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. Nowadays, our amazing and charismatic director is the co-founder of Languages4Life, a language school in the heart of Barcelona. She 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 globe. She reflects on her experiences, anecdotes, life lessons and the personal growth she has undergone over the years.
I hope you enjoy this 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, making me travel, create and learn to do things I would have never thought possible. I started as a Spanish teacher in Spain and various countries, then became a teacher trainer back in my native country, to now run both a language school and a teacher training school, which are for me one of my greatest challenges and sources of satisfaction: to be at the head of Languages4Life and ELE Barcelona.
When did you discover that you had a passion for teaching?
Before university, I wanted to be a History professor, but my mother wouldn't let me because she said it wouldn't lead anywhere. Maybe I had that passion before, but it wasn't the right time for it. It wasn't until I was 25, living in another country, that I realized how much I enjoyed teaching. That's when I gave myself the chance to experience life as a teacher and discovered my true passion.
What was it like to get out of your comfort zone?
The original plan was to go to Cambodia as a Spanish teacher for three months, but it turned into nearly five years of learning, amazement, and joy. I taught Spanish to the guides at the Angkor temples. To be honest, it was a magical time of my life because I was so happy, and teaching in such an extraordinary setting was something I could have never imagined.
After Cambodia I worked in China for a year and a half. On both personal and professional levels, it was one of the most important experiences of my life, pushing me out of my comfort zone in the most stimulating way.
What has been the most difficult part of your 19 year career?
The hardest part has been finding the perfect team with good people and ensuring their well-being. Keeping a positive spirit within my team, so they feel comfortable at work, has been a significant challenge, especially after the pandemic. Adapting to new uncertainties while maintaining my dreams was tough. Yet, everything has flowed smoothly, even when I moved to Cambodia alone, which was one of the biggest challenges of my life. It wasn’t so much difficult as it was 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 just about acquiring a new language; it’s an opportunity to understand yourself better, develop skills in a very human way, integrate into a group, speak confidently, make new friends, become multilingual, learn to listen actively, and more. It's crucial to find a highly motivated teacher who makes learning easy, practical, and fun—like me and my team.
I can tell you that after 19 years, my passion for this job remains as strong as ever. The reason? 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 engaging with students....
Tell us about Languages4Life courses
To truly understand our courses, it's important to know a bit about the history of L4L. This language school has been a long-term project, beginning 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 the management, I knew I wanted to bring a fresh approach. That's why I designed our academic curriculum to be all about communicative and interactive learning. Not only dry textbooks here - we focus on practical vocabulary, culture and games, and what we call "GBL - game-based learning." It's so much fun, as well as highly effective for learning a new language. One of the highlights of our school is our "outdoor lessons," where we take students out to explore this magical city while learning functional language. I guess this part is one of the most highlighted features of our school. My team and I 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 we are a "boutique" school, because we take a personalized approach to all of our lessons. 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 ticking boxes, we want them to genuinely enjoy the process. We surely do love to play around but it's all part of our professional, goal-oriented methodology, with clear objectives in mind. That's how it all began. Currently, we offer a wide range of language learning opportunities to suit every need. From our regular morning and evening classes, both in a 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.
One of the programs I’m most proud of is our signature "Español en Familia." I created this unique and enriching experience 10 years ago when no one was considering such an approach. It’s designed to involve the entire family, helping them learn Spanish together while exploring Barcelona. The outdoor lessons are always a hit, allowing families to apply their new language skills in real-life situations as they discover the vibrant culture of the city.
Our first and foremost policy at Languages4Life is small group learning. This allows our skilled staff to provide each student with individualized support, ensuring they receive the one-on-one attention and access to materials they need to 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 and 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.
