Name: Joanna Davies

Occupation: CILT Careers Adviser and French Teacher

Languages studied at school: French and German

Further languages studies: Secretarial Studies with French and Spanish

Work experience:
As soon as I finished college I knew I wanted to travel. Having languages helped me to gain work with a large holiday company in Portugal, Spain and Italy. In the latter, I was a ski representative in the Alps which was fantastic, not only could I use my languages but I learnt to ski which remains a passion of mine today. After continuing in the field of tourism back in the UK I decide I wanted to return to using my language skills. I became self-employed establishing French clubs for Young Learners which was an immediate success story. I was able to pass on my love of this beautiful language in a fun, enjoyable way to primary school aged children. I now also teach French to Adult Learners and English to foreigners who are on work experience here in Wales.

What was the best thing about learning another language:
By learning another language your doors will be kept open. There is a shortage of language graduates in this country and by choosing to study another language you will be in demand. I have travelled extensively thanks to my languages and as a consequence have made friends all over the world. I will certainly be urging my own children to learn a foreign language so they too can experience the many highlights which I have had over the past years.