Texto: Vox Populir
Lindy: So far so good. The feedback last year was great so I’ve repeated "Wha’ Up?" This year we met up one day a week for four weeks. I used photo vocabulary cards, video and music clips wherein the participants see how "real everyday" English is used. After that we did guided role-plays to have hands-on practice with the new expressions, swear words and slang they’d been exposed to. I also repeated "Hey Good Lookin’ Wha’ Ya’ Got Cookin’" because in this town everyone wants an excuse to eat and drink! (ha,ha,ha).
This year we were on EITB2 "Navarra Directo" for our minute of fame (check it out on the Raibabel webpage, ta daaa). The EITB2 team stopped by La Peña Aldapa where we met every Thursday in February to sharpen up food, cooking and conversation skills. I spiced things up this year with a prize for the vocabulary contest. Geez! It was like a game of mus, people were carrying on something terrible. It was hilarious (ha,ha,ha).
VP: Have you done anything new?
L: Yeah! "Hanging Out" Which is just that... hanging out! For four weeks we met up one evening and spent time together doing what natives do in their countries in their free time. Week one we went to a real Irish pub, the Harp and learned about whiskeys and bourbon. We had traditional snacks, played card games and had a whiskey and bourbon tasting session. It was a real blast (with real hangovers!) Week two we learned about American bowling at La Bolera with listening and memory game contests and, bowling. Week three we spent the evening with Naomh Fermín, the local Gaelic Football team.
We warmed up on the field at the Private University and played a bit of sport there. It was really fun and funny. You can see some of it in on the Raibabel web page which also features interviews with the participants expressing thoughts about different Living It activities they’d done. Week four we learned about Jamaica, it’s history, people, religions, Rastafarian's, food, medicinal uses of marijuana and customs. We watched video clips, learned about the curative powers of marijuana at the La Mota Shop, listened to Jamaican music and played informative memory games at the Bar Lanbroa.
VP: What remains on your "To Do" list?
L: This month we’re doing "Public Speaking...O’ My GOD!" I think it’s a real winner. It’s new. I planned this activity especially for shy speakers, rusty speakers and first timers. It helps them open up and get used to really, finally, using their English!
VP: You seem really excited. What makes this activity so special?
L: I actually get the people who’ve been studying English for-e-ver to SPEAK IT! I’m rolling away their fears of speaking with vocabulary games and loads and loads of role plays. (Broadway here we come!)
VP: What are you going to do to wind down "Living It with Lindy" this year?
L: Whoa! Nearly thirty of us are going to New York in April at Easter. Last year the activity went over very well and this year I’ve got even bigger rabbits up my sleeve. (ha,ha,ha) We are going to see the New York Nicks at Madison Square Garden, hangout in Greenwich Village, go to a Gospel concert, shop till we drop, eat in Chinatown, walk the Brooklyn Bridge and a whole lot of other fun, fantastic stuff. We are "gonna be dead dog tired" and "party like a house on fire".
The last activity (after I recover from New York) is "Around Town." this is a great city with a lot of hot spots, history, life and color. The participants and I are going to go sightseeing and we’ll be our own guides. Last year I loved it so much I couldn't resist doing it again! Besides as a group, we get to go behind a lot of closed doors (ha,ha,ha, private Peep show total).
VP: Is there anything you want to tell our readers?
L: Yeah. Firstly, I want to whole heartedly thank E.O.I.P. for having me back. Secondly, Eoin at the Harp, the team at La Mota, Bernado at the bar Lanbroa, La Bolera, Ger/the Priviate University/ Naomh Fermín, and Natxo/the fantastic team at Peña Aldapa for letting me stampede their territory with a load of people. Thirdly, I want to say to all your readers; "Don’t be such chickens! Languages are for life and life is for the living, breathing, thinking and talking.
Tell your friends that all the activities at E.O.I.P. are open to everyone as long as they have the level required for each individual activity. And, don’t obsess about photocopies and notes. Nowadays, everyone needs fluid English. TALK!... MAKE TIME, DON’T MAKE EXCUSES!"
VP: Her phone is ringing, again. So that’s all folks. Thanks Lindy. Keep "Living It and loving it."