And no, it’s not like Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

I started out by teaching kids. I will never forget their eager sonrisas (smiles) in class every day. So, I prepared class plans and activities and games and tests. I remember those days like it was yesterday. I remember the excitement, the challenges, the learning. Soon, I began teaching A1 and A2 batches for adults. This is definitely a conversational starter, my youngest student was 7 and my oldest was 75! It truly felt like I was making a difference.

So, who knew that a short summer course would end up being a great adventure? I owe a debt of gratitude to IFLAC. The teachers, the students, and the peers I met have all been incredible. I learned a skill that only adds to my resume and skill set, but also to my life. When I went to the US to pursue my master’s degree, Spanish helped me make more meaningful connections with native speakers.

My travels in Europe were enriched by knowing it. Not to mention, I enjoy having a whole range of movies, music, art, and literature to enjoy because I learned Spanish. There are so many ‘promotional’-type of things I can say about learning a foreign language. However, its true benefits go beyond a curriculum vitae.