It’s blog time again! After a summer break and announcing our birthday competition last week via the blog, we’re back with an article written by someone special! Today’s blog is an interview carried out with Lucy Gordon. Lucy, originally from the UK, now lives in Spain and is the latest member in the bambolango team! We’d like to extend a huge welcome to Lucy and we hope today’s blog allows you all to get to know her a little bit better…
Introducing Lucy Gordon…
I’m 34 and originally from a city in England called Norwich. I currently live just outside Valencia with my Spanish partner and our two cats. I love being creative and making things! When I was a child I was always asking my mum if we could make something, anything, it didn’t really matter what, as long as I was creating and crafting. Today I feed my passion for creativity by teaching English to children using creative activities and games, and making handmade botanical skincare.
I am currently studying a diploma in organic skincare formulation and advanced skin science. I love nothing more than spending a day researching ingredients, designing formulations and of course trying my creations out at the end of the day. The same can also be said of researching teaching ideas and activities: sometimes I can spend a whole day getting lost in ideas. And then I really enjoy watching them being carried out by the children in my classes.
While working in London, I was very lucky as I got to travel a lot as a result of working for global companies that had offices all over the world. I absolutely love being exposed to different languages and cultures and communicating any way possible.
My language career began with studying for a TEFL accreditation in London. Since then, I moved to Spain and have been teaching English to young learners and adults.
Which languages do you speak?
At school I studied French. However, today, in my household there’s a mixture of English and Spanish, and when I’m with my extended family there are usually 3 languages spoken – Spanish, English and Valencian. In the last few years I have picked up Spanish quite well, and I absolutely love the journey of learning a new language. Teaching English has definitely made learning Spanish easier because I can recognise patterns or formulas that correspond between the two languages, and then something clicks and I realise I’ve just made a huge step forward with my understanding. I don’t watch much TV but I like to test my Spanish every so often by tuning into something and seeing if I can understand more.
What made you move abroad to Valencia?
I have always wanted to live in Spain and be able to speak Spanish. My father loves Spain and also speaks Spanish. We would always visit whenever we could and I used to imagine myself here, so I think I always knew that one day I would live here.
Then, I met my current partner when we were both working in London. He’s from Valencia and didn’t speak much English when we met. This resulted in some communication difficulties at the start of our relationship! I’ll never forget trying to explain scrambled eggs and apple crumble to him. He got the two confused and thought they were one desert called pudding scrambled!
After a while in London we decided to move to Spain and I was so excited! I couldn’t wait to start the next chapter of my life and my career, and it didn’t disappoint!
What advice do you have for others who are considering moving abroad?
Do it! Moving abroad is a life changing experience. You get to meet new people and experience a new way of life. Sometimes it can be hard because there are times when you feel like you don’t fit in. And if you live abroad for a long time, when you go home you don’t feel like you really fit in there either. You become a kind of hybrid of your native country and your chosen country. This is both wonderful and difficult at times. But overall I would highly recommend moving abroad if you have the chance.
Do you have any tips for families who want to introduce a second language to their children?
Start exposing your child or children to the target language as soon as possible. Studies have shown that language acquisition in children is most efficient in the first five years of life. It’s during these years that a child can acquire a second language and even speak with the correct accent. So the earlier the better!
Thank you Lucy!
We’re very excited to be expanding the bambolango family, and pleased that Lucy will be leading some of our activities! If you would like to contact Lucy for more information on the activities she will run, please email lucy@bambolango.com.
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