This month, we share a tea with the English teacher and Sales Manager of NELC, Guy Lansing. He prefers tea with a little milk (“nothing fancy, ordinary tea is just fine”). Guy is a proud Welshman, from the capital, Cardiff and he has been teaching English for more than 20 years.
What do you like most about teaching at NELC?
I like the camaraderie and I like the fact that the teachers really care about the individuals they work with.
What NELC features are not offered by other language schools?
So few centres really know how to teach practical business skills and it’s what most people really need. The quality and committment of the teachers. I’ve worked in different places and NELC teachers are, without doubt, the best qualified, most experienced and most enthusiastic teachers in Spain. I realise that’s a bold claim, but I am very confident that no other centre even comes close. I think it’s related to the standards we were expected to meet when we taught in ESADE. Made-to-measure courses. It’s easy to say you’ll make sure the course fits the client’s needs, but it’s much harder to do. At NELC, it’s part of our DNA.
A story of something that happened to you in class.
I once met a guy about starting a one-to-one course in a bar in L’Illa. Before he arrived, I got stuck in the toilet and he had to come and let me out!
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned from your students?
Determination. Our students make sacrifices to improve their English. They always enjoy the courses, but they are normally busy people who have to sacrifice time with families or friends or time for themselves in order to study. I think seeing that has made me more determined to achieve my goals.
Tell us your favourite English word.
I’m a little biased, but I like words or expressions that we use in Wales that you don’t hear much in England. Here are a couple:
Lush: Great.
e.g. That is lush!
Daps: Sports shoes
e.g. Nice daps, mate!
I’m not being funny, but …: I’m about to say something serious
e.g. I’m not being funny, but the service here is awful.
What’s your least favourite?
I’m not sure why, but I’ve never liked the word, ‘bucket’.
What word or phrase you use most often?
That’s a good idea … (before I suggest an alternative!)
What song do you play to motivate yourself?
Basically, anything by The Smiths seems to work for just about anything!
Could you recommend a book?
I read Midnight’s Children in India, a country I’d wanted to visit for a long time and the experience was wonderful. So, I’d recommend buying the book and going to India!
And a movie?
I watched Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid the other day and I loved it. It made me realise that if I hadn’t been a teacher, I’d have been a bandit!
What dish from your country do you miss most?
A good curry or Welsh lamb, although I must admit I love Spanish lamb served with just lettuce and spring onions.
What is your favourite local dish?
Arroz negro or a moist tortilla de patatas.
Your favorite place to get lost in Barcelona.
I can wander around the Born for hours.
What do you do on a Sunday morning?
Put some music on, have some breakfast and occasionally have a little dance with my girl!
What do you always carry in your bag?
Marker pens. Even when I’m on holiday, I seem to have marker pens!
Who do you think should appear on a 20-euro note?
Belén Esteban, for her services to culture or maybe a group shot of the NELC team!
What super power would you like?
Time travel or the ability to resist crisps!
