| modation in Spain’s Englishtown Project | | | | world, a Master of Ceremonies to provide |
| Madrid, Spain -- For the last three years, over 3,000 | | | | entertainment and a Program Director to enforce the |
| people have participated in the unique English | | | | only rule: No Spanish Allowed. All this for 15 hours a |
| language immersion program known as Englishtown. | | | | day, eight days and no stopping except for your daily |
| Two venues, a 16th century abandoned village and a | | | | siesta. Throw in a mix of activities such as |
| plush country-style hotel, play host to a non-stop | | | | conversations, scenic walks, games, meals and |
| eight-day intensive conversation program. English | | | | Spanish music and dancing, and somewhere in |
| native speakers from all over the world come as | | | | between the Spaniards find themselves blabbing |
| volunteers to learn about Spaniards and their culture | | | | away in English without having to stop, think and |
| in return for their board and lodging while the | | | | translate. |
| Spaniards seek to improve their fluency in the | | | | The idea was so innovative that it won the Best |
| quickest, most intensive manner possible on earth. | | | | Awards 2003 prize in Spain and has been |
| The participants, both English-speakers and Spaniards, | | | | featured on dozens of message boards that buzz |
| exchange culture, conversation, knowledge and | | | | about a deal almost too good to be true, |
| friendship. | | | | travel guides, major publications and TV stations |
| Englishtown was the brainchild of Richard Vaughan, a | | | | — CNN, Irish Times and Chicago Tribune to |
| business student from Texas who came to Spain to | | | | name a few. The lure is easy — |
| teach English in the 70’s. After a | | | | English-speakers chat, play, walk, dine and wine with |
| quarter-century of language training and experience, I | | | | Spaniards with the beautiful backdrop of the Spanish |
| realized no matter how many times a person is drilled | | | | countryside while Vaughan picks up the tab. |
| on irregular verbs, the only way to truly understand a | | | | Multinational clients such as Microsoft, Vodafone, |
| language is to actively practice it, says Richard. | | | | Deloitte and Accenture send scores of executives to |
| This led to the creation of Englishtown — | | | | Englishtown finding it to be the ideal solution to their |
| eight-day immersion programs which include a cast of | | | | problem — a rapid, intense way to get their |
| 20 Spaniards, 20 English-speakers from all over the | | | | top directors speaking English. |