An ELIS Story

FRENCHY WALSH, AN ELIS STORY

Frenchy graduated from El Limonar five years ago. She is currently at the University of Murcia studying Languages and Working with us as a teaching assistant. Her story  is indeed a successful one, an image of the students we are lucky to have at our School.

“I started school here at El Limonar at the age of 14 in Secondary 3. The idea of integrating into a new environment was overwhelming. With little more than hola and gracias in my Spanish vocabulary, the biggest challenge was the first day.

The reality was I just did not want to be here. I made that abundantly clear to my parents. I was determined not to learn Spanish and to move back to England as soon as possible. After a few weeks, I realised that it was not so bad after all, except I still had my reservations about the two kisses business.

The process of learning a new language brought moments of frustration, embarrassment and doubt. I didn’t think that I would ever learn to speak properly! But the consistent help and support provided for all aspects of school life from my teachers coupled with my determination to fully integrate into Spanish life made me realise that living here was a much better way of life.

Throughout my six years at El Limonar, as a student and teacher, I have seen lots of people come and go, each one leaving part of them behind. The school has grown and so have the people in it. Each year it is great to see new faces but also warming to see ones that were here many years before me. I have great memories from being at school, for example the trip to Almagro and our end of year trip to Majorca, the fund raising activities where we were allowed to throw wet sponges at Mr Porteous and Martin, and the making of the first year book.

Coming back and working at school was at first really strange. Being a student then a teaching assistant was a big rôle change. But after all the years of learning and determination, it’s great to be able to pass that knowledge on to other people”.