Last night I got rescued.
My canoe capsised in a fast fast-flowing river and I was immediately dragged downstream.
My rescuer quickly reached me and ensured my airways were open and I was breathing. He threaded a leash under my arms which he secured to his boat, then towed me to my own upside boat.
Paddling alongside, he manoeuvred us into an eddy (calm water) where he tilted the upside-down boat with his hand until it angled into the water.
With the other hand he hauled me onto that flat surface, then tilted my boat towards his and slid my motionless body into his boat.
It went pretty smoothly except for when my bottom got stuck entering the rescue boat.
That’s when I started to giggle.
I did give an extra wiggle a truly unconscious person wouldn’t manage, but to be fair, had I really been unconscious he would have hauled me by the groin into the boat.
Neither of us wanted that.
I know all this detail because it was a simulated rescue.
John is training for a canoe leader certificate.
- He has studied this style of rescue online.
- He could have practised the move in a warm swimming pool.
Theoretical study and warm swimming pools are not enough.
He needs to know how it feels to fight the river’s flow and battle the weight of water-laden clothing and cold.Â
Why did I volunteer? (I did ask myself this shivering later).
I’m a canoe club member
Some people can drive the van, others can repair boats. Being a lifeless body is the first way I’ve found to contribute.
I help people on quests
Helping people reach their goals is what I do as an English coach every day.
Few of the people I help want to learn English – it is just a way of communicating with their community, to make their mark in the world – get their shit done.Â
When certified, John will share the river with a lot of people. I was happy to help.
John might need to save a life
I understand that practicing this manouver repeatedly will mean he’ll get it right if he needs it.
He’s training his muscles to remember the sequence – even when his mind is screaming.
Learning in non-stressful circumstances means you remember your skills and actions even when the pressure is on.
About REAL Language Practice
Only using your second language in a classroom is like John only practising in a swimming pool.
You’ll get a bit better, but when it’s real (and you really need it), you still won’t be prepared.
People get a shock when they travel and discover that the spoken English around them does not sound like the English they learned.
You don’t want to deal with this in work meeting, or responding to questions during your presentation.
You need to get familiar with real spoken English, through real practice situations.Â
About REAL Language Practice
Flip your classroom English into language you can use.
Come and refine your English in Scotland with real language practice*!
My holidays in Scotland give you REAL language conversation.
And build that muscle memory with 1000 micro-moments of you being you in English.
It’s not empty practice: it’s people saying things you want to listen to, talk about and act on.
And they want to hear what you have to say.
Your knowledge, expertise, and opinions can support them.
Choose a hub: where what you’ve got to say matters (not just how you say it).
Practice time is over. Make it real!
REAL Language Practice
Here’s how we do it:
*A Note for Non-Swimmers
You don’t have to jump in a river but some people do! (We’ve been in and out of rivers, lochs and waterfalls all summer!)
You don’t even need to do water sports like canoeing or paddle boarding – all our language activities are optional and designed around you.
It’s just you do need to use your classroom English in real ways, so you might as well be having a great holiday at the same time. Let us know what that looks like during your Zoom chat!
Let’s Talk!
Book a video chat to meet the teaching team and ask any questions you have about our holidays.
An English challenge to fit your holiday
– wherever you are going!
Our Next Language holiday is
