Updated February 13, 2004 -- Fearful of traveling to places where they don't speak your language? Here are two outfits that turn that weakness into a strength. The first allows you to travel to places to learn a language (native to the teachers, foreign to you). The second allows you to travel to teach a language (native to you since it's English, foreign to them since they're Spanish).
Travel to Learn
The National Registration Center for Study Abroad, in business since 1968, is a storehouse of study programs outside the United States. It's an excellent educational resource for foreign language courses, cultural studies and more. There are dozens of programs scattered about 39 countries all over the globe, and they've just announced several more, which you can find listed in their "What's New" section on the web (www.nrcsa.com). To top it all off, many are affordable; for courses that cost the least, just click the new "Budget Travelers" link on the site's mainpage. (Fees cover cost of tuition and room and board; transportation costs are additional.)
Classes are typically small with usually no more than 15 students, providing plenty of time for one-on-one instruction. Many courses are scaleable as well allowing you to choose the number of credits you'll earn, the number of hours spent in instruction each week, and the number of weeks per course. There are many other variables as well including programs specific to age groups from teens to senior citizens and formats that include home-stay immersion programs, standard classroom settings and in-the-field volunteer opportunities.
For complete program listings and prices contact NRCSA via their Web site at www.nrcsa.com or e-mail study@nrcsa.com. If you want to phone them, it's 414/278-0631, fax 414/271-8884. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age.
Travel to Teach
The second program is offered by Vaughan Systems, an American-owned English language school based in Spain with offices throughout the country. The concept is simple; you volunteer your time speaking English in exchange for free room and board. You just have to pay your way to Madrid and for any additional expenses before or after the program's run. They also provide health and accident insurance for your term.
The concept was dreamed up by owner Richard Vaughan, who set up his first English-speaking enclave in July 2001 in Valdelavilla, a retreat in the mountains outside Madrid. The program has been so wildly successful, that starting in February 2003 Vaughan Systems will be introduced a second location in Barco de Avila, a Castilian village in the Gredos mountain range. Programs at either site run in 7- and ten-day segments.
This is a perfect example of a working vacation. You don't need to be fluent in a foreign language, just your native English, which is what you'll be speaking sunup to sundown to help the students. In most cases, the students are non-native English speakers who want or need to hone their fluency and conversational skills for business purposes. Be prepared to talk and talk and talk on any topic that arises.
Since we first reported on this program in this Newsletter, we've received a steady stream of e-mails from readerscurious about how to get in on the action. It's simple -- fill out the online application www.vausys.com/englishtown/apply.asp to let them know you're interested. Placements are made on a first-come, first-served basis with considerations made for creating a diverse group of instructions regarding age, location and background. And when you do apply, please be patient for a reply. We can tell you from experience that the number of inquiries will be overwhelming, so it will take a little time for the staff to get back to everybody.
For additional information, pictures of past sessions and the 2004 schedule, visit the Vaughan Systems site at www.vausys.com/englishtown.
To review some of our readers' comments on this incredible program, visit the thread in our Spain Message Boards by clicking here. There's even a thank you from Richard Vaughan, himself.