Esther
Job title
Assistant Research Co-ordinator
Organisation and location
Frontier, Nicaragua
Industry sector
Conservation
Background
BSc Zoology
MSc Wildlife Biology and Conservation
Conversational Spanish learned whilst working in Nicaragua
What are your main responsibilities at work?
I work with volunteers doing biodiversity surveys on a nature reserve. Spanish is used in everyday life from buying food at the local shop to giving environmental education presentations to the local communities and communicating with the reserve wardens and NGO (Non-Government Organisations).
Have languages helped you get on?
Yes, definitely. Living and working in a different country presents its own problems and takes some getting used to. Learning the language helps in all aspects of work and general life - it would have been even more helpful had I learned Spanish before arriving in Nicaragua!
Why are languages important in your work?
My job involves working with local communities and with a Nicaraguan NGO. Many people speak a small amount of English in the main towns and cities, but out in the remote areas where I am working no-one speaks English at all. Being able to speak Spanish means that I am able to communicate with the people we are working with and generally makes life easier.
How did your past experience help you in your job now?
Not much - I had never worked abroad before and the only experience I had of languages was GCSE French and German. I think even this level of foreign language knowledge helped me pick up the Spanish though – there are quite a lot of similarities with French.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy working in and learning about a completely different environment and culture, and working alongside the local NGO and communities to promote and improve their environment.
What tips would you give to anyone interested in using languages in your area?
You ideally need an environmental science/ecology related background (BSc level at least) and fieldwork experience. Although not essential for this type of job, being able to speak the language makes life much more interesting and it is also a lot easier to be a part of a different culture. Even just learning the basics before you start work in a different country can make it much easier to get along and meet new and interesting people. Practice makes perfect, don’t be afraid to try to communicate.