Company and Job title:
The Learning Curve Institute; Director, Co-Owner and Head of Languages and Outdoor Education

Sector:
Education

Background:

• First class honours degree in International Business with French and Spanish from Dublin City University and graduated top of my class.
• Director of Studies with Horizon Education and Learning Summer Camps in Ireland.
• Taught French and German in a secondary school in Ireland and I have also worked as a language teacher in New Zealand, Canada, Switzerland and France.
• Qualified and experienced Snowboard Instructor.

Language skills:
I speak Gaelic Irish, French and Spanish fluently and have an advanced competency of written and oral German. I also have basic Italian and Russian.

How would you describe your job?
It is diverse to say the least. As director of The Learning Curve Institute I do a lot of work online and behind the scenes but also teach French and Spanish in the classroom to both adults and teenagers who are preparing for exams.

I also organise and run The Learning Curve Camps which encompass learning exciting new sports such as Snowboarding whilst also becoming fluent in a foreign language in a fully immersed camp atmosphere. These camps prepare students for exams but also allows them to learn a language in a fun, exciting environment.

How do your language skills help you do your job?
I am always using my various languages not just in the classroom in a direct sense but also for organizing the camps in Switzerland and liaising with foreign schools.

What do enjoy most about your job?
Being able to teach Snowboarding and Languages all at the same time really is my dream job. I love working with children from such a variety of countries and seeing them progress with their sporting achievements and their language proficiency is a pleasure to be a part of.

What other skills and qualities do you need?
Organisation is absolutely key and time management is equally crucial but most of a love and passion for languages and learning is of the utmost importance.

What's a typical day for you?
Could be anything from strapping into my snowboard and teaching in French; to sending emails to prospective students; to standing in front of a group of adults who want to learn some Spanish before their holidays. Every day is different and more interesting than the last.

What's the best thing about knowing another language?
I love being able to link different languages together and speak with people from different cultures and backgrounds from all over the world. It’s also funny to see people’s faces when my thick Irish accent rapidly changes into French or Spanish.

How do you use your languages socially?
I have lots of friends from France and Spain who I keep in touch with regularly. I also spend a lot of time in France and Switzerland so my French and German is always coming in handy.