Company and Job title:
Easy Languages, UK Representative/Administrative Assistant

Sector:
Travel and tourism

Background:

• MA (Hons) degree in Psychology at University of Edinburgh.

• Bookselling experience,

• English teaching experience

• Activity, events and international festivals work experience.

Language skills:

• French (3 years study at a Higher level)
• Arabic (2 years at University)
• Norwegian (1 year at a Norwegian school, 1 year study at University)
• German (4 years, Standard Grade, 1 year at University)
• Spanish, self-study.

How would you describe your job?
Varied! I’m involved in everything from translation from French to English and updating the website, to finding new programs, to working on the social media, to investigating UK and US market strategies.

How do your language skills help you do your job?
I work in a multilingual office – most employees are Francophone and it’s often easier to explain something in French. I often receive emails and information on programs in French and have to translate them.  Understanding different languages makes it easier to do program research and answer customer enquiries.

What do enjoy most about your job?
I love the variety! I also love the international feel and approach of the office and how you can be handling worldwide enquiries and language programs. Having studied languages makes me much more flexible in my approach as part of the team!

What other skills and qualities do you need?
Ability to work independently; flexible thinking; multicultural understanding; excellent communication skills; ability to meet deadlines and work as part of a team; being quite tech-savvy.

What's a typical day for you?
I respond to English speaking enquiries about language programs around the world, perhaps work on a translation or description, compile a leaflet from a few different resources, email partner language schools with specific questions. Work on marketing plans. Meet with customers and interview their English level.

What's the best thing about knowing another language?
Being able to tell what’s going on! I’ve originally been employed for my work experience and English language skills, but working in an office with mainly francophone speakers and customers means that  it’s French that’s spoken throughout the day. Having studied French means that I can follow what is going on even when the conversation isn’t directed at me!

How do you use your languages socially?
Language is an instant connection. People love it when you can start speaking with them in their own language. Outside the office I’ve made several surprise friends by using my languages. Living in Brussels which is an international city, means you can often have a conversation where maybe 3 languages are being used! You’d really miss a lot of the social scene if you weren’t adept in some of those languages.