Marion Harvey is one of Cactus’s longest standing clients and has taken language courses with us in Nerja, Havana, Guanajuato, Mendoza and Cartagena. She was the first client we sent to Mendoza, Argentina, and the first Cactus client ever to go to Colombia. She is also one of Cactus’s older clients. She is retired and lives in Herefordshire.

Marion was interviewed in April 2007 by Alex Wolfson, Language Holiday Consultant at Cactus Language.

What are your favourite places that you have visited with Cactus?

It’s very hard to say what my favourite place is as all the places I have visited have their own merits. I liked Guanajuato in Mexico; the school was in a very beautiful building. The city was unspoilt, very beautiful and very interesting. My fear is that is will go the same way as other cities in Mexico and become overrun by tourists.
I loved the place I have just visited; Cartagena in Colombia. Inside the city walls of old Cartagena it is totally unspoilt. Cartagena is an exceptionally beautiful colonial city.

What is it that attracts you to Latin America?

The cultural mix. I have spent a lot of time in West Africa and Cuba, Colombia and Brazil all have a large population of African descent, and the influence of that culture on Latin America is very interesting. There is also a large Indian population in Mexico, which also has a fascinating culture. Argentina is more similar to another European country so I found the culture less interesting there.

Why did you decide to learn Spanish?

I knew French already but I decided to learn Spanish because it is so widely spoken. I am interested in the lives of people and monuments throughout the World and Spanish gives you access to communicate with people and visit a very large area.

What motivates you to continue learning?

I just like to learn the language in a place where it’s spoken. I enjoy reading works by the Spanish writers and learning the language by reading and reading Spanish literature in the language it was written in. I don’t like to go on language holidays with anyone from England as I like to speak the language while I am there.

What motivates you to continue learning with Cactus?

I have met people from Cactus and I find it easier to arrange my courses through Cactus. If I arrange it through Cactus I know it’s a good school - although I have [in Mendoza and Cartagena] been a guinea pig for new language schools! I suppose I could make my own arrangements to find a language school but if I book with Cactus I know that if there’s a problem I can ask for my money back. Having said that though, I have never had to ask for my money back so that it another reason why I continue to use you.

What do you think of the view that it’s easier to learn a language when you are young?

I think sometimes that learning a language can actually be harder for young people because of the lack of focus on grammar nowadays. I find Spanish easier to learn because of my grounding in English and Latin grammar. I’ve been in some classes where young people really don’t know the structure of language at all so I think I have an advantage over them because people of my generation often understand the grammatical structure better.

How do you find mixed age classes?

In Spanish speaking Latin America many of the other students come from Brazil and are very chivalrous. They included me in all their parties, but the problem with Brazilian students is that they tend to speak Spanish quite well because of the similarity of their language to Spanish so I have found it difficult to keep up with the speaking part of classes. The other side of this is that I often read the language better than them. However, I have never had a problem with mixed age classes. I sometimes prefer to take individual classes because I read the language better than most people but speak it less well.

Who is the best teacher you have had and why?

The last teacher I had in Cartagena. I had two teachers and the second one was the best teacher I have ever had. He was about 30 and very imaginative. I required a lot of revision and he was somehow able to work at my level. He occasionally used English when he had to and I think that helped even though I agree that as much as possible everything should be done in Spanish. He varied his tasks and approaches a lot. I find understanding Spanish at speed quite difficult and he helped me with this by regularly changing the focus from grammar to comprehension to listening. His lessons were a varied and interesting 3 hours. He applied unusual ideas to tasks.

How do you find short term courses?

I have always taken 2 or 3 week courses and I wouldn’t recommend doing only a week. In a week you can learn a few basic things but I would like to read the works of Latin American writers and a week is not enough. I want to know Spanish for more than just conversation. One week is better than nothing but it’s much better to take more. I’ve never done a course of more than 3 weeks but I’m thinking I might.

How much progression do you think you have made on your various language courses?

My level of Spanish does go down when I am away. Although I read Spanish and listen to tapes and songs but I don’t speak it in the UK. I made significant headway in Colombia partly because of the teacher and partly because Colombians speak Spanish back to me. My advice is to keep up your studies better than I do! I don’t get to do practice every day.

How have you found travelling alone in Latin America?

It was a bit scary in Mexico City, even getting taxis within the city. I wouldn’t explore Mexico City on my own! Colombia didn’t live up to its reputation in that it was very easy to travel alone there. However, although I travel alone, when I get to do my language course I’m not really alone at all. When I’m in class I’m with people and when I go back to the host family I’m with people there and if I do some of the activities organised by the school, again I’m with people. It provides a structure and I’m not alone at all.

What are your language travel plans for the future?

I may go to Colombia again and going back to the Hay festival in Cartagena, but I also want to go to every country in Latin America. I want to see pre-Inca sites in Peru like Trujillo. I like to go away in December or January because I dislike the dark nights and very bad weather. With Cactus it’s much cheaper the longer you stay, the cost of living is very low, staying with a host family is very economical and everything is just wonderful. The only thing I want to avoid is getting some disease! But I’m thinking my next course will be in Colombia or Peru.