Meet the Student Care Team
An Eclectic Group of Grand Individuals!
The AIL Madrid team members have a few things in common: they love learning languages, making friends from across the globe, helping new faces feel at home, and above all sharing their passion for Madrid. They are warm, occasionally silly, and always there for you whether it’s at the school, on a tour of Madrid, or one of those famous late nights at the bar!
School Directors
Chris Haworth
Chris is the milk bottle white skinned blondie from a small town near Manchester. You will probably see him in the corridors, since he is always rushing around the school looking like he is on an important {{...}} mission. After more than 20 years in Madrid, he is more madrileño than most. When he is not busy making sure the rest of us are doing our job properly, his hobbies are spending time with his children, eating Indian food, playing poker and doing crossfit. He is approachable and loves speaking to students so please do introduce yourself to him.
Student Care Team
Le Jing
Le was so fascinated with Spanish that, 5 years ago, he decided to hop on a plane to Spain; and after almost 24 hours of travel and years worth of experiences, he’s still here with us! Before joining {{...}} the AIL team in 2013, he lived in Seville and Salamanca but, the moment he set foot in Madrid, he knew this was where he wanted to be! But if your real question is "where is he from?", and you might hear a rumor in the hallways about Beijing, he will tell you that he’s as Chinese as a Sevillano and as Spanish as a bowl of rice… or was it the other way around ? But the real truth is that Le is an indispensable member of our team, and it's a huge pleasure to see his smile everyday!
Martin
After losing his luggage on the journey from his hometown (Cambridge, UK), Martin arrived in Madrid for the first time with nothing to cover himself with except his travel insurance. Fortunately, his insurance {{...}} provided him the funds to go shopping. Unfortunately, Martin hates shopping. But fortunately, he ended up finding some great clothes and started life in Madrid with a fresh new look! Martin soon joined the AIL Madrid family in the summer of 2015, where he can now be found each morning in the calming presence of a cup of tea with some biscuits. He’s passionate about football and photography, and is fascinated by geography. If you see him around the school, ask him to name the capitals of the world – he knows them all!
Dora
Dora or, as we like to call her, “Dora the Explorer” comes from Budapest, Hungary and has been a part of Madrid’s family member since fall 2015! She came to Spain as many do; just for a visit… {{...}}that has lasted for 10 years so far! She first lived in Salamanca but she loves big cities, so she decided to give the capital a try! She immediately fell in love with the city, then with a special someone… and the rest is history! In her free time, Dora loves travelling, exploring new countries and learning from other cultures. Her favorite thing to do is listen to music, and she’s always listening to something motivating on her way to AIL every morning- she thinks it’s just as good as a big cup of coffee!
Veronika
Veronika comes from a small country called Slovenia. After spending nine wonderful months doing an internship with AIL, then finishing the Spanish teachers´ studies {{...}} and working as a Spanish and Italian teacher in her country, she decided to return to the city which bettered her so much both personally and professionally. She loves to spend weekends´afternoons having tapas in one of the typical bars of Madrid or just walking the streets discovering unknown places in the city. She likes to spend her free time learning new salsa and bachata steps or learning Portuguese.
Silvia
With extensive experience in the ELE teaching, Silvia has been linked to the educational sector since 2001. She is the kind of person who's always in for a new challenge. As many of our students {{...}}, she is an adventurer who feels great getting out of her comfort zone.
Pamela
AIL Madrid has a younger sister called AIL Málaga where Pamela started her journey with us. Ever since she joined our team of language enthusiasts,{{...}} her love for Spain and Spanish language has only grown bigger and bigger. Pamela is passionate about traveling: if you want to visit Andalusia, you can ask her about the best places to see. We have no doubt that she will soon become a specialist in recommending amazing spots in Madrid as well!
