Category: Case Study

I am writing this final entry to the John Speak Language Trust from Milan, Italy, two and a half years after I was first awarded the scholarship.

Back in 2022, this foundation helped me to move from Sheffield to Florence in order to complete a yearlong Master’s degree in Fashion Design –this move changed the way my days have looked ever since.

Looking back at this time is something incredibly special to me and I am grateful to have this opportunity to reflect on the fantastic impact that it has made.

In Florence, I was able to study in a language that I was set on mastering, in an authentic environment where I could be fully immersed in Italian culture. Undergoing tutorials, presenting and justifying work at University is something that as a “creative” is always daunting. However, the satisfaction and confidence that came with doing this in Italian was overwhelming. In this way, I was exposed to diverse and contemporary ways of thinking about work, and I fully recognize today the profound effect that this had on my career.

I was intimidated by the idea of interacting solely in Italian. Having worked in Italy some years previously, I was comfortable with technical language used in the studio (explaining technical drawings and asking for help when drafting pattern blocks or needing to borrow scissors). As a student completing an Internship, I was so focused on work that I invested little time on social interactions outside of the workplace or integrating myself within a working community. Yet my return to Italy was an entirely different story. I was inundated with support from the wonderful people that I met, encouraging me to immerse myself in the language and the lifestyle. Free time was spent cooking together, sharing ideas, exploring and travelling with newfound friends. We remain extremely close and are now scattered across Italy in various pursuits and areas of commerce.

Coming from Sheffield and finding myself now working as a womenswear designer in one of fashion’s capital cities is a scenario that I hadn’t imagined possible for me. I come across very few British people in my field, even fewer from the North of England, and I believe that this gives me a unique insight and understanding of the Industry. Honing my skills and broadening my horizons by working and living in Italy has become a part of my identity and I am incredibly proud to be representing the Trust and my home Country on this stage

I often look forward to returning home as being abroad has really helped me to understand what is special about the UK.

However, for now I find myself completely immersed in the life built here in Italy. After much studying, I was awarded my Italian citizenship at the end of 2023 which continues to open doors for exciting possibilities across Europe.

As I continue to be shaped both personally and professionally by these different cultures, I am proud to be recognised as a product of collaboration and support across borders.

A huge thank you to The John Speak Language Trust for the encouragement and support in these endeavors! I am more than happy to talk with any other young professionals who are considering a similar course of action that have also sought the assistance of John Speak.

I moved to Canada in August 2023 and was lucky enough to spend the next 10 months living and enjoying Montreal and the wider province. My French level before coming to Quebec was high, having studied the language at university for 2 years, but this stay in Montreal still allowed me to improve hugely. By putting myself in different situations and experiences, I was able to develop a vocabulary and fluency that is not possible to develop in the classroom. From job interviews and university lectures to presentations and working in a café, the experience was fully immersive, allowing me to progress in my confidence in French as well as understand other nuances of the language, such as register.

Following a course which really interested me (Mineur des études catalanes) at the Université de Montréal allowed me to deepen my knowledge of the Catalan language and culture whilst equally improving my French, a 2-for-1 deal in language learning! The university experience allowed me to develop my skills in presenting, normally in front of a class of 30, as well as translating from English to French (and vice versa) but also from Catalan to French (and vice versa). My open courses at the university equally allowed me to expand on my interests in trade and international politics through courses such as an introduction to the European Union and the inner workings of its institutions.

Making friends who were Montréalais and Québécois meant that I was able to use their knowledge of the city to find the best spots, enjoy activities particular to the region (such as going to an Ice hockey game and visiting a cabane à sucre) and improve my comprehension skills to an almost native level. This also meant that I was able to accompany them on trips around the province (such as to Quebec City) and dive deeper into the culture, visiting museums, tasting local foods, and taking part in other activities such as skiing and city cultural celebrations. On the other hand, friends who were also international students (from Belgium and France) meant that I was exposed to different accents and Francophone cultures too which gave me a more wholistic experience of Francophone life. These friendships allow me to continue my French immersion even when I have returned to the UK, as well as maintain a link with the cultural aspects of the region.

