Martin
Job title
Language travel consultant
Company and location
LANACOS Language Courses Abroad, Sevenoaks
Industry sector
Travel
Background
Learned Spanish at home, and German at school to O level
Studied French at school and then combined it with international business, Society and Government at university
Spent two years teaching English, French and Spanish in Japan and learned Japanese taking the Japanese government exams.
What do you do and what skills are needed?
I am the managing director of LANACOS – a specialist company offering tailor-made opportunities to travel abroad to learn a language, often linked to a leisure interest. My clients include business executives, school groups, gap year students and graduates. There are lots of reasons to travel and experience a new language. We organise cultural activities and sports with language. Imagine learning to ski in Germany and dancing the flamenco in Spain with top tutors. It's a great way to learn a language.
My work involves arranging the course, the accommodation and the activities in the host country. Travel abroad is an important part of my job - each provider has to be checked carefully before being included on our recommended list and website.
Other skills are needed besides languages. You have to be a very self-motivated person to run a successful business. I am good at economics and writing. At the end of the day, you have to be very alert. The work involves working with people from different cultures in various scenarios.
How did past experience help you?
I lived abroad a lot of my early life and have always found speaking different languages not only useful but fun. I have done a lot of teaching, for example in France and Argentina as well as Japan. Before teaching, I went into a telecommunications company and was put in charge of exports very quickly. Still now I don't think they appreciated the knowledge and scope I was giving their business. I soon left the company and decided that running my own business was much better and more rewarding. At the end of the day the only person I could blame was myself!
What do you enjoy most?
A large part of the job is getting to know the customers, dealing with their enquiries and giving advice. Clients are in touch with us whilst they are abroad and often remain in contact when they get back. I love the opportunity this job gives you to change lives. Two of our clients even got married as a result of their trip!
Any tips?
I would advise doing a language combined with another subject at university like Marketing, Business, Journalism, Biology etc. rather than doing just two languages. It will give you many more options later on.
Source: AGCAS