Pilot experiment to learn English on the train

Barcelona (CNA).- A routine train journey turned into an English lesson this Monday for two passengers of the Catalan railway service (FGC). They were offered a one-hour long lesson, based on conversation, during their journey from Manresa to Barcelona as part of a pilot experiment launched by FGC. The initiative will be tested throughout the month on different railway lines and FGC will then evaluate its definitive implementation. "If it works, we'll do it as a permanent initiative" stated FGC's President Enric Ticó and added that "the goal is to make journeys more pleasant". The lessons are set to be offered to small groups and within an area designated for this purpose. To facilitate passengers to be able to join the lessons whenever they want to, the classes will be mainly conversational. 

The person in charge of the lessons is an English native speaker and teacher from Vaughan Systems language school and will focus the classes on conversational exercises "to allow passengers to join the lessons whenever they want to" explained FGC's President Enric Ticó. The aim is "to make journeys more pleasant" stated Ticó and if the initiatives proves to be successful, it will turn into "a permanent initiative". Those who are interested, should register on the FGC website.The lessons' duration will run from 15 minutes to more than one hour and will be free of charge as long as the trial is taking place.

Elisabet Ars, one of the passengers who attended the trial lesson this morning, described the teacher as "excellent" and considered the experiment a very positive initiative. On the other hand, Helena García, admitted to being "a bit too sleepy" to attend an English lesson at that early hour, but also described the initiative "as a very interesting proposal". 34 people have so far registered to receive English lessons on Catalan railway service lines.