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Mere om Jaime

• Do you speak this language fluently because of your origins or because a teacher inspired you to learn?

  I was born in Spain, so it's fair to say that I speak it fluently because of my origins. However, I have a lot to thank for to many of my tutors, teachers, and professors. Each one of them has managed to spark my curiosity and has served as an example of how to communicate in different styles and contexts.

• Can you name a living, historical or fictional character that you think is the emblematic representative of the language's culture?

  It is well known that in Spanish culture, people live life to the fullest and have a laid-back attitude to life -even Dalí believed so, declaring that life should be a never-ending party («Creo que la vida debe ser una fiesta continua»). An interesting approach in my opinion.
  
  But we also have time for the arts, and some of us even seem to have a full understanding of what that is. Pablo Picasso, for example, equated art to danger, asserting that cannot exist such a thing as "modest art", because art cannot be tailored to the "naively ignorant" individual («El arte es peligroso, el arte no es casto; no están hechos para el arte los inocentes ignorantes. El arte que es casto no es arte»).
  
  For those who enjoy reading, perhaps at some point would like to dive in some of the classics of Spanish literature like "El Quijote", where Cervantes insightfully pointed out to us that there is no use in trying to stop the wind, as you can learn how to build windmills ("No puede impedirse el viento, pero hay que saber hacer molinos").

• Is there a typical word, phrase, tradition or behavior in the language that you particularly like?

  Something I find especially interesting about languages is the way they represent their peoples through idioms and phrases. I would not hesitate to check the "Refranero Español" to get a glimpse of the Spanish culture.
  
  "No hay mal que por bien no venga; y al mal tiempo, buena cara.", which could translate into "Every cloud has a silver lining; when the going gets tough, the tough get going."

• Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  Speaking this language matters to me because it's my mother tongue and as such, it is a part of my culture and personality.
  
  However, I would like to highlight why learning Spanish is important for some of my students. The first person I ever taught Spanish to, wanted to learn it because his in-laws were Colombian and he wanted to be able to speak to them in their native language. Another woman I taught Spanish to, wanted to learn because she had been offered a position at the University of Madrid and wasn't confident enough to accept it with her skills at the time. Others have learned Spanish with me to be able to travel to Latin America or to walk El Camino de Santiago while mingling with the locals.
  
  For me, Spanish is the language of my upbringing and my roots; for many others, it is the language of love, opportunity, and adventure.

• What is the main difficulty in learning this language and what can help the process of learning?

  According to my students, one of the most difficult aspects of learning Spanish can be irregular verbs and some of the sounds that differ from the phonology of their native language.
  
  In my opinion, the focus should be put on keeping yourself motivated and remembering why you started this journey in the first place. Some of the tips I offer to my students are:
  
  Think in Spanish as much as you can. Try naming everything you see around you in Spanish.
  If you have the opportunity, hang out with Spanish people (in person or online, many Spanish people will be willing to participate in a language exchange!)
  Include Spanish in your daily life, try changing your phone setting to Spanish!

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your language learning or your days at school.

  When I moved to Scotland from Spain after University, I was working in bars and restaurants to figure out what I wanted to do in life while making a bit of money and practicing English. During my first shift in the Mexican restaurant, I was working at the time, a lovely Scottish couple ordered a glass of "wa'a". Confused and a bit ashamed of myself for not being able to understand what they meant, I told them that I was sorry and that we didn't serve that. The perplexity on their faces made me understand that their request must have been very simple, and just then, I remembered the phonetics course at University where my professors taught me about the glottal stop (that sound that some English speakers make when pronouncing ts, as in Sco'ish for Scottish).
  
  At that point, I realized that what they wanted was a glass of water. At that point, I realized that I had told them that we do not serve it. In a restaurant. Where people ask for water all the time.
  
  What I want to convey with this anecdote is that, had I been more relaxed, I would have understood everything perfectly. Sometimes, the biggest obstacle when learning, or using a language, is having the confidence to make mistakes. There is value in putting yourself in uncomfortable situations.

• How has travel or a specific trip helped you to increase your skill and knowledge of the language?

  When it comes to learning English, coming to Scotland has been of paramount importance to help me get the hang of the language. Traveling makes the learning process alive and puts you in situations in which you have to use everything you know to be able to communicate.
  
  Speaking to people wherever you go will not only widen your vocabulary and listening skills, but also your perspective and views of the world: You learn about others while you learn about yourself.

• What makes you a Superprof in language?

  Being resourceful, motivated, and organized makes me a Superprof. I love what I do and I enjoy immensely seeing my students' progress. In addition, Linguistics is my field of expertise, so we could also explore the ins and outs of the language if that's what you're interested in. My goal is to help you become an independent speaker by providing you with my undivided attention, resources, and positive attitude.