My Spanish Learning Journey

 My Spanish learning journey began when I was in high school. Back then, I had no self-confidence to speak a foreign language. I didn't like Spanish when I was younger, and I learned it as a mandatory course in school. Spanish, like other language classes, was very hard for me to grasp. I used to think that I didn’t have the skill to learn languages. I studied Spanish for three years in high school, but my grades weren't very good.

 After graduating from high school, I started university, majoring in Robotics Engineering. By the time I reached my third year at university, I realized I needed to learn a second language. I knew that learning another language would help me in the future, especially in terms of job opportunities. So, I decided to pick up Spanish again. I wanted to learn Spanish not only for work but also because of my culture and religion. I am Sephardic, which means Jewish with roots in Spain. Around 500 years ago, my ancestors were expelled from Spain and moved to the Ottoman Empire, where my family has lived ever since. My grandparents spoke Spanish, but I couldn’t understand them. Learning Spanish became a way for me to connect with my grandparents and understand my cultural heritage. Additionally, Spanish is a popular language worldwide, and knowing it would help me communicate and meet new friends across the globe.

 I then searched for a language school in Istanbul. At that time, there was no pandemic, and we could go out safely. I found the Cervantes Institute in Istanbul and took a placement test, which placed me at level A2. I had prepared for the test using my old high school notes. This time, however, I studied with passion and enthusiasm. Compared to my high school experience, this time I truly wanted to learn Spanish. I started watching Spanish TV shows and films. I studied at Cervantes for six months, but then the pandemic hit. I was very disappointed because learning a language in a classroom environment was so much fun.
I explored various ways to learn Spanish online. I tried language-learning apps and Cervantes’ online courses, but none of them were as effective for me. One day, while browsing the internet, I came across an advertisement for AmazingTalker. I looked for a good Spanish teacher and found Nargués. I still remember our first lesson. We did a Spanish test to determine my level. She was very punctual, arriving exactly on time, which made me realize she was highly professional. We started learning from level B1. Nargués' lesson materials were excellent and educational. Our lessons were a lot of fun, and I never got bored learning with her. I always tried to complete her homework assignments.

 During the lockdown in my country, I felt quite depressed and bored at home, but learning Spanish with Nargués was the best thing I did during quarantine. However, my grandfather became ill and was hospitalized for over a month. He eventually came home, but a week later, the doctors informed us that both my grandfather and my father had contracted COVID-19. As a result, we went into quarantine again. Sadly, a week later, on the 7th of March, my grandfather passed away. It was one of the hardest times of my life. I became depressed and lost all motivation to learn anything, so I stopped studying Spanish for two weeks. Eventually, I realized that life had to go on, and I needed to keep moving forward.

 Afterward, I booked more Spanish classes with Nargués. Now, we have completed level B1, and I am preparing for the DELE exam. I also have future plans involving Spanish. I want to go to Spain, specifically Valencia, this summer to improve my Spanish. I hope my plan becomes a reality. In conclusion, I would like to thank Nargués for being an amazing teacher and for all her support.

Do You Have a Similar Language Learning Journey?