Before coming to Ireland to improve my English I studied Marketing in Mexico and worked for many multinational companies based in Mexico.

I chose Ireland as a study abroad destination because it was an affordable option. Besides, me and my brother Emmanuel could enter the country as tourists without a visa.

I chose to study in Cork over other cities because I had only a 12 month period available to me. I wanted to maximise my language stay and I heard Cork has less Mexican and Latin American students so my opportunity to speak Spanish was lower!

Cork is a beautiful city. It is quiet but at the same time it’s lively and vibrant. Another point is that Cork is a very safe city to live in.

My English language course was great. I learned about so many different topics. The teachers were so kind to me and always willing to help me. Listening and speaking are the two skills I have improved in the most. I found improving pronunciation to be the most challenging.

My brother and I are currently living with an Irish host family. Our host family is so nice! Living with a family is a great way to improve our English.

My favourite things about Cork are:

• Friendly people
• People willing to help while you are learning English
• Safe city
• Cosmopolitan city

I will recommend my friends to come here. Living in Ireland is a great experience!

I finished my degree in teaching in Spain this summer. I was working in a summer camp before coming to Ireland with my boyfriend in October.

Initially we thought of studying English in the UK but Brexit left the country in an uncertain situation.  We decided Ireland would be a good alternative.

I met a teacher who had studied in Cork a few years ago. She loved the experience in Cork and she is now an English language teacher at home! She told me Cork is better than Dublin because it is less busy and smaller.

I loved Ireland from the first day because the people are very friendly and everybody helps you if you need it. Cork city is very small but it has everything you need: schools, pubs, cafes, supermarkets, shops, parks, public transport.

Quiero Languages recommended Cork English Academy and I think it is the best English language school in Cork. I had the best teachers in the school, Paul and Steve. I really think that they love their job and we all really enjoyed learning with them.

The extra free classes are very good. You get to listen to other teachers and hear different accents. The culture classes are great. The receptionists are very kind and I enjoyed taking part in the BINGO and school quiz with them.

Debora, her husband Moises and friends enjoying BINGO in the school. 

I think I have improved all of my language skills and in specific my listening skills. I am listening to English all the time; in the school, at home and in the street. I am able to have conversations with native English speakers and watch films in English. I find some of the phrasal verbs and clauses difficult but I am improving every day.

My accommodation is wonderful. We are living with a host family. We initially booked just one month but extended to three months. The hosts are a married couple with three teenager kids. Since the first day we left very comfortable with them and we speak to them all of the time. They always help me with everything I need. My host mother cooks very, very well. We are really enjoying our stay.

We have travelled around Ireland: Dublin, Ring of Kerry, Dingle, Galway and some towns in Cork also Cobh and Kinsale. I love the landscapes of Ireland. Everything is green and you can see sheep and cows everywhere.

Here is what Ali has to say about his host family who live in Blackrock just outside the city centre:

” My host family is lovely, very warm and welcoming. I felt at home on the first day. They even adapted their food  to suit me ( for example I eat a lot of vegetables, they don’t eat a lot so they make some extra for me, I think it is very considerate).

About the room, it is separated from the rest of the house so I am very quiet, I have my own bathroom on the same level ( private stairs from the kitchen so if you want to be alone, it is perfect, it’s like a little flat in the big house).

May I add that they have 3 or 4 living rooms with tv so there is no problem for watching your own show on tv if you wish( though I like to have plenty of conversations with the husband in the host family) and the house is very clean ( important point for me)!

I only have good comments about the family, the welcoming they gave me and their house. The location also is good, not too far from the center, the village of Blackrock is lovely and shopping center ( Mahon point) is not too far ”.

We hope you enjoy the rest of your stay Ali and thank you so much for the lovely photos.

We welcomed Vero to Cork English Academy last November on an 8 week General English programme. Vero went back to Spain just before Christmas time.

She got on very well in class due to her hard work and positive attitude. She went to the free afternoon classes and studied at home. We were not surprised when she sent us this lovely note about her recent FCE examination success:

”I’m writing to tell you that I passed my FCE exam. I am very happy and I wanted to say THANK YOU to Cork English Academy because that wouldn’t have been possible without you. 

I know I didn’t prepare the exam with you but my two months there, in your academy, helped me a lot. I hadn’t studied English for 15 years and your classes encouraged me to continue learning the language once back in Spain.

Thank you again.

Vero”

We wish Vero the very best for the future!