Varun
Varun comes from Pune, a city in India which is famous for its Universities, colleges, food and good weather. He studied Computer Applications and Management for his Bachelors in Pune, {{...}} followed by his Masters MSc. International Tourism Management in Leeds, UK. He studied and worked in the UK for 2.5 years and then moved to Valencia, Spain where he spent the next 2 years. Varun primarily moved to Spain to learn Spanish to nurture his career in tourism but soon fell in love with the country and the culture and since then travelled regularly to Spain every now and then. He loves Paella and used to cook quite a few when he was living in Valencia and he also loves cooking Indian curries for his friends. He also worked in the cruise tourism industry in the Caribbean for 2 seasons and then moved to Madrid. He loves travelling, interacting with people from different countries and cultures, is a die-hard foodie, loves cooking and cinema.
Laura
Laura was born in a small town in Italy and as a good Italian she loves pizza, pasta and art. She is a person with a lot of energy and she is able to transmit that emotion to all the students at AIL.{{...}} When she finished her business studies in Verona, she decided to take a suitcase and go on an adventure doing an internship at AIL. Laura decided to stay permanently in Madrid to enjoy all the art museums in the city and to learn the Spanish recipes that she loves so much. If you want an express Italian lesson, don't hesitate to ask her, she always smiles from ear to ear when she enters the office and her colleagues chorus "Buongiorno!
María
María is a dreamy and talkative person, she loves meeting new people and helping AIL students in their first days. She gets excited when new students come to the school {{...}} every week, because there is so much diversity of cultures and it reminds her of her Erasmus year. She studied translation and interpreting because she is passionate about languages and writing. She also likes cooking very much, if you want to know some local dishes, don't hesitate to tell her and she will surely tell you a story about her granny, who is Valencian, and makes the best paella in the world.
Sandra
Sandra is one of those people who doesn't need a cup of coffee in the morning to be full of energy. She always wakes up to the rhythm of some of her favourite songs {{...}} - she is an inveterate music lover - as well as declaring herself an absolute fan of musicals. She studied music and acting in the United States and every day, as she gets dressed and gets ready to come to work at AIL Madrid, she hums "Sombra aquí, sombra allá maquíllate, maquíllate, maquíllate" the song by the iconic Spanish group Mecano and comes to school with the attitude of a Broadway star. If you ever see her around the school, ask her to recommend some of the many shows in Madrid. She has a notebook where she writes down her favourites and the ones that have been most special to her and I'm sure she'll be happy to share her notes with you!
Adrianna
Adrianna was born in Madrid but her story is very special as she grew up and spent most of her life in Krakow. Every time she traveled and showed her Spanish passport she felt she had to know the country where she was born. {{...}}That's why, after finishing her university degree and doing her long-awaited CEEPUS exchange to Vienna-a program similar to Erasmus but only with Central European countries-she decided to listen to her heart and headed for Madrid. Since he arrived in this city he is developing his love for architecture and that is probably the reason why he has at least a hundred pictures in his mobile phone of the Metropolis building, his favorite. She loves to get lost in the city and contemplate all that the capital has to offer. Also, as she is passionate about flamenco dancing, she is an expert in finding the best flamenco shows in the city. If you meet her at the school, ask her to teach you a dance step, you will surely leave our school as a dancer. Olé!
Eva
Eva was born in Caen, a small town in the beautiful region of Normandy. She has always been curious about the Spanish language and so she decided to study Spanish philology. {{...}} She spent a year at the Complutense University of Madrid thanks to the Erasmus programme and from that moment on, it was clear to her that at some point she would return to Spain to live there. So this summer he decided to make his dream come true: he packed his bags, took a pair of sunglasses, his inseparable polaroid and came to live in Madrid. She loves living in the capital and whenever it's sunny she posts a photo on Instagram with the caption "another sunny morning in Madrid". If you follow her on her social networks you will know that she is in love with the city's climate.
