273. Meeting native speakers


Below is a part of a chapter of the book I wrote on TEFL, some years ago. I copied and pasted something about courses and programs for learning English in countries where that language is the mother tongue. I've made some minor changes. This text keeps some positive and nice experiences I have with regard to those courses abroad, and it be also nice to provide with some useful tips. The Scottish piper picture was taken from a website of which I didn't save the name. Sorry for the format problems of this post: the book is in the Word program.




En el colegio en el que trabajaba en Jaén (sur de España) hasta 2002 los chicos pasaban el primer trimestre de curso en Irlanda, estudiando lo mismo que en España, más o menos. Tanto el centro de Irlanda como el nuestro de España son masculinos. Las mismas empresas tienen sedes femeninas.


Se escogen familias conocidas, y de buena reputación. Va un profesor con ellos, de España. Recuerdo con agrado por ejemplo el caso de José Ignacio, que por entonces estudiaba 1º de la ESO: a la vuelta, hablaba inglés con soltura, y un buen día, en ese idioma, nos contó al resto de la clase, fluidamente, con su carácter fuerte por cierto, anécdotas de Irlanda.


Lo mejor de pasar un trimestre, o mejor un año, e incluso varios, cara al idioma, es precisamente la inmersión. Todo en inglés.


El profesor español que les acompaña puede charlar con cada chico, de cuando en cuando, en tutoría, para ayudarles a adquirir la lengua extranjera. Mejor aún, el profesor le pregunta al chico qué y cómo está haciendo para aprender el idioma. Eso último le hace más consciente de la oportunidad, única, que está viviendo, y toma parte activa en su aprendizaje. El profesor puede orientarle, si está muy perdido en la clase del colegio irlandés, o incluso consolarle en sus dificultades. Ah, y que envíe un email a sus padres o les telefonee. Que les telefonee, pero no todos los días; esto suelen hacerlo algunos chicos, y algunos padres. Algún chaval me lo contaba, con naturalidad: hablo con mis padres y con mis hermanos todos los días más o menos una hora...


El primer objetivo de la estancia en Irlanda por ejemplo, es desarrollar la capacidad oral (speaking). Que los chicos y chicas queden con sus nuevos compañeros, que se relacionen con los nativos. Siempre encontrarán un chaval con el que sintonicen. Que jueguen al fútbol juntos, y que comenten al terminar, algún aspecto del partido. Muchas veces los nativos te escuchan con verdadero interés, queriendo ayudarte con la palabra que te falta. O que queden para una partida de la PS3 o de la Nintendo. Que las chicas queden para jugar al pádel, o pregunten a sus compañeras Aibreann[1], Bláthnaid y Clodagh, si les importa que les enseñen el centro de Dublín y las tiendas de ropa, y el Phoenix Park, el más extenso de Europa, o la Guinnes Brewery[2]. También pueden viajar con amigos en tren a visitar el castillo de Cashel[3]. Que se lo pasen bien, que disfruten. Y esto solo lo conseguirán si salen de su ensimismamiento, y están también pendientes de un compañero más solitario, más cohibido, que le cuesta relacionarse, y que sin embargo les puede acompañar. Viven situaciones inolvidables.


Ni que decir que el grupo de chicos españoles asiste a todas las clases del colegio irlandés, de acuerdo con su edad. Como ayuda para entender la clase del día siguiente, pueden leer y estudiar en el libro sobre lo que va a tratar al día siguiente Mrs. Fiona R. O’Flaherty.


Por último diré que ojo con determinadas ofertas publicitarias deslumbrantes, que resultan un fraude. Por favor, entérate de cómo funciona el curso, y cuantos más detalles, mejor. O bien por referencias de otros compañeros, otros centros, o empieza a tirar del hilo de la organización que hace la oferta. Ojo, que hay mucho timo. Los buenos cursos en tal país son convenientes. Pero muchas familias no pueden costearlo. Aquí en nuestro país también se organizan cursos maravillosos, con la ventaja del ahorro y de estar a un paso de los padres: los profesores suelen ser nativos, por ejemplo americanos, que enganchan muy bien con tu hijo, porque aquellos son muy abiertos y divertidos. Tengo más información sobre cursos de este tipo.

[1] Aibreann (como se pronuncia en inglés av-rawn), Bláthnaid (blaw-nid), Clodagh (klodah).

[2] Famosa fábrica de cervezas Guinnes: vale la pena visitarla. Y su museo histórico. Y te dan una degustación...

[3] Castillo en ruinas en el sur de Irlanda. Habrás notado que “Cashel” viene de “castle”, castillo. Once millas al norte de Cahir.

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