The students who attend our school have very varied profiles that enrich the diversity we have here. Today we share the experience of our student Céline, a language teacher who came to learn Spanish in Colombia with the Spanish school Nueva Lengua, at its headquarters in Bogotá and Medellín, to continue perfecting your Spanish and learn more about Colombian culture.

With the purpose of improving her level of Spanish in order to improve the classes that she herself teaches, Céline chose Nueva Lengua as the ideal place for your training. We wanted to interview her to learn a little more about her story.

Tell us a little about yourself: where you are from, what your occupation or job is, what your hobbies are, what languages ​​you speak...

I am from Aubagne, a small city in the south of France, next to Marseille. She has been teaching languages ​​for about fifteen years in different countries: Spain, Canada, Brazil and France. I have experience as a teacher of French foreign language (FLE), Spanish, English and Portuguese for children and adults.

I created my own school, a distance language training center, in 2016.

Now, I dedicate myself mainly to teaching Spanish and Portuguese; and the administrative and pedagogical management of the center.

Since 2021 we are already a team of 6 permanent teachers.

Why did you choose to dedicate yourself to language teaching? How many years of experience do you have and what is the most important thing you have learned in this time?

I decided to dedicate myself to language teaching because since I was little I was fascinated by Spanish and English classes at school. Everything seemed easy and obvious to me, so it was very natural to start teaching the youngest students who had school difficulties in those subjects.

Also, I began to dream of many trips at that same time and I was clear that I wanted to continue teaching languages ​​around the world. I was already looking forward to meeting new people, new cultures, helping people connect with each other through languages, breaking down linguistic and cultural barriers.

I didn't want to have a classic job at a single institute, college or university, but rather explore the world and create the career of my dreams.

Today I have been managing my school for seven years and teaching languages ​​for about fifteen.

During all those years I learned to adapt to students of various levels, cultures, nationalities, and with different personality traits. I also learned to design courses that suit each one of them according to their priorities and learning styles.

Why did you decide to come to Nueva Lengua?

I decided to come to Nueva Lengua (Bogotá and Medellín) to do my continuing training course this year. I already knew Brazil in South America, Costa Rica in Central America, Mexico in North America; So I was missing a Spanish-speaking country in South America!

I was excited to discover Colombia because of its history, the friendliness of its people and the variety of its geography. I wanted to discover the Andes, since I love the mountains and hiking too.

What is the most interesting thing about teaching a language that is your second language?

Teaching a language that is not my native language in my own country makes me travel!

I love motivating my students to dare to live their dreams, both professional and personal, in France and around the world. Learning and teaching languages ​​is opening up to the world and leaving your comfort zone to improve as a person in your life.

From your experience teaching languages, do you think it is more important to learn the practical part or the structural part of a language? Because?

I think that for beginners the theoretical part of the language, with grammar, is essential. One has to understand the syntax of the phrases of the language one is studying to be able to access higher levels with more autonomy. When you have all the necessary foundations, you can even continue studying on your own and put it into practice by talking to other people, watching movies, listening to songs, participating in activities with other speakers of the same language, etc.

Tell us about your experience in Colombia: interacting in Spanish, living with a Colombian family and practicing your Spanish at school: What have you learned?

My experience in Colombia has been very good, just as I expected. I had already worked with Colombian teachers and students in the past so I quickly felt integrated into this country.

My family from Bogotá has been very welcoming and kind to me at all times.

I had the opportunity to spend Candle Day with them, discover their traditions, cook typical dishes such as sancocho, ajiaco, arepas, etc.

It was an unforgettable and very positive experience. At school Nueva LenguaIn addition to Spanish classes, I learned to dance salsa and use Colombian parlache (slang).

What advice could you give to a person who is just starting their process of learning a new language?

I would tell her to dare to spend a few days alone in a country where the language she is learning is spoken as an official language. During that time, completely avoid the use of your native language. Try to "survive" for a few days (or weeks) to realize that when you need to speak, you manage to do so by forming shorter, simpler sentences. This is how basic vocabulary is used and new words are integrated when experiencing new situations.

In short, I think that looking for life is the best way to learn!

On the other hand, if you do not have any possibility to travel, it is recommended that you join groups of expatriates, make friends with native people and do various activities with them using the language you are learning. In this way, you learn naturally just like a baby who discovers a new reality every day with new words around him.

As time goes by, you will begin to dream in the new language and that same language will occupy a place almost as important as your mother tongue in your brain.

Of course, using applications, continuing to take classes, watching movies, listening to music must continue to be done a little each day at the same time so that the language maintains an important place in your daily life, and that... is forever!

Study Spanish in Colombia

If you want to see the full interview, access the following link on our YouTube channel: A Spanish course for ELE teachers.

For more information, consult our social networks such as @nuevalengua

Check the cultural activities what we have for you, or write to us at info@nuevalengua.com for more information about our Spanish courses and cultural immersion in Colombia.