to do the program to improve their English skills, which are usually already pretty good, by speaking with Anglos who come from Britain, Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa as volunteers.
My first program was with Vaughantown, a five day program for the Masters of English students. I selected a location outside of Toledo, because there was a golf course. Little did I realize that, as much as I love golf, talking to all these people was too much fun to do anything else!
I have since done another Vaughantown program, a Sunday to Friday, and two programs with Diverbo, Friday to Friday, each one at a different location.
Billed as an immersion program in English for Spaniards, the Anglos are having their own immersion program in Spain, speaking and interacting constantly with Spaniards of different ages, from different backgrounds and engaged in different industries, usually living in different cities.
Just think, people who really, really want to talk to you, in your own language, about themselves and their country, for a week. The schedule is planned for you, activities are planned, and there is a two hour siesta every afternoon. Picking the right location during the summer means siesta by the pool.
As much fun as the weeks were, the fun continues long afterwards as I have friends from each program.
And who knows, someday maybe I will even speak Spanish with them instead of English!