Roxana Milanes is twenty five and from Cuba. She began English classes back in May 2019 at Oxford House, and since then has become part of the family. Even though she was a complete beginner, she wasn’t without ambition. On her first day of her Starter course she remembers telling her teacher that it was her dream to get to B2 level.
“I always said the same. I wanted to speak like a native speaker.”
A year-and-a-half later, Roxana can proudly say she has achieved her goal. Here she tells us her motivations behind it, how she did it and what it’s been like to study at Oxford House.
After studying Business and Administration in Angola, Roxana decided to move to Europe to further her education. She briefly considered Portugal before setting her heart on Barcelona to study her masters in Finance, Accounting and Management. Since completing her masters, Roxana realizes the real importance of English to her career.
“My profession makes me wake up every day and think about how important it is to speak English properly. It helps to connect business people around the world.”
Roxana about to present her final project at university
Thankfully, Roxana is entering the job market with the right level of English. She recently completed B2 level with Oxford House and is currently studying at C1 level. Both of which will put her in good stead for getting a job in business.
So how did her journey begin?
Growing up, Roxana didn’t exactly take English seriously. Her father spoke it very well, and always encouraged her to learn. However she always managed to postpone it.
“He said you need to learn this because it’s so important, and I was like, yeah I’ll take a course one day, one day.”
Not long after starting her master’s degree, she realised she had a problem. Some of the topics were in English, and she had to analyse case studies in English too. Unfortunately, back then she had zero skills in the language.
“It was really challenging and difficult because I didn’t know anything,” she says.
Knowing she had to improve her English fast, Roxana went in search of a language school with a good reputation. As someone who doesn’t make decisions without careful thought, she really did her research. After several recommendations, she came across Oxford House, and she hasn’t looked back.
“There’s no other place for me. It’s incredible. Oxford House is like a second home.”
Roxana celebrating her birthday in Barcelona
Roxana’s achievements at Oxford House have been amazing. She has gone from Starter (beginners) to B2.2 (upper-intermediate) in just one year. She’s taken back to back intensive and summer intensive courses and completed hundreds of hours of study. The hard work has really paid off!
However, she hasn’t taken this journey alone. In this time she’s had eight different Oxford House teachers. All of whom have helped her progress in different ways.
“I think I could not have had better teachers. It doesn’t matter who they are, from the first until the last one. They’ve all been excellent. It’s something special the connection they have with you.”
Roxana’s recalls taking the leap from B1 to B2 at Oxford House. She remembers absorbing all the grammar in depth at intermediate level. But it wasn’t until she got to B2 that she really started to use it.
‘This is your connection with the real English.’ She says.
Fast-forward to today, and she’s completely in love with the language.
“English has given me freedom, because I am able to express my ideas and opinion without feeling afraid.”
Roxana feels proud of her achievements but is aware this is only a small part of her dream. She wants to work towards getting her Cambridge English C1 Advanced qualification at Oxford House and hopes to move on to C2 Proficiency. But it’s not all about exams and certificates for her.
“For me this is only a paper. I need more than this.”
Wanting to take her English to the next level and really immerse herself, Roxana’s main goal is to move to Canada or England. Thankfully her new found English level will help her do that.
“I decided to study English because it’s an international language and it doesn’t matter where you decide to go or live, you will always need it.”
Roxana in Sitges, Catalunya
We asked Roxana what her advice was for other Oxford House students who want to improve their English, and she said it’s all about confidence.
“I think the most important thing is to try to speak even when you’re aware that you’re likely to make a mistake. Don’t feel panicked or shy. Try to be spontaneous and let it flow like when you’re talking in your native language.”
And what would she say to students thinking about studying at Oxford House?
“I don’t have to think so much about it. For me, Oxford House is the best Academy. There isn’t another place for me.”
Would you like to become a super student like Roxana? She’s proved that if you put your mind to something, anything is possible. We want to help you achieve your dreams too. At Oxford House, we have lots of intensive courses available from Starter English (Beginner) all the way up to C2 (Proficiency). Contact the school for more details
Find the following words in the article and then write down any new ones you didn’t know.
to set your heart on something (exp): to want something very much that you’d be disappointed if you didn’t get it.
to put you in good stead (exp): to be very useful to you in the future.
to grow up (pv): to gradually become an adult.
to pay off (pv): to have good consequences.
to take the leap (exp): to do something even if you’re not sure if you will succeed.
to fast forward (v): to proceed rapidly forward in time.
