“I could only speak in the present tense” #BaseLangStories

Daisy spent six months in Latin America and picked up some Spanish along the way, but when she got back to Europe, she knew she’d only scratched the surface. With plans to return, she gave herself three months to seriously level up.

Apps weren’t cutting it, but BaseLang did. Now, she’s speaking with confidence, holding real conversations, and finally able to say more than “the apple is in the library.”

BaseLangStories series puts the spotlight on BaseLang students – asking them about their motivations for learning a foreign language, what impact learning Spanish has had on their lives, advice they have for fellow students, and more.

1. What’s your name and where are you from

Daisy Coffey, Australia

2. Why did you want to learn Spanish?

I was in Mexico and central America for 6 months and improved my Spanish a huge amount in this time. I then returned to Europe with the intention to travel back to this part of the world in the New Year, and so I gave myself the goal of improving my Spanish exponentially in three months!

3. In the past, what did you use to learn Spanish?

Apps like Duolingo, which really do not help one learn more than simple vocab. All I could say was the apple is in the library haha “la manzana está en la biblioteca”.

4. Before BaseLang, which part of learning Spanish did you struggle with the most?

I could literally only speak in the present tense, now I am able to speak in the past and am slowly becoming familiar with all the different past tenses and futures etc.

5. What obstacle would have prevented you from signing up for BaseLang before?

Previously, I think I didn’t have enough information about it, and I also didn’t have enough time. But once I spoke to a few friends who had used BaseLang, and done my trial week, I decided I should really commit and devote some time to improving before my return in the New Year.

6. What did you find as a result of signing up?

I instantly became more confident and I actually really started to enjoy learning Spanish as I could really see my improvements day to day, which is definitely a huge incentive to keep going when you are learning a language!

7. What specific feature did you like the most about the Real World program?

The flexibility! I can quite literally log on at any time of day and have a lesson. It can be 3 minutes before and I suddenly decide I fancy a lesson, or I can cancel a few minutes before if something has come up.

8. How has learning Spanish impacted your life?

It has not a huge amount yet, but as soon as I get back to Latin America, it will open a huge amount of doors, and improve my experience a great deal. I love talking to people and always got a bit frustrated when I could understand what someone was saying to me but was unable to respond. Now I will be able to communicate a lot easier, and create deeper connections with locals as I travel.

9. Would you recommend this course, if so, why?

I would WITHOUT a doubt recommend this course. I am in my fourth month and honestly it has been the best thing I have ever done for my Spanish. It is difficult learning a language, especially when you’re a bit older and so the flexible and unlimited face-to-face sessions BaseLang offers is truly a game changer.

10. Complete the following sentence “After my first month of BaseLang, I realized that…”

…learning Spanish is NOT impossible.

11. Anything else to add (advice for other students, what you wish you had known) etc?

I think it is important to do BaseLang at a time you can truly commit an hour or two a day (or more if possible), to truly get the most out of it. Also, ANY problems at all, you have a private chat where you can message someone to ask for assistance at any time of day.

– Daisy