The whole experience has been one of the most amazing I have had in my life, and I am really grateful to the John Speak Trust for their support which helped me through my time in Quebec. On my return to the UK, I am planning on continuing my studies of French and Catalan with the aim of working as a translator in the wider trade industry, and this opportunity to translate and improve my level in both languages has really helped that goal.

In October 2023, I embarked on an exciting six-month journey to Brussels with support from the John Speak Languages Trust.

Thanks to funding and continual encouragement from the Trust, this experience not only broadened my professional horizons but also deepened my understanding of the French language and Belgian culture.

Upon my arrival, the challenge began immediately with a housing mix-up (where the landlord attempted to sneakily rent out my room to another tenant whilst I had to undergo surgery for a room that I had already signed the contract of and was already paying for!), meaning that I was faced with a battle against the complexities of the Belgian renting market and a pretty awful and dishonest person to deal with. This unexpected hurdle was the first real test of my language abilities, having to read up on complex laws, reporting to the local commune, and ultimately arguing my case all in a foreign language (something that would’ve been hard enough in English!). With help from French friends, I thankfully managed to navigate local bureaucracy to get my money back and secure a place to live.

My internship, situated in the heart of European politics, gave me a great insight into how the UK operates and conducts policy with our largest trading partner, something I got real first-hand experience with in the Economic Affairs team. From debating economic policies to crafting international agreements, each day was filled with engaging tasks that utilised and enhanced my language skills. Attending meetings and discussions inside the European Commission was particularly insightful. I even had the opportunity to get a feel for the atmosphere at various EU institutions, including a visit to the European Council, which was documented in my November report.

The cultural aspect of my stay was equally enriching. I lived with Erasmus students from France, which allowed me to experience an immersion of the French language both at home and at work. Through the British embassy I managed to have a lot of contact with Belgians, working at the mission, who were always keen to share aspects about Belgian culture and history (teach-ins, excursions, etc.). Seeing Brussels change through its seasons was also great, from the snow-covered streets in January and the break of Spring just as I was leaving, the six months there really gave me a full impression of Belgium. By the end I had found that my French skills had been considerably honed, finding it easy to switch between French and English, something that will be really important continuing on this path of international affairs. Finally, funnily enough the departure from Brussels was almost as disastrous as the arrival. The chaotic yet humorous ordeal with every taxi refusing to take me, leading to me inevitably missing my train by 6 minutes made my final moments just as memorable as my first.

I’d like to recommend two things for anyone looking to also go for the John Speaks Languages Trust before closing:

1. For immersion, really insist that you want to only speak the language.

Although our reputation as a country is very poor for language learning, this very instance of insisting is really hard from a British perspective. I think it feels rude for us because many people would like to practise their English with a native speaker. You just need to persevere and be clear about why you are abroad. I said very openly and honestly that I am abroad to learn about their culture and to learn their language, something that is usually well received.

2. Don’t be discouraged by mistakes. Perfectionism with language learning will only hold you back.

I have made many funny double entendres in French. Just persevere and learn to laugh at yourself when saying things that aren’t 100% correct.

Overall, my time in Brussels was a transformative period that equipped me with invaluable skills and experiences. The support from the John Speak Languages Trust was instrumental in making this journey possible, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity. I’m looking forward to applying the knowledge gained here to my future endeavours and encourage others to embrace such enriching experiences that undoubtedly shape personal and professional paths.

First and foremost, I would like to thank the John Speak partnership for supporting me on my journey to Paris.

Every interaction I had with your members was supportive and nurturing and made me feel confident about the life I was pursuing abroad.

