Spanish On Tongues

What prompted you to set up a language school in Spain and teach Spanish to Poles?

I already have eight years of experience as a Spanish teacher and I can confidently say, after so much time, that this is my passion. On a personal level, it is very important for me to work on self-development and I also like to help others in this regard. Before coming here, I was a Spanish teacher in Poland, where I also had my own Spanish language school. I also worked as a public school teacher. For me, working in Spanish language teaching is one of the most important parts of my life.

How long did you live in Poland and what prompted you to learn Polish?

I lived in Poland for about seven years. I think that when someone moves to another country, it is their responsibility to integrate and adapt to the society of that country. Without a doubt, learning the native language is the key to making this integration possible. In fact, the main goal of my school is to help integrate my students in Spain. At the moment, I am conducting meetings between my students and native Spanish speakers so that this integration was as effective and possible as possible.

Can you talk about your experience of daily life in Poland and what challenges you faced as a foreigner?

While living in Poland I had good and bad experiences. As it can happen anywhere. I could say that the most difficult one was learning the language, but that wouldn't be entirely true, because I never thought about whether learning the language was easy or difficult, I just assumed from the beginning that this is something you have to do if you live abroad abroad and there are no excuses.

Are there specific elements of Polish culture that you found fascinating or difficult to understand?

One of these things was undoubtedly the need to take off your shoes when entering a house. It seemed surprising to me at first, and when I started thinking about the reasons, it seemed very logical. I was also very pleasantly surprised by Polish hospitality. Another thing that surprised me was that there are many believing and practicing Poles. Something like this happens in Spain increasingly rare. I was fascinated by Polish weddings; they last two days! At no wedding did I have so much fun and drink so much alcohol as at a Polish one. I have very good memories of it.

What are the most common difficulties that Poles usually face when learning Spanish, and what methods do you use to help them?

Without a doubt, the Polish mentality itself is often the main difficulty. Usually Poles want it to be quick and perfect from the very beginning. This is impossible when it comes to about learning languages. You should be aware that making grammatical mistakes is normal when you start learning a language, and that you should be patient, not punish yourself or feel bad about your mistakes. The most important thing is that you work and study to learn the language, to integrate into society, and if only for that reason you should be proud of yourself and feel satisfaction".

When teaching Spanish to Poles, have you noticed any unique features in their approach to language learning?

Perfectionism and talent. On the one hand, as I mentioned before, this perfectionism can work against language learning, as its excess creates a sense of failure. It is for this reason that from the very beginning, when a student starts classes at my school, I explain a lot and emphasize that he must relax, be patient and be proud of his progress and willingness to learn.

And on the other hand, without a doubt, the talent for learning languages, which many Poles have. Of course, not all of them, but after teaching students from different countries, such as England, Ireland, the United States, Finland... I can say that, without a doubt, the most talented students I have worked with are the Poles.

What advice would you have for Poles who would like to learn Spanish and integrate into Spanish society?

I would advise them to try to have as much contact with Spaniards as possible, to read a lot in Spanish, to try to think in Spanish and to be systematic in learning the language. For my part at my school, I offer them all of these things, and especially now I want to focus on contact with the Spanish people through meetings between my students and them, which we have already started. I'm aware that this can be difficult in Torrevieja, so I'm doing everything I can to help them overcome this barrier so they can feel part of this society.

Do you have future plans for your school?

I plan to open a second school in Torrevieja. As a new addition to the school, in addition to Spanish, I would like to offer my youngest students between the ages of 2 and 7 to study english language. The opening is planned for April. The facility will be located on Bautista Bertomeu Street, next door to Habaneras Public School and various services such as a gym, dance school, Habaneras shopping center.... And most importantly, there is parking :D