From being a marketing and communication student to teaching Spanish at the Angkor temples in Cambodia, then in China and finally running her own businesses. This woman's life is inspiring in all its forms, she faced her fears and finally after 5 years away from home, she found her true vocation. Today our amazing/charismatic director is co-founder of Languages4Life, a language academy in the heart of Barcelona. Maria is passionate about her work and sees challenges as an opportunity for self-knowledge and learning.
Today Maria Blanco shares with us her journey in the wonderful world of teaching Spanish as a foreign language around the world, her anecdotes, life lessons and learnings that this spontaneous/inspiring woman has experienced over the years.
I hope you enjoy the interview as much as I did.
Who is Maria?
Maria is a fun, caring and friendly person but above all she is curious: I think that curiosity has taken me to places I have never imagined, traveling, creating and learning to do things I would have thought possible. I started as a Spanish teacher in Spain and in different countries, then as a teacher trainer back in my native country, now to run both language and teacher training school, for me one of the greatest challenges and satisfactions: to be at the head of Languages4life and ELE Barcelona.
When did you discover that you had a passion for teaching?
Before I entered university, I wanted to be a university history teacher but my mother wouldn't let me because she said I will not have any future. Maybe I did have that passion before but it wasn't the right time for it. It was at the age of 25, when I went to live in another country, I realized that I enjoyed doing it and I wanted to give myself the opportunity to experience teaching life, and thus I discovered my passion in life.
What was it like to get out of your comfort zone?
Initially the plan was to go to Cambodia as a Spanish teacher for 3 months, which ended up being almost 5 years of learning, amazement and joy. I taught Spanish to the guides of the temples of Angkor. To be honest, it was a precious moment in my life because I was very happy, also it was something completely unexpected for me to teach and to have the temples of Angkor in Cambodia as a classroom !!!!! Something I could never have imagined.
After Cambodia I worked in China for a year and a half. On a personal and professional level it has been one of the most important things in my life because it was a stimulating break out of my comfort zone.
What has been the most difficult part of your 19 year career?
I think the most difficult part of my career would be looking for the perfect team with good people and maintaining their well-being. I found it so difficult to keep up with the positive spirit for my team, so that they can find their comfort zone in the workplace. And I discovered that especially during the end of the pandemic, which was a great teaching for all of us. It was difficult to adapt to the new changes of uncertainty, to find a way to function and to keep my dreams alive. So far everything has flowed smoothly, even when I moved alone to Cambodia, which was one of the biggest challenges of my life, I never felt it was difficult, it was more of a bold and brave decision.
What is the best advice you can give to those who are looking to learn one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, Spanish?
I think learning new things makes you feel alive. Learning Spanish is not only like learning a new language, but an opportunity to get to know yourself as a person to develop your skills in a very human way, knowing how to integrate with a group, speaking correctly, making new friends, being multilingual, learning to listen actively, etc. And it's fundamental to find a good motivated teacher who makes learning easier, practical and fun, for example me and my school.
I can tell you that after 19 years I am still passionate about my job because there is always something new to learn. What I enjoy most about this profession is that it challenges your creativity in everything: designing materials, academic programmes, communication strategies, finding new ways of interacting with students....
Tell us about Languages4Life courses.
Let's start with the history of L4L to understand more about the course designs. This language school has been a long time project starting in 2011, offering English and Spanish courses in schools and companies. Back then, it was just my dear colleague John and a small team, but over the years, we've grown into something really special.
You see, when I took over running this place, I knew I wanted to do things a bit differently. That's why I designed our academic curriculum to be all about communicative and interactive learning. Not only dry textbooks here - we also focus on practical vocabulary, culture and games, and what we call "GBL - game-based learning." It's so much fun, but also highly effective for learning a new language. And on top of that, we take out all our students to enjoy this magical city while learning practical and functional language, this is called outdoor lessons. I guess this part is one of the most highlighted features of our bodschool. Me and my team really enjoy it because we are making Barcelona the best classroom itself.
I believe language learning should be tailored to each student's interests and needs. That's why I pride myself on the boutique as we take a personalized approach. We get to know our students, understand their goals, prioritize them and craft lessons that are engaging and relevant to them. It's not just about checking boxes, we want them to actually enjoy the process. We surely do love to play around but it's all part of our professional, goal-oriented methodology, where goals are well-defined. That's how we began. Now currently, we offer a wide range of language learning opportunities to suit every need. From our regular morning and evening classes, both group and private, to our corporate training programs in English, Spanish, and French through the FUNDAE government initiative - we've got it all covered.
But that's not all! We also have the pleasure of working with some truly amazing "super groups" like Erasmus+ and school groups. These larger classes allow students to learn together, practice their conversational skills, and forge new cultural connections.
You know what I'm most proud of? Our signature "Español en Familia" program. It's such a unique and enriching experience I created 10 years ago when nobody thought about it! We get the whole family involved, learning Spanish with all the family members while exploring the city of Barcelona together. The outdoor lessons are so much fun, and the families just love being able to put their new language skills to practical use as they discover the sights and sounds of this vibrant city.
And our very first policy is that we believe in small group learning at Languages4Life. This allows our skilled staff to give each and every student individualized support, get the personalized one-on-one attention and access to materials they need to truly thrive.
And it's not just about the teaching methods - we also strive to create an inclusive, respectful environment where students feel comfortable and motivated to learn. Our friendly, attentive staff are not only experts in their fields, but also adept at building rapport and helping students feel at ease.
Of course, we also embrace the latest in language learning technology. Interactive whiteboards, video tutorials, audio lessons - you name it, we've got it. We're always looking for new ways to engage our students and make the learning process as dynamic and effective as possible.
So whether you're looking to learn a new language for work, travel, or just for the love of it, Languages4Life is the place for you. We've got the programs, the people, and the passion to help you reach your goals.
Flor Ragucci.