Living in Paris was wonderful. The total immersion into the language that John Speak promotes is undoubtedly the best way to learn – it challenges you as a learner and forces you to uncover parts of your personality you perhaps would never be aware of otherwise.

Full language immersion really takes you out of your comfort zone.

My life in Paris was enhanced by my flatmates. Not only did I improve my French with them, but they also acted as a window into Parisian, and French life.

On weekends we often went swimming together. I sampled many different Parisian pools, some 25m and some 50m. My favourite was the Piscine Roger Le Gall, 50m with a removable roof.

Another key factor in my settling in was the mobility I achieved with my bicycle. I rented one from Swapfiets, where you pay a monthly fee for a bike. I cannot emphasise enough how much having a bike aided my familiarisation with the city. Paris is incredibly cyclable – there are bike lanes throughout large parts of the city. The North Bank of the Seine was converted from a busy road into a pedestrian and bike lane, too, which makes a wonderful journey.

As for my French, I was able to improve it greatly. Apart from speaking in French as much as possible, I switched my reading into French too. Bookshops and libraries are special to me. I became somewhat obsessed with the Édouard Louis and, after having read his first book a few years ago, I’ve now read his entire bibliography (apart from the book he published in April this year, though it’s next on my list). His style is very accessible for a non-native speaker since it is so fluid and more similar to spoken than written French – he doesn’t waste time with the simple past and such haughty nonsense. I endeavoured to read as many newspapers and magazines as possible, too. I found myself frequently trying to read Le Monde diplomatique, though admittedly the finer details did seem to gracefully swanning over, instead of installing themselves into, my head.

So I had reading, listening (apart from listening to everything my flatmates had to offer – ranging from engaging, political debates to garbled, repetitive commentary on the mediocre performance levels of various Ligue 1 football teams, I tried to listen to French radio and podcasts as often as possible), and speaking covered. The final pillar of language learning was writing. Nowadays, the opportunities to write with a pen and paper are almost inexistent. I believe this is, however, a valuable way to learn. So I diligently wrote a diary in French every day as part of my morning routine. My incessant scribblings are very, very far from scratching the surface of interesting for any prospective reader and are undoubtedly coloured by persistent errors, but the practice of getting words onto paper every single day was wonderful. It boosted my confidence and got my brain going.

I adored France, and Paris, and I’m so grateful to John Speak for helping make it happen. My French has improved massively over the past half-year and I intend to take a C1 exam in the near future to cement that learning.

Prior to leaving for Oman, I panicked about leaving my life in the UK for three months. There’s something very disconcerting about the unknown. On reflection, I have learnt that the unknown is what makes something an adventure, and more often than not good things lie on the other side of fear.

Once I arrived in Oman, the fear subsided.  I had a few connections from the UK in Oman, such as a colleague’s parents who were very welcoming and let me stay with them for a few days in Muscat. I also met my classmates, forty-one students from sixteen different nationalities that I would spend the next three months with. I was excited to learn more about them and to explore all that Oman has to offer.

Arabic is like learning two languages in one, there is Modern Standard Arabic and dialect. During lessons I spoke in Modern Standard Arabic, and tried to develop all four skills in the language. Modern Standard Arabic is used in formal settings, such as newspapers, books, speeches. Outside of lessons, I spoke with my classmates in dialect, in the dining hall, during break times and on visits. I also haggled with taxi drivers in dialect, even when they tried switching to English. I spoke with locals at the souk and residents of Manah whenever I met them. I made every effort to speak Arabic even when I wasn’t sure that others fully understood my point. And I enjoyed every moment of it.

Omanis, like many Arabs, are very impressed when foreigners can hold a conversation with them in their native language. The great thing about a language is that it allows you to access spaces that wouldn’t be possible if you didn’t have that ability. For example, I was able to speak to a local Omani lady who invited me to her house and see her way of life.

