{"id":46694,"date":"2021-03-24T13:30:25","date_gmt":"2021-03-24T12:30:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/?p=46694"},"modified":"2021-03-24T13:30:25","modified_gmt":"2021-03-24T12:30:25","slug":"from-beginner-to-advanced-english-in-just-one-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/from-beginner-to-advanced-english-in-just-one-year\/","title":{"rendered":"How Roxana went from Beginner to Advanced English in just one year"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u2019t without ambition. On her first day of her Starter<\/a> course she remembers telling her teacher that it was her dream to get to B2 level.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always said the same. I wanted to speak like a native speaker.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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\u2019s been like to study at Oxford House.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The importance of English<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

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<\/strong><\/em><\/span> Barcelona to study her masters in Finance, Accounting and Management. Since completing her masters, Roxana realizes the real importance of English to her career.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy 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.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Roxana's<\/p>\n

Roxana about to present her final project at university<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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<\/strong><\/em><\/span> for getting a job in business.<\/p>\n

So how did her journey begin?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Out of her depth<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

Growing up<\/strong><\/em><\/span>, Roxana didn\u2019t exactly take English seriously. Her father spoke it very well, and always encouraged her to learn. However she always managed to postpone it.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said you need to learn this because it\u2019s so important, and I was like, yeah I\u2019ll take a course one day, one day.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Not long after starting her master\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was really challenging and difficult because I didn\u2019t know anything,\u201d she says. <\/em><\/p>\n

Knowing she had to improve her English fast, Roxana went in search of a language school with a good reputation. As someone who doesn\u2019t make decisions without careful thought, she really did her research. After several recommendations, she came across Oxford House, and she hasn\u2019t looked back.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no other place for me. It\u2019s incredible. Oxford House is like a second home.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Roxana's<\/p>\n

Roxana celebrating her birthday in Barcelona<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Part of the OH family <\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roxana\u2019s achievements at Oxford House have been amazing. She has gone from Starter (beginners) to B2.2 (upper-intermediate) in just one year. She\u2019s taken back to back intensive<\/a> and summer intensive<\/a> courses and completed hundreds of hours of study. The hard work has really paid off<\/strong><\/em><\/span>!<\/p>\n

However, she hasn\u2019t taken this journey alone. In this time she\u2019s had eight different Oxford House teachers. All of whom have helped her progress in different ways.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I could not have had better teachers. It doesn\u2019t matter who they are, from the first until the last one. They\u2019ve all been excellent. It\u2019s something special the connection they have with you.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Roxana\u2019s recalls taking the leap<\/strong><\/em><\/span> from B1 to B2 at Oxford House. She remembers absorbing all the grammar in depth at intermediate level. But it wasn\u2019t until she got to B2 that she really started to use it.<\/p>\n

\u2018This is your connection with the real English.\u2019<\/em> She says.<\/p>\n

Fast-forward<\/strong><\/em><\/span> to today, and she\u2019s completely in love with the language.<\/p>\n

\u201cEnglish has given me freedom, because I am able to express my ideas and opinion without feeling afraid.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What the future holds<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

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<\/a> qualification at Oxford House and hopes to move on to C2 Proficiency<\/a>. But it\u2019s not all about exams and certificates for her.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me this is only a paper. I need more than this.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Wanting to take her English to the next level and really immerse herself, Roxana\u2019s main goal is to move to Canada or England. Thankfully her new found English level will help her do that.<\/p>\n

\u201cI decided to study English because it\u2019s an international language and it doesn\u2019t matter where you decide to go or live, you will always need it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Roxana<\/p>\n

Roxana in Sitges, Catalunya <\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roxana\u2019s advice for learning English<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

We asked Roxana what her advice was for other Oxford House students who want to improve their English, and she said it\u2019s all about confidence.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the most important thing is to try to speak even when you\u2019re aware that you\u2019re likely to make a mistake. Don\u2019t feel panicked or shy. Try to be spontaneous and let it flow like when you\u2019re talking in your native language.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

And what would she say to students thinking about studying at Oxford House?<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t have to think so much about it. For me, Oxford House is the best Academy. There isn\u2019t another place for me.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Would you like to become a super student like Roxana?<\/strong> She\u2019s 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<\/a> for more details<\/p>\n

\">
<\/div><\/div>
<\/div>\n

Glossary for Language Learners<\/strong><\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

Find the following words in the article and then write down any new ones you didn\u2019t know.<\/p>\n

to set your heart on something (exp):<\/strong><\/em><\/span> to want something very much that you\u2019d be disappointed if you didn\u2019t get it.<\/p>\n

to put you in good stead (exp):<\/strong><\/em><\/span> to be very useful to you in the future.<\/p>\n

to grow up (pv):<\/strong><\/em><\/span> to gradually become an adult.<\/p>\n

to pay off (pv):<\/strong><\/em><\/span> to have good consequences.<\/p>\n

to take the leap (exp):<\/strong><\/em><\/span> to do something even if you\u2019re not sure if you will succeed.<\/p>\n

to fast forward (v):<\/strong><\/em><\/span> to proceed rapidly forward in time.<\/p>\n

\">
<\/div><\/div>
<\/div>\n

Key<\/strong><\/p>\n

pv = phrasal verb<\/p>\n

v = verb<\/p>\n

exp = expression<\/p>\n

\">
<\/div><\/div>
<\/div>\n

Study English at Oxford House Barcelona<\/h4><\/i>Interested in taking an English course at Oxford House Barcelona? Check all of our different English courses<\/a>, or contact us<\/a> for more information.<\/div>
<\/div><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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\u2019t without ambition. On her first day of her Starter course she remembers telling her teacher that it was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":46695,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_joinchat":[]},"categories":[268],"tags":[15004,195,5728,15005],"yst_prominent_words":[1332,2041,2040,4062,1340,1240,14949,5951,14908,1044,1253,1084,14907,2039,10356,2772,5694,14915,1079,4830],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46694"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46694"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46694\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46732,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46694\/revisions\/46732"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46695"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46694"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46694"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46694"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=46694"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}