Creating a language immersion experience

Language holidays sure ain't what they used to be.

As a former English language teacher, I should know. Years ago, I spent three consecutive summers holed up in airless classrooms, feeling sorry for my teenage charges as they slept-walked their way through language learning activities which they could just as easily have done back home.

Of course, the students had evenings and weekends off for activities (which usually consisted of them being frogmarched around local “places of interest”) but these activities were peripheral to, rather than central to, the language learning experience.

It’s wonderful to hear that things are starting to change on the language holidays front. At the vanguard of this change is Ruth Pringle, founder of Blue Noun, an independent language school in Scotland. Ruth’s approach to language holidays truly is a breath of fresh air, and if you missed it, I’d recommend you watch the replay, whether you’d like to brush up on your own English language skills or you’re considering offering language holidays in your own part of the world.

If you’re pushed for time, my summary is below:

The joy of travelling and the point of using your English in another country is to use it and to get to know the culture as well.

Blue Noun was inspired by Ruth's experience as an English language teacher in France. Ruth had noticed that learners often asked how to improve their English outside the classroom. This led her to envision a language learning experience that integrated travel and cultural immersion in an experience far removed from conventional classroom-centric models.

Blue Noun's approach

Blue Noun's language holidays offer a fully personalised experience. Before guests arrive, Ruth arranges a meeting via Zoom so she can gage their language proficiency and level of comfort with English. This results in an experience which is tailored to each learner's needs and interests.

Beyond the classroom

Ruth's guests participate in a whole range of activities. She encourages them to push themselves out of their comfort zone, and not just linguistically!

• Culinary Interactions: Guests participate in cooking challenges using local organic vegetables, enhancing language skills through recipe sharing and culinary experiences.
• Outdoor Adventures: Depending on fitness levels and interests, guests can try hill walking, paddle boarding, and cycling, facilitated by local micro-businesses specialising in outdoor experiences.
• Community Involvement: Ruth’s programs often involve community events, such as the "Intention Cafe," where locals and learners share personal goals and experiences.

Food is a really common theme. We eat together and share meals and enjoy ingredients. There's a local farm that we got our organic veg from once a week and together we look inside the veg box and see what our instructions are for our cooking challenges for the week ahead.

Takeaways for Tour Pros

If you organise language holidays (or if you'd like to) here are three key points I gleaned from my discussion with Ruth.

• Personalisation matters: Understanding and adapting to the specific interests and needs of clients can transform guests' experience.
• Community counts: Utilising the local community and its activities as part of the experience can differentiate a tour offering. This integration helps guests feel connected to the destination, transforming them from observers to participants.
• Be prepared to adapt activities: Flexibility in activities based on real-time interaction and feedback from clients can lead to more personalised and enjoyable experiences.

Marketing Through Storytelling: Ruth highlighted the challenges of marketing a non-traditional service. Her approach includes storytelling and using engaging materials like posters to communicate the unique aspects of her language holidays. If you'd like to help Ruth publicise Blue Noun, DM her and she'll send you a beautiful poster to display on your travel agency or office wall.

Interested in setting up language holidays in your country? Ruth has lots of excellent resources on her website.

The idea is to then take your language, put it into practice, discover what you can do with it and play.

Thanks so much to Ruth, for sharing your fascinating story and expertise. If you'd like to connect with Ruth Pringle then you can message her here on LinkedIn or give her a follow on Insta.

Until next week!