Language learning isn’t a linear journey. During the three months, I had a few sets back but also some breakthrough moments. The setbacks were around grammar rules that seemed onerous and difficult to remember, which dented my confidence. The breakthroughs were being able to understand Arabic tour guides during our visits and coming away with new information. Or the times when I unconsciously started thinking in Arabic without even realising.

I also learnt a lot from my classmates about how they learnt Arabic and tips and tricks they used to master the language. I’ve never met such a diverse range of people all with the same interest in Arabic as me. It reminded me, even as we celebrated our different cultures and traditions, that we had more in common than our differences.

Finally, I’d like to say a massive thank you to the John Speak Foundation. Thank you for the words of encouragement during my interview and for funding my language course in Oman. Without it, I wouldn’t have been able to spend three months learning Arabic in Oman, something that I’ve spent six years dreaming about.

My time in Jordan! A country full of life, chaotic joy, shisha smoke, cats and gorgeous food.

Before talking about wonderful Jordanian quirks I’d like to thank the John Speak Trust, first for their financial support, without which I would not have been able to travel to Jordan and hugely improve my Arabic. And secondly, for their belief and patience in me as a language student, for which I am immensely grateful.

I will summarise my four months in Jordan through talking about the small quirks I appreciated the most and how it helped me with my Arabic.

1. Jabal al-Hussein – my neighbourhood

I ended up living on the border between Jabal al-Weibdeh (the area where most of the foreign students live) and Jabal al-Hussein, a 1950s refugee camp which is now built up as a residential part of Amman. I hit the jackpot with my lively landlady and housemates, who encouraged me to always speak in Arabic. I lived on top of one of the tallest hills, fantastic for views of the city and fantastic for enforced exercise.

2. Arab hospitality

The second thing that is a cliche but is something I can attest to was the friendliness and welcoming hospitality of the people I met. Starting with my landlady, who invited me every Friday to her house for traditional Syrian breakfast, and brought us along to weddings she went to, and took me to the doctors when I was ill. These are not things that a landlord in the UK would generally do, but she explained to me that it was inbuilt in her very fabric, Arabic culture dictates that you should invite people for food into your house. Another thing that I enjoyed and found very wholesome was that no one needed alcohol to have fun, dance and be in each other’s company. I practised a lot of Arabic at her house and with her family, and for that I am grateful.

I was also invited to many other homes, my Arabic teachers family, where I had the best rice and chicken, two Syrian families I met on the Citadel and through my landlady, who were very generous and invited us into their homes and made beautiful meals. I am very grateful for these experiences as many other foreign students didn’t have these opportunities to meet locals, see how real Arab families live, experience delicious food and practise Arabic.

One particular story that stood out to me was when my friends and I were driving along the Jordan Valley Highway up the Dead Sea and we pulled over to look at the fantastic view, and proceeded to get stuck in the sand and couldn’t drive off. Luckily some Jordanian army soldiers patrolling the road saw our situation and tried to help us. A random stranger also helped us and along with the army blokes, towed us to his house nearby and blew up our tire with air again, since we had to let the air out of the tire to get out of the sand. He then offered us tea and food, we unfortunately had to get on our way but again, the absolute kindness and willingness from strangers to drop everything and inconvenience their own lives to help others was very inspiring. Communicating all of these experiences in my beginner Arabic was also very entertaining to witness I’m sure.

Lots of people have told me they didn’t like Amman, especially east Amman, and I always reply the same thing, which is that they didn’t understand the city for what it is, a place of many stories, often families who’ve gone through a lot of suffering and ended up in Amman, but who emit a chaotic and friendly joy that is hard to find elsewhere.

Moving to Germany for 6 months with the help and support of The John Speak Trust, didn’t have a huge impact on my life. It changed its direction completely.

My mum was born and raised in Germany, but moved to England when she was in her early twenties. My parents for various reasons, raised me in a solely English-speaking household, which left later in my life, what can only best be described as a ‘jigsaw puzzle piece’ missing from my identity. I attempted many times over the course of my teens and young adult life to learn German, but it became quite clear that in order to reach the level of fluency I desired, I had to immerse myself in the country, its culture and its people.

