Language, life and laughter in Scotland
‘Do you speak English?’ The answer is definitely ‘yes’ for the professional women who took part in an intensive 10-day English language course at Hazelwood House, the centre for Tamezin activities in Scotland. A command of the English language at a professional level is a big plus for women in the world of work. And the 2025 summer course at Hazelwood House met a key element of Tamezin’s mission; to help women develop their professional skills.
Any expectations of sitting in a stuffy classroom all day were quickly dispelled for the course participants who came from Poland, Croatia and Spain. With ages ranging from 18 years to over 60, this intensive course offered total-immersion English, through a lively, interactive timetable.
British daily life
Anna, from Poland is a university lecturer in pharmacology. For her the course offered learning ‘the intricacies of the English language as well as British style daily life’. Course coordinator Ann says: ‘The course participants joined in the family life at Hazelwood House. Our mealtimes together gave Anna and the others a great opportunity to practise their English.’
The ‘English in Scotland’ course took full advantage of the rich culture of Glasgow. Course participants went into the city on several occasions to visit the Burrell Collection, the City Chambers and the hop-on, hop-off bus tour. There was also a visit to the House for an Art Lover, designed by the famous Charles Rennie Mackintosh and situated in Bellahouston Park, a short walk from Hazelwood House. These were no idle sightseeing trips. These were excursions with a mission. Each participant was required to give a presentation on what she had seen and learned. Along with the others, Anka, a university lecturer in wood science from Croatia, appreciated the value in this approach, saying, ‘I am enriched by all the activities, interesting lectures, games and excursions.’
Higher level English
The women on the course came from a variety of occupations. Janina from Poland is a cardiologist. Monika, also from Poland, is a psychologist and university lecturer. A higher level of English is clearly an advantage when it comes to keeping abreast of the global literature in these specialisms. The course also featured lectures on fashion and style, interior design and decluttering; interesting and useful topics which enabled participants to use higher level English in discussion following the talks.
Yvonne, who worked as a reporter for the BBC, gave an interactive presentation on how a news broadcast is prepared and delivered. Each delegate was given a news item with the headline missing and tasked with creating a headline for the story.
Mihaela from Croatia was the youngest on the course, having just left school. The course will definitely give her confidence in her English language skills as she heads off to university to study aviation. Mihaela came to the course with her sister Lucija who is a speech therapist. Ana from Spain is a product manager and Marta, also from Spain, works in human resources. Anka felt she was ‘enriched and filled with joy’ at meeting the other participants.
‘We had a wide range of professions and interests among the women on the course,’ says Ann. ‘They benefited hugely from our dedicated English teacher, Helena, who is able to pick up quickly on what interests each person and pitch their language needs at the right level. Helena is excellent at finding a way to bring each person forward in their command of the language, at the same time as giving details about British culture.’
Achievement
The course was rounded off with each participant giving a short talk on a topic of their choice. Ana gave a talk on Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona. Janina spoke about the lives of her parents and grandparents under the brutal occupations endured by Poland. She gave a moving description of how her parents fled into the woods, but were rounded up and taken by train to Siberia. Lucija spoke about music therapy and how this helps people with illness and disability.
Each delegate was presented with a well-deserved certificate of achievement; a lasting reminder of a fruitful and happy week in Scotland.
The Hazelwood House course, with the mixture of formal and informal opportunities to speak English, certainly seems to have worked well. Anka was able to report: ‘Upon returning home, I experienced that I had gained spontaneity in communicating in English.’
‘The 2025 course was a great success,’ says Ann. ‘It was a wonderful opportunity for us at Hazelwood House to share 10 days with such interesting and accomplished women. They learned the English language. We learned the language of friendship and connection.’
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