Student of the Semester: Winter 2024
As the Winter Semester is drawing to a close it’s time to reveal our Student of the Semester… Natalie!
Natalie began her language journey with us in our Italian Chick classes, and after a few semesters of Post-Chick she has now flown the nest and joined our Fledgling Italian classes!
Continue reading as we asked Natalie a few questions about her experience learning with us and her top tips for a successful language journey!
What made you start the classes at Lingo Flamingo?
I had previously dabbled at trying to learn a language from some apps, but when I started dating my now fiancé I decided to get serious and join a class so I could better communicate with his family who don't speak any English. As a social enterprise, Lingo Flamingo was a no brainer to be the place to join.
Where did your language journey take you?
It's taken me from joining the Chick classes two years ago to now scratching my head in the Fledgling classes! I’m very proud of my achievements and how far I’ve come with the classes and it's a great reminder of how far I've come along on the days where I think I've made no progress! I also love music and now I get to add a whole new set to my collection of Italian artists and bands.
Do you have any tips for continued learning?
Get involved in the classes, take as much from them as you can. Ask all the questions even if you think it might a silly one (it never is!) Over the years the teachers at Lingo Flamingo have recommended great resources to me from podcasts to books, TV shows and YouTube videos and websites. Using all of these tools and the classes combined really help. As well as trying to be a bit more brave on holiday in Italy and using the language with locals of course.
How do you find the Lingo Flamingo classes?
I've done a mixture of both online and in-person classes and I love them both. I've met so many people from different backgrounds all with our own motivations to learn and its refreshing to be in an environment where there is no pressure to make a mistake as its all part of the journey.
The classes are varied through the lessons too so you might be rolling a big fuzzy dice to see what verb you'll conjugate, watching a clip of a broadcast to test your listening, doing some group reading, having conversational practice, playing time bingo or learning about cultural events. Usually by the end of class I can't believe it's over the time flies by.
When you’re not at Lingo Flamingo, what do you get up to?
I work full time in procurement so that takes up most of my week. Outside of that and the Lingo Flamingo classes you will usually find me unwinding at a gig, planning my next holiday, playing bass guitar, supporting the Glasgow basketball team, plunging myself into a loch outside somewhere for endorphins, trying to beat an escape room or at home with a playstation controller in my hands!
Thanks for speaking to us Natalie and good luck as you continue your language journey!