Is the project stabilized the most verbal? Is it easier and easier for people to talk to these groups?

Yes, people ask us to join the Basque speaking groups. The company has its customers, and more and more. Often our problem is to put all these people in groups, because many groups are overwhelmed. We're a little bit fair in terms of capacity because it's a crowd. We want to grow, but we can’t grow too much. The only group promoter in Bilbao is me, although I also have the support of associations.

The Bilbao Verbal Groups meet in the same network. Do you have any help from the City Council?

We have worked hard to unite the Basque Country teams, with the aim of building a network between the Asapala Basque Association, the Berbaizu Basque Association, the Leuze Basque Association and the AEK of Bilbao. We worked in coordination. We have managed to have a great structure, but we lack funding. So far the subsidy from the City Council has been very low and the AEK has been the one who has done the work. We have managed to unite the majority of the groups and create a network of Bilbao’s co-workers, and we ask the City Council to commit to this.

Has the number of students decreased or increased compared to the previous school year?

The numbers are similar in this course. There are more than 50 groups throughout Bilbao, and about 300 people participate in these groups.

Where is the largest group of Verbalists?

The largest number of groups are in Mahatserria. That is, in Santutxu, Txurdaga, Otxarkoaga, Zurbarán and Kastaños. Let’s say there are seven to eight teams. There are also many groups in the Seven, four or five groups in Old Bilbao, five or six in Indautxu, one group in Olabeaga, three or four in Severe, Irala...

Have the teams spread to all the neighborhoods in Bilbao?

It's been our only fault for a long time. In Abusu, for example, it is possible that some group will be formed this year. We collaborate with the people in charge of the libraries of the neighborhood to create and disseminate verbal groups.

What are Bilbao’s needs? Do you need travel companions?

We always need friends. Because we want every team to have a partner, that’s the challenge. We're missing five or six. We refer to those who study or are in the process of learning Basque and those who contribute to the process as ‘companions’. The companion may be an old Basque, full, with EGA, or a Basque in general. There is no need for teachers in the groups, but it is necessary to have a certain model; the participants demand that the model of the traveling companion be in the group.

What is the profile of cowboys?

We have all kinds of profiles. There are volunteers who come to help. For example, some volunteers started in Santutxu about ten years ago and are still there. Others are Basque and, because they do not use Basque in their environment or in their family, they need people and a Basque environment to bring out the Basque language they know. There are those who come looking for a gang rather than others, who come to meet or flirt with new people... there is everything, as in life.

How old are the cowboys?

It's a pretty high age range, too many young people don't exist. Most are over 35 years old.

What do you need to do to join a group of supporters?

It's very simple. If you search on the Internet you will find our blog or the website of the Bilbao City Council, from which there is also a direct link. There is an option to register in the Eskuma area. Fill in the details and I'll call them myself.

What conditions must the verbales meet?

We ask you two things: on the one hand, to have a minimum knowledge of the Basque language, that is, to have a certain ability to communicate (level B1). On the other hand, to make a commitment of one hour per week in the group of conversation. We work by courses and, imagine, some groups have been together for ten years. In addition to the blog, there is also Facebook and phone to contact us, so go ahead!

berbalaguna.blogspot.com.es

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berbalaguna@aek.eus

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