Paloma Rodríguez de Rivera is 25 years old and comes from Madrid in Spain. She has completed her IELTS course and is now attending English Conversation Classes at English UK member centre, Live Language Ltd based in Glasgow.

Why did you choose to come to the UK?

My fiancé got a job for a Spanish company near Glasgow, so we decided to come together. I left my job in Human Resources to study not only English but also different courses.

What made you choose the language school and town?

Glasgow was a must for us. We preferred to live in a city instead of living in a village. Before coming, we spoke with Spanish people that were living here and they recommended to me Live Language as the best language school. At first I thought to prepare the IELTS in the University of Glasgow but it was really expensive.

What course are you doing?

I arrived to Glasgow last August. I started an IELTS course in Live Language, and I finished a month ago because I sat the exam. Now I go every week to English Conversation Classes.

Are you enjoying your time in the UK? What do you like most?

The first months were difficult for me because I missed my family and friends, and I hadn't many things to do. Now, my schedule is completely full of appointments and activities. I need more hours each day! I didn't know that Glasgow offers such a huge range of cultural activities and it's so creative! There are many parks, museums, galleries, new buildings made by famous architects, etc. Edinburgh is well-known but people have also to discover the wonderful things of Glasgow.

How will learning English change your life?

I believe that this change in my life will help me in the future not only in my professional but also in my personal life. And it is not only thanks to the English but also the experience of living abroad. You can discover different points of views, cultures, religions, and you open your mind to new situations and things.

Would you recommend learning English in the UK to your friends?

Yes, of course! But it's better to go to a less-known city because there are a lot of Spanish people in the UK.

Coming here is a great opportunity but you have to try to speak only in English. However, it's always necessary to have a basic knowledge in order to not be completely lost during the first days.

If you are interested in reading about other students' experiences of studying English in the UK, please click here to visit the student profile pages on the English UK website.