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Coffee in two languages

Locals and foreign residents in Sierra de Yeguas meet in bars to chat and learn each others' language

CARMEN MARTÍN

Domingo, 31 de enero 2010, 03:19

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Alan Moutrey and his wife Jackie moved to Sierra de Yeguas four years ago, but they had "little contact with the local people". Now, thanks to a language exchange programme set up by the Town Hall, this English couple have acquired some Spanish to be able to communicate with their neighbours. And there's nothing better than having a coffee in a bar with several 'serranos' (as people from Sierra de Yeguas are known) to pick up the language while the locals practise their English and improve their pronunciation.

The programme was the result of a proposal from the resident foreign community, who were interested in learning Spanish to be able to have contact with their neighbours. The first deputy mayor, José María González, recalled his student years in Granada and set up a language exchange programme in which the local and foreign population would get together for different activities. At first these took place in the Municipal Library and finished with a coffee in a local bar to share experiences, but now they go straight to the cafeterias as the Library is having air conditioning installed.

Since the programme was set up in October last year, the initiative has caught on both among the local and foreign population with around 30 people taking part in each session. What's more, its success has crossed borders and even residents from nearby towns have contacted Sierra de Yeguas Town Hall to take part in the language exchange.

They meet on Saturday afternoons at half past four. For two hours or more they read texts both in English and Spanish, they play games and do other activities, but, most importantly they talk to improve their pronunciation. For the time being the participants only practise English and Spanish but they are open to people who speak other languages. After all, 80 per cent of the 150 foreigners living in Sierra de Yeguas are British, while the rest come from other countries.

The number of participants varies from session to session, although there are normally similar numbers of 'serranos' and foreigners. Local woman Ana María Alés is a regular on Saturday afternoons. She works in the Municipal Library and in the Court and as soon as she heard about the programme she decided to take part. "It's a perfect way for me to learn English for my job because the English read a lot and visit the library often. I only had a basic level of English and we didn't understand each other very well", explains Ana María, who is gaining confidence in her English despite making pronunciation mistakes. "If I say something outrageous, they correct me and we laugh. We are getting to know each other better and that makes learning easier", says the young 'serrana'.

Among the locals taking part in the programme there are people of all ages and professions, from students to lorry drivers. (...)

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