Key
pv = phrasal verb
v = verb
exp = expression
28/02/2024
16/02/2024
24/01/2024
10/01/2024
19/12/2023
13/12/2023
21/11/2023
13/11/2023
30/10/2023
18/10/2023
04/10/2023
23/08/2023
09/08/2023
02/08/2023
21/06/2023
31/05/2023
17/05/2023
03/05/2023
19/04/2023
05/04/2023
22/03/2023
08/03/2023
22/02/2023
08/02/2023
17/01/2023
04/01/2023
21/12/2022
07/12/2022
16/11/2022
02/11/2022
19/10/2022
12/10/2022
28/09/2022
14/09/2022
24/08/2022
10/08/2022
27/07/2022
06/07/2022
15/06/2022
01/06/2022
18/05/2022
04/05/2022
20/04/2022
06/04/2022
16/03/2022
02/03/2022
15/02/2022
02/02/2022
19/01/2022
05/01/2022
15/12/2021
01/12/2021
24/11/2021
10/11/2021
20/10/2021
06/10/2021
22/09/2021
15/09/2021
25/08/2021
11/08/2021
21/07/2021
07/07/2021
23/06/2021
16/06/2021
01/06/2021
19/05/2021
05/05/2021
21/04/2021
07/04/2021
29/03/2021
10/03/2021
17/02/2021
03/02/2021
20/01/2021
07/01/2021
16/12/2020
02/12/2020
24/11/2020
11/11/2020
03/11/2020
19/10/2020
05/10/2020
24/09/2020
09/09/2020
20/08/2020
06/08/2020
20/07/2020
02/07/2020
25/06/2020
09/06/2020
27/05/2020
13/05/2020
29/04/2020
22/04/2020
21/04/2020
15/04/2020
03/04/2020
25/03/2020
18/03/2020
13/03/2020
11/03/2020
04/03/2020
26/02/2020
19/02/2020
12/02/2020
05/02/2020
29/01/2020
21/01/2020
15/01/2020
09/01/2020
07/01/2020
23/12/2019
19/12/2019
11/12/2019
26/11/2019
25/11/2019
13/11/2019
07/11/2019
31/10/2019
23/10/2019
17/10/2019
18/09/2019
04/09/2019
28/08/2019
22/08/2019
15/08/2019
07/08/2019
31/07/2019
24/07/2019
17/07/2019
03/07/2019
26/06/2019
19/06/2019
05/06/2019
29/05/2019
23/05/2019
15/05/2019
23/04/2019
10/04/2019
03/04/2019
27/03/2019
20/03/2019
13/03/2019
06/03/2019
20/02/2019
13/02/2019
07/02/2019
30/01/2019
23/01/2019
04/01/2019
12/12/2018
21/11/2018
14/11/2018
07/11/2018
31/10/2018
24/10/2018
04/10/2018
25/09/2018
19/09/2018
13/09/2018
06/09/2018
29/08/2018
22/08/2018
16/08/2018
02/08/2018
18/07/2018
03/07/2018
27/06/2018
20/06/2018
14/06/2018
06/06/2018
31/05/2018
22/05/2018
09/05/2018
02/05/2018
26/04/2018
18/04/2018
13/04/2018
04/04/2018
29/03/2018
21/03/2018
14/03/2018
07/03/2018
28/02/2018
22/02/2018
15/02/2018
07/02/2018
31/01/2018
24/01/2018
17/01/2018
10/01/2018
27/12/2017
20/12/2017
13/12/2017
07/12/2017
29/11/2017
22/11/2017
08/11/2017
01/11/2017
25/10/2017
18/09/2017
11/11/2015
22/09/2015
Oxford House Language School
C/Diputació 279, Bajos
(entre Pau Claris y Passeig de Gràcia).
08007 - Barcelona (Eixample)
Tel: 93 174 00 62 | Fax: 93 488 14 05
info@oxfordhousebcn.com
Oxford TEFL SL
C.I.F.: B61740551
Inscrita en el R.M. de Barcelona: Tomo 30959, Folio 0037, Hoja B182188, Inscripción 2ª
Oxford TEFL Barcelona
Oxford House Prague
Leave a Reply