In September 2022, with the help of a bursary from The John Speak Trust, I moved to Germany with the intention of significantly improving my German before returning to England to continue my studies in Primary Education and German Language Studies. What I didn’t intend on happening, was falling in love with country, throwing myself into so many new experiences and encounters, and meeting some of the most amazing people in my life who I will treasure forever.

The first couple of months came with its challenges, but the positives, absolutely outweighed the negatives.

I set myself the rule from day one, that I would immerse myself as much as possible in the language. This meant only German TV, only German music (that was a struggle!), and at all costs, only German to communicate. This last point in a country such as Germany, was at times quite difficult, as Germans are known for being good English speakers and many jump at the chance to speak English when they have the opportunity. However, I stood firm, and also when it was difficult, pushed through to have myself understood.

In terms of meeting new people and making friends, I 100% landed in the perfect setting. Landau is a university town and although there are also many families and older people living there, the town is for the majority, populated by students. My WG (flat share) was a mixture between working young people and students, and this absolutely worked to my advantage as there was always someone around who had free time to share with me. This mix also allowed me to meet new friends of all different age ranges and backgrounds.

Over the course of my 6 months in Germany, I experienced so many firsts. My first ever German Birthday celebration, a pumpkin carving party, Eintopf (Typical German casserole/soup) in a Palatinate Hut in the woods, my first ever ‘real’ German Christmas Market, fireworks in the street on New Year, and Carnival (or Fasching as it is known here), are just to name a few.

Saying goodbye to Germany after 6 months was really hard for me, as I truly believe that I found myself there, and the boost it gave me in my German knowledge and speaking was phenomenal. After some hard decision making, and reflecting on what I really wanted in my life, I made the decision to return to Germany to continue my studies here at Landau University, with a focus on English Language teaching in German secondary schools, along side improving and perfecting my own German.

My intention is to encourage and inspire more young people to go down the route of foreign language in their careers, in the hope that in particular, Germany and England can remain fiercely united in working together.  

Words almost seem not enough to describe how beyond thankful I am for this experience.

The bursary itself helped enormously, but apart from that, The John Speak provided me with the guidance and improvements I required through my monthly reports, and even down to my first initial interaction and conversation with Mark Green at The John Speak Trust, this is what inspired me and gave me the confidence to take this huge step in my life.

Thank you. I will be forever grateful.

The past four months in Bologna has been an adventure that has transformed my relationship with the Italian language. It has been a journey that has allowed me to explore my passion for the Italian culture and to profoundly immerse myself in the language of the country.

That journey began roughly four years ago when I threw myself into learning Italian. I enjoyed the challenge and the gratification in being able to connect with people that I would have been unable to connect with otherwise.

As a result, I spent most of my free time listening to Italian podcasts, watching Italian films, and speaking to very supportive (and very patient) tutors and language partners online. For those four years, Italian was basically the air that I breathed and studying became just a normal part of my everyday life.

After retraining during Covid, I found myself in my third year at university and was offered the opportunity to study abroad. There were only two options: Stuttgart or, fortuitously, Bologna. I was delighted as it was the perfect opportunity to continue both my marketing studies as well as my language learning journey. Additionally, it would give me the cultural exposure that is important for international marketing which is a particular field of interest.

From the moment of arrival, I fell in love with Bologna. It is a city steeped in history and made distinct by the numerous towers that dot its skyline and the buildings that glow orange in the sunlight. I fondly remember the evening passeggiatas through the historic portici and I remember how the city felt so alive and yet so serene. It was there amidst the shared gelatos and the sound of laughter that I learned far more about Italian language and culture than I ever could in a classroom.

The opportunities for immersion were profound and numerous so I quickly began to develop real fluency in the language. Upon arrival I had to navigate the famous Italian bureaucracy and I surprised myself in being able to do so entirely in Italian.

