Staff Interview with Federico del Valle

What inspired you to create Valley Spanish School?

Mainly I discovered my passion when I started teaching Spanish. From then on what motivated me to work in education was to be able to know new cultures and promote Colombia to the world, and what better way than to create my own school?

Describe a typical day at work.

Open the café shop, read mails, brief with employees, and respond to customers and suppliers. Start working on goals to achieve objectives and measure how the team is advancing with new students, payments, marketing goals, etc. 

Why do you do what you do?

With the job comes a duality that one couldn't have as an employee; that is this freedom and compromise. This allows me to have quality time to spend with my family and the never-ending compromise that comes creating jobs.

What is your favorite part of your job?

The feedback from our students and customers when the whole experience has created a profound impact in their lives. Also, when our students decide to extend their stay because they loved what we do is the best reward we could have.  

What challenges do you often face and how do you overcome them?

The biggest challenges we have had lately is the lack of travellers that visit our country. We have made an effort to improve our online options and to provide an adequate curriculum to the needs of our students. 

What are some current projects you are working on?

We want to have a bigger network of homestays, which will make the whole experience for our students a lot richer. Our immersion program feeds from the interaction with locals and having certified homestays is one of our immediate goals. 

What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?

Check for programs that allow you to know not only the school side of things but the whole network in order to be able to have a better experience. Do not travel blind; there are many schools that have very organised processes and you can basically benefit way more from that experience. 

What makes Valley Spanish School special?

Our care for detail, our experienced staff that has worked in this field for over a decade, and our in-house developed curriculum which is in constant evolution.

Why should someone choose your organization over competitors?

We developed our own curriculum which is always adapting and changing. We have a personal approach that allows us to deeply understand our customer needs.

What hopes do you have for the future for your organization?

We want to have two more schools in Colombia, located in Cartagena and Santa Marta or Bogotá, in order to be able to teach at least 100 students per week. 

What makes your organization easy to market to potential participants?

We are located in a city with some of the best weather in the world, with the nicest locals that love interacting and practicing the language, and with amazing teachers that will give you the tools to communicate from day one with locals.

What is your organization's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?

Our mission is to teach Spanish to non native speakers through modern techniques, employ highly qualified native teachers, and utilize a teaching methodology that integrates theory by promoting our city and Colombia, mainly focusing in our culture and the values that it represents. 

How do you help support participants?

We don't stick to the offer advertised, we go beyond. When a customer requires advice regarding unexpected situations, we move every source available to help them. When they need transportation, medical appointments, or advice in general we are there to help in the best way possible. 

If you could participate on one of your organization's programs, where would you go and what would you do?

I would definitely do the face-to-face program, and learn to dance, take several tours, and attend to every language exchange possible to make my stay as successful as it can be. 

What questions do participants often ask you, and how do you typically respond?

• Is Colombia safe? As with most countries, there are places you should not go alone, but in general Colombia is safe and full of decent and nice people keen to help you anytime.
• How long does it take to learn the language? It all depends on the effort and commitment when it comes to practicing. As long as you study, do homework, and find a motivation to learn, in 2-3 month you will be having conversations in Spanish.
• Are the teachers experienced? Yes, they are. All of them have studied in the best universities in Colombia and have at least three years of experience teaching languages. 

Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?

For those who travel and even more so for those who learn languages in an immersion program, the way you see things changes immediately, and surely people that experience new cultures have a bigger picture of life. 

Why do you think learning a new language is important?

Learning a new language is one of the great ways to keep sharp, though it also has an impact in people’s resumes when getting a job that requires specific qualification and abilities.

What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?

Check reviews, do your homework. Look for seasonal countries or cities that might have better pricing from one week to another depending on when you travel. You might get amazing deals and better attention to your needs. 

What issues do you see in the world of international education that don’t line up with your values and expectations for mutually beneficial & educational relationships between providers/programs and the communities in which they are located within?

The benefits to the communities should be noticeable. It’s not a good sign that after years of tours operating within poor communities they continue being poor. The social purpose should be obvious—not only a way of engaging customers.

What qualities in program & host community relations are important to you? (And your organization?)

Respect for natives, the culture, and the environment that surrounds them. By opening cultures to the world there shouldn't be an intrusion to their ways, rather there is space just for learning. Always show respect to their ways and be grateful for their openness.  

What hopes do you have for the future of international education?

Everyone should be able to travel and experience other cultures, but there are still many social barriers that don't allow people to have the same opportunities; 

this should be a thing of the past.

What does meaningful travel mean to you?

Not wanting to leave. Having to make up excuses to your family to be able to stay because you don't want to tell them that you have fallen in love with the culture, the city, and its people.