Marco
Marco was born in the beautiful city of Genoa. Since arriving in Madrid he's noticed that when he introduces himself to anyone new that they often refer to him as "Polo"! {{...}} As you can see, he's already customising himself with the Spanish humour and is enjoying learning more about Spanish character traits and culture. Gradually he is even taking on some Spanish customs and is proud to boast that his "tortilla de patata" is legendary! Marco loves a challenge and getting out of his comfort zone, so at the age of 20 he went to live in Bristol while studying English. However, he later returned to Italy as claims that he missed his family and in-particular his grandmother's Parmigiana too much! This dish is very famous in Marco's family and the recipe for his grandmother's Parmigiana is a very well kept family secret. Luckily for all of Marco's Spanish friends though, he knows the recipe by heart and has totally mastered it, which they regularly enjoy. Like any good Italian, he loves to have get-togethers with friends at his house, and since arriving in Spain he hasn't stopped creating opportunities to meet new people and is almost starting to feel like a local Madrileño with his extensive network. While enjoying the Spanish way of life, he has to admit that he does often joke with his neighbours that Telepizza pizzas are not authentic, and that they must go to his city to try the real thing! Whilst you can take the Italian out of Italy... in regards to certain things - you can't take the Italy out of the Italian!
Fryderyka
Fryderyka is persevering and eager to take on the world. She always knew she wanted to study law and work in a big law firm. {{...}} However, a trip to Ecuador- where she learned Spanish- became the beginning of a great adventure and a totally unexpected change of plans. She believes it was a matter of magic, because she felt a click in her heart and since then, it was clear to her that she wanted to travel and dedicate herself to the tourism sector. She left aside the formalities of the law firm where she worked, renewed her closet completely by buying colorful clothes and applied for a AIL Madrid Spanish School vacancy to work managing Spanish Educational Study Tours. She is delighted with the decision she has made and confesses that the closest she is going to get to trials and bureaucratic hassles will be watching one of her favorite movies: A Legal Blonde. If you ever run into her at school, ask her to recommend a comedy movie - she is an absolute fan of Spanish cinema!
Ana
Ana is a joking and cheerful person. You will always see her with a radiant smile. She defines herself as half Spanish and half Irish, since the beautiful city of Dublin is where she met her partner, whom she calls her other half. {{...}}Besides being a hopeless romantic, she is a world traveler, she has visited many countries and has been living in the exotic city of Bangkok. This experience was super enriching for her, among other things, it made her become a culinary expert. She tasted the different textures and flavors and became passionate about gastronomy. Every Sunday she prepares dishes in which she fuses typical Spanish and Thai cuisine-her friends always joke that she will end up working at Diverxo-. Watching Ana cook is quite a spectacle, because she is a fan of acting and singing and always sings and dances while she cooks. Sorry Hollywood, Ana has signed up for our school!
Cynthia
Cynthia is a curious and sensitive person who was born in Lebanon and her favourite hobby in the world is travelling. To give you an idea, one of her dreams is to visit every country in the world. {{...}}She considers herself passionate about literature, music and art in all its forms. That's why one of her star plans for a Sunday in Madrid is to visit one of the city's art museums. Her favourites are the Reina Sofía and the Prado, and afterwards she takes the opportunity to stroll through the Retiro Park. She loves to feel close to nature because it transmits tranquillity and peace. If you want some tips about life in the city, ask her. She loves helping students!
Sonia
Sonia was born in the famous town of Toledo (the setting of the story Don Quixote!) but has lived in Madrid for more than 10 years. She always knew she wanted to travel the world from a young age. {{...}}She dreamed of having a special ship to explore the world, just like The Flintstones in her favorite TV show. While she doesn’t have one yet, she’s still been able to fulfill her dreams of living in other countries like France and England. In her time abroad, she discovered delicacies like Roquefort cheese or fish and chips. Still, she missed her tinto de verano in Madrid and the beauty that the city has to offer. When she returned from being abroad, she became part of the team at AIL Madrid that makes student experiences unforgettable.
