Tell us about your job
I work for EF, Education First, a global company providing education to people worldwide. EF has many schools dotted around the world which offer a combination of language training with cultural exchange, academic achievement and educational travel. I work in a school based in Malaga, Spain. This school offers Spanish language courses to a variety of ages all year round, including their Language Travel program for younger students (13-17yrs) in the summer.
In the Administration and Student Service Coordinator role, my job is to assist the Accommodation Manager in allocating students to their chosen accommodation, be that host families or school residences. I assess and accept bookings for future students and most importantly work day to day with the current students at school, supporting them with any personal issues or queries about their program. Working in Malaga means you are always a short walk from the beach and in summer we make a very attractive destination for students who want to have a productive summer, enjoying the culture and learning a new language.
Tell us how your degree in Spanish and History helped you get there
I am very grateful for the opportunity to be part of the EF team and thanks to my degree at Chester, it has opened many doors for me. I took part in the British Council teaching placement during my Erasmus year abroad, where I moved to a small city in Northern Spain (Ourense Galicia). I fell in love with the country and Spanish culture.
After my year abroad I knew exactly what I wanted to do, and that was to finish my degree and move back to Spain. After graduating with a 2:1 honours, I re-applied to the British Council program and this time I was placed in Malaga, where I worked for another school year before applying for a temp position in EF, and the rest is history!
Tell us the best thing about studying at Chester
I had a fantastic four years studying at the University of Chester. The best part of my degree was the bond we created in the Modern Languages department. In our final year, we all grew very close and the whole team of staff were so supportive to all students. I always felt that their doors were open to come for advice.
I started my degree as a very shy and nervous student and moving away from home (although I was only an hour away) was a very big step for me. However, I feel like this was the push I needed and I not only gained many new skills academically, but also the experience allowed me to come out of my shell. I have made some very good friends at university, and would never hesitate in stopping by the modern languages office if I was back in Chester for a visit.
Tell us about your plans for the future
When choosing my degree I was so unsure on what career to pursue and hoped that by choosing the subjects I most enjoyed, I would find new interests along the way. At the moment I am delighted with my job as I have become very passionate about language learning. I believe that spending some time abroad to learn about new cultures is something everyone should try to experience. I have discovered a great interest in Education Management and hope to develop in this industry in the future.
If anyone is debating a degree in languages or unsure on what to do post degree, I am more than happy to chat to any alumni and answer any questions they may have.