About Paula
I’ve lived in beautiful Wicklow for six years but I’m originally from Spain. I’m a fully qualified Spanish Teacher, accredited by the Instituto Cervantes. I have a C2 level of English, I’m currently studying French and Japanese and I have dabbled in German and Korean, therefore you can say I’m passionate about languages. However, it wasn’t always this way.
I used to hate English.
When I was 17 I came awfully close to failing English at my University Entrance Exam. Why? My teachers weren’t necessarily mediocre but, truth to be told, I just couldn’t find a reason to care.
It wasn’t until a couple of years later when I started contemplating studying abroad that improving my English became an actual goal of mine. I did a one-month immersion program in the UK and it completely changed my life. Like many others before me, I was afraid of speaking poorly and making a fool of myself. But I soon discovered that, if I wanted to have friends to go out with – and dinner served – I had to overcome my fear.
I found my own reason to care.
For some people, it is all about the culture, or business prospects, or simply being sensible about your next holiday adventure. For me, languages are all about connection, about the depth of understanding that two individuals can achieve with one another. Having met people from all over the world I can confidently say that not many things would make a stranger feel more willing to open up that realising you speak their language. And that is an open door to a wonderful world of possible friendships and experiences.
I do have other skills, and hobbies and, you know, life-stuff.
Besides learning languages and writing cheesy paragraphs about them, I enjoy a good old-fashioned evening with friends, exploring new foods – although Spanish cuisine is and will always be my favourite– and all sorts of learning. I’m passionate about discovering new skills so I have a curious array of them, from a BA in History of Art to training as a tailor and Costume Designer, working as a cheesemonger, and acquiring wine-tasting knowledge.
These days you can find me doing Pilates, running outside, doing some creative writing, or cuddling my cats with a nice book and a big mug of tea, my favourite Irish tradition.
Does it sound like I could help you?
