Student of the Semester: Autumn 2025
As the Autumn Semester draws to a close it’s time to reveal our Student of the Semester… Alison!
After joining us in Spanish Chick in 2020, Alison has progressed all the way to our Fledgling Spanish classes with our tutor Fernando! She’s even managed to put her expertise into practice when covering S1 Spanish classes at school!
We asked Alison a few questions about her experience learning with us and here’s what we found out!
What made you start the classes at Lingo Flamingo?
I decided to start learning Spanish at the age of 69, during the first lockdown, having spent many holidays in Spanish-speaking places and not progressing beyond cafe level. Like many people, I started with Duolingo and got slightly beyond absolute beginner level. A colleague mentioned Lingo Flamingo to me and my first class, at Chick level, was in September 2020. My first block went well and I joined again at the same level - a different cohort and a bigger class. I would end the class barely able to speak English and I thought about giving up. However, I persevered and was next assigned to Fernando.
Where did your language journey take you?
We haven't travelled this year so my weekly classes are the only opportunity I have to practise Spanish. I love Lingo Flamingo because it is based in Scotland; non-profit making and helping to make a difference to others; and I'm being taught by an actual Spanish person who lives in Spain. I also like that we learn in a small group rather than one to one, which I find rather intense. It's fun getting to know other learners, especially when you meet them again in another class.
How do you find the Lingo Flamingo classes?
Fernando is a great tutor and classes are always fun with some serious learning thrown in. I did several more blocks at Chick level before being confident enough to have a go at Post Chick. I still do Duolingo. I know Fernando is sceptical about it but, for me, it keeps me doing something in Spanish every day (yes, my streak is over 2000) and, at my age, I need the repetition. It gets more and more difficult to retain new vocabulary and all the dreaded Spanish tenses as you get older. Unbelievably, I'm now doing a Fledgling class and when I look back at all my notebooks, I realise I have come a long way. Most of the class is now conducted in Spanish and I can usually understand quite a bit. Speaking is still a challenge for me as there is always the pressure to a) remember the vocabulary and b) be grammatically correct. I suppose I really need to spend a few months in Spain but that is unlikely!
When you’re not at Lingo Flamingo, what do you get up to?
When I'm not doing Lingo Flamingo, I still enjoy playing sport - tennis is my favourite both to play and to watch. I try to keep fit by swimming 3 or 4 times a week and I actually do still work one day a week, despite officially retiring ten years ago. I was an English teacher at a secondary school in another town in Fife but nowadays I do cover, at the same school, in any subject. Recently I have been doing quite a lot with S1 Spanish classes. No hay problema para mi! I still enjoy being in school but I'm very glad I'm not a full-time teacher now.
I also help with a local community organisation, teaching English as an additional language. I have often unashamedly adapted lessons from my Lingo Flamingo classes to use with my groups. Viva la clase de Espanol!
Thanks for speaking to us Alison and good luck as you advance your language journey with Fledgling Spanish!