8/31/08

Rewinding

I think that it's important to begin this blog presenting my resources, skills and tools in languages.

My mother tongue is Spanish and I studied French as second language at school. My mother was an excellent French teacher (now she's retired) and she taught me when I was child. Moreover, I can understand Catalan, Italian and Portuguese quite well if the conversations happen in a relaxed atmosphere.

In terms of English, I must say that to learn this language is a pending subject for years which causes me quite a lot of frustration. Although English is important in my job as web manager and business women, I've someone who is responsible for translations and who works as an interpreter when I need deeper English communication.

I was almost self-taught, I was learning with BBC videos, tv series subtitled and Internet tools... But, I needed a faster and more complete method.

Since January, I have been improving my English with the help of Stephen Hasler, a very nice British teacher who has lived in Murcia for twenty seven years and knows very well the problems that Spanish people have to learning English. I'm sharing his classes with my partner in XL internet, Daniel Caballero. Our teacher recomended me Bell Scholl Centres for my summer holidays. Thanks, Stephen!

My English isn't very good yet, it's just enough to get by. I didn't have time in two weeks in Cambridge to understand so enormous quantity of words that people said me, to fix all this Grammar, Vocabulary, skills for Marketing and Business, correct Pronounciation and Writing... But now I've a global and clear knowledge about what I need. I'm more confident and I'm sure that I'll find time and energy to have a better level as soon as possible.

I'll be really happy with this new language for my life.

8/30/08

Language immersion


Sunday 10 August 2008. I arrived from San Javier (Murcia, Spain, 18:25 and 40 ºC) to Luton Airport (London, United Kingdom, 20:00 and I needed a raincoat).

I'd arranged a taxi to go directly to Cambridge but nobody was waiting for me there. I called to know what's happened but my mobile phone didn't work very well and it went off before finish my conversation with Mr. John B., my taxi driver contact. I bought a drink to get coins and to call again. I got to understand him that all was under control, just a little delay, and I must wait for my taxi in the Airport Arrivals Area. Finally, the driver appears!

Then, with my first little problem resolved and travelling on the left with a nice taxi driver, I begin an amazing adventure: a total English immersion for two weeks.