Los españoles siempre estamos empezando con el inglés, estudiando un idioma que nunca acabamos de aprender o frustrados con nuestro nivel de conversación. Esta es, sin duda, una etiqueta que una gran mayoría no conseguimos quitarnos de encima. ¿Por qué nos cuesta tanto a los adultos españoles hablar inglés?

Con objeto de atender a esta creciente demanda aprovechando el entorno del golf, el Centro Nacional ha implantado el Programa English & Golf Experience, desarrollado por Jonathan Ballantine, coach experto en experiential learning, que ofrece respuestas a esta realidad y nos ilumina el camino poniendo a nuestro alcance la fluidez de hablar y entender el inglés más rápidamente.

Jonathan, can you explain a little bit about what English & Golf is?

It's very simple. English lessons while you're on the golf course. In Spain, we're very used to spending many hours studying English indoors. But it's not the only way, nor the most effective, to learn.

English & Golf combines conversation classes with me or in a group while you play golf, a wonderful sport that allows you to engage in conversation between shots in an outdoor environment, ideal for learning and having fun. It also provides an excellent learning environment for understanding grammar in a more natural, direct, and contextualized way.

How did you come up with it?

Well… it happened very naturally. When I first arrived in Madrid, I didn't speak Spanish, so when I played golf, many of my playing partners would ask if we could speak in English, and I happily agreed. After playing with them for nine holes, I noticed how easy it was for them to construct grammatically correct sentences when there was real context and focus.

The next day, while teaching English at a language school, I saw how difficult it was for the students to speak when there wasn't that context. This led me to question the value of traditional classes if the goal is to speak and practice English.

How long have you been developing English & Golf? What have you learned the most?

La idea se formó en 2008, pero la lancé oficialmente en 2011. He aprendido muchas cosas sobre cómo los españoles intentan aprender inglés. Lo que realmente me sorprende es la importancia que los españoles asignan al aprendizaje de los componentes gramaticales. Lo estudian como si fueran a ser lingüistas o intérpretes. Aprender gamática es importante, pero creo que es más efectivo aprenderlo a través del uso.

It seems you have a very different approach to teaching English

I believe there are many more ways to learn English than simply teaching grammar rules and vocabulary. This type of teaching is designed to prepare people to pass exams. I see learning English differently. For me, learning English isn't about passing an exam and getting a certificate, but about communicating with people about real things in real situations.

Although I am trained and certified by Cambridge University to teach, I don't consider myself an English teacher. I see my role more as a learning facilitator or coach. I work with people more holistically to help them improve, build confidence, and become interested in learning English.

Can you explain how an English & Golf class works? What about a typical student?

La clase está estructurada en tres partes. Antes de salir al campo de golf nos reunimos para planificar el tema de la clase. A veces un alumno tendrá algo específico en lo que le gustaría centrarse, como una reunión o una conferencia internacional. Si es así, revisamos los objetivos y esto guiará la clase. Luego salimos al campo de golf durante dos o cuatro horas. Después de la ronda de juego, normalmente vamos al restaurante para revisar la clase. Aquí es donde doy una evaluación detallada al alumno.

In your opinion, what is the biggest frustration that Spaniards have with learning English?

I would say progress. By this I mean that they aren't actually improving, even though they may be spending a lot of time studying. The same is true for golf. As adults, we don't really understand how to learn. We tend to think that the only way to learn is the way we learned in school. Nothing could be further from the truth.

What is your purpose with English & Golf? What are your plans for the future?

I'm driven by a mission to change the way Spaniards learn English. I'm fascinated by how adults try to learn new activities, whether it's English, golf, or swimming, and I'll continue to explore this area further.

Regarding English & Golf, in 2020 I will be expanding my travel services. For example, I will be organizing small groups (of 6 people accompanied by me) to watch golf tournaments such as the Masters, the Open, or the Ryder Cup, combined with a week of English classes abroad. We will enjoy tournaments, play on new courses, and interact with Americans and Brits.

Jonathan Ballantine is the founder of English & Golf

Más información o reservas llama a Jonathan 637 046 669

www.englishandgolfexperience.com

FUENTE: English & Golf Experience