As the days turned into months, I noticed a transformation taking place. The more I was thrust into unfamiliar situations, the more my confidence improved. I became less anxious about making mistakes and so my Italian became more fluent. Before I thought of myself as an Italian learner but now, I considered myself an Italian speaker.

I owe a great debt of thanks to the John Speak Trust. It is without doubt that without the support of the Trust during this period I would have had less time to commit to immersing and improving my Italian. I highly encourage my fellow language students to apply for this scholarship.

I also implore my fellow language students to be fearless in how they approach learning their target language. Take every opportunity available to immerse in the language and make the most of it. Don’t shy away from daunting conversations but rather embrace them as great opportunities to develop your language skills. Doing so you will gain the confidence and resilience necessary to be a fluent speaker of the language. Living in Bologna allowed me to do this daily and will remain a significant milestone on my Italian journey.

Case Study – Isabel Wassermann: Taipei, Taiwan 2022-2023

My year in Taiwan has been a meaningful experience in my life and propelled my Mandarin Chinese skills from the bare minimum at the start, to being able to navigate all aspects of daily life in Chinese by the end.

I would like to start by thanking the John Speak Trust for their support and for making my time in Taiwan one full of rich experience.

I arrived in Taipei, Taiwan in September 2022 to take language classes for the academic year as part of my degree in East Asian Studies. The classes were intensive, and at the start, somewhat of a shock as my teachers did not speak English and my Mandarin was minimal. This proved beneficial as I immediately had to start using Mandarin every day to make myself heard, and I learned quickly.  My teachers were all passionate and supportive, making the learning process so enjoyable. When I was not in class, such as for public holidays, I used the time to travel outside of Taipei to other places, such as Hualien and Tainan. These trips offered me another perspective of Taiwan and I was able to experience culture such as the temples, food, and a memorable conversation with a man of Indigenous Taiwanese background.

There were a few lows, such as the time I caught COVID, but even this became a precious learning experience for me: How do I navigate the healthcare system here? How should I explain my symptoms in Chinese? How do I go and find out the current rules surrounding COVID? I soon figured these things out and had new tools to navigate any future issues. Of course, there were many more highlights during my time abroad.

One of the main highlights was the first time I was praised for my Chinese skills by a stranger. My parents had come to visit me, and it was my job to be tour guide and communicator. I was in a restaurant with my father and had used my recently learned Chinese to order our drinks and what we wanted to put on the barbecue, when the waitress complemented me saying that my Chinese was very good and precise. As I had only been in Taiwan for 3 months at that point, it felt wonderful that not only I was able to converse with not too much struggle but also be told I was doing well. Furthermore, at that point in time I was worried about speaking in Chinese in front of my parents as I didn’t want to disappoint them after all the support they had given me in my studies so far, so it really meant a lot. In the end, they actually expressed to me that they were very proud, and that their enjoyable trip to Taiwan was enabled by my speaking Chinese to book restaurants and chat with taxi drivers.

Another great memory from the time was my visit to Hualien with some classmates. We saw some beautiful historic architecture and visited the most amazing (and enormous!) night market. It was wonderful to get out into a smaller city, as they are often culturally different to capitals such as Taipei. One evening, when walking down a street we stumbled across two very cute dogs. We exclaimed how adorable they were, and to our surprise the owner plopped them in our laps and we had a lovely conversation about where we are from and what we were up to. It was one of the first times we experienced how friendly the people of Taiwan can be.

As anyone would expect, moving to the other side of the world can be quite daunting.

However, this is also the most enriching, fun, and enjoyable experiences one could ever have. I have learned so much about both another culture and language and also myself. I would tell anyone considering doing something similar to jump in head first – yes, there are challenges, but because of those challenges you really grow and gain a new perspective of the world.

I would like to thank the John Speak Trust once again for their support, it really made all the difference.