Angie
Angie is a curious and brave person who is not afraid of any challenges. One example of that, is her astonishing accomplishment of doing the whole Camino de Santiago not just once… but twice! She loves to share her stories from the trail with us. {{...}}She always jokes that even though she is Polish, she has Spanish roots from a past life, as she just loves our culture here so much. What’s not to love, with our dancing and food? In 2011 she decided to accomplish her biggest challenge: move to Spain and learn Spanish. She chose Málaga for its major sun throughout the year and its beaches. After a few years, she decided to settle in Madrid and started working at our school. If you see Angie at our centers, be sure to ask her which her favorite hiking trails in Spain are!
Leyre
Leyre is the calming presence here at AIL— she reminds us to slow down and take it easy! She has traveled most of the world and been able to understand many different cultures and types of people from all around the world. {{...}}For her, the best part of traveling is the impact that new people can have on you. Without a doubt, her favorite part of traveling is the way that other people help her to open her mind. Each person she’s met in her travels has impacted her mindset and way of life. She is a big believer in the “Slow Life” model and agrees that every moment should be lived to the fullest while enjoying the small things in life. She is a person with big goals but clear objectives that help her get there. If Leyre is put up to a challenge, she will definitely achieve it!
Diego
Diego fits all of the stereotypes you know of a Spaniard: extroverted, helpful, happy, and always ready to go out. Just like “Mr.Worldwide”, Diego is not afraid to leave behind his croquetas to try the new cuisine his travel destinations have to offer. {{...}} Since he was very young, he always knew he wanted to travel and live new experiences. When the opportunity came for him to work in Casablanca, he was already ready to go with passport in hand. He has a lot of great memories from his time there and can tell lots of interesting stories about the different life. Diego treasures living in the moment, since we don’t always know what the future holds. What we know at AIL Madrid for sure is that we are going to enjoy his funny jokes and bright energy for as long as we can.
Marina
Marina, like some of our other colleagues, carries the “madrileña” title with great pride. Her perfect Sunday plan is a trip to the El Rastro market with patatas bravas and beers afterwards for lunch with friends. {{...}}The center of Madrid is her favorite neighborhood, even though they often give her the menu written entirely in English. When she was living in Ireland (Dublin and Athlone), people had a hard time believing she was Spanish. Her mix of blonde hair and light colored eyes made it hard to picture her as a classic Spaniard woman. Marina always responds laughing, as she thinks she might have also lived a past life with “guiri” roots. She describes herself as outgoing, a chatterbox, and a one of a kind soul. In fact, one of her unique hobbies is African dance. She loves the bright colors of the dresses, the flow of the music, and the adrenaline that the entire experience has to offer. If you happen to hear some hip beats and see smooth moves on Fridays in our hallways… it’s definitely Marina!
Noemí
If you think of the most classic Madrid stereotypes (cocido, the calamari sandwich, or their unique vocabulary), Noemi still beats them all and is a true Madrileña at heart. When she was living in the UK, she realized how much she missed her homeland. {{...}}She went on a small trip to Camden Town on the hunt for a perfect tortilla de patata and, to no surprise, it was not what she was expecting. Noemi loves her family and her Spanish community, so she decided to leave behind the rainfall of London and head home to sunny Spain. For Noemi, the best weekend plans are under a comfy blanket with a good book or a heartfelt movie. But don’t think for a second that Noemi is only stuck at home – she’s also an avid runner! If you see her at our school site, be sure to ask what the best races are in Spain. Her favorite is definitely the San Silvestre Vallecana.
Camilla
Camilla has a lot in common with Milka chocolate, she is from Switzerland and super sweet. She was born in a small town where, from an early age, she discovered that she loved languages and meeting people. {{...}} Her village is very touristic and therefore, she was always in contact with other languages and cultures; in fact, this was one of the main reasons why she studied tourism. Whenever she is asked about the best moment of her life, she always talks about her fantastic trip to Ireland where she met her better half, who is Spanish speaking and Mexican. Thanks to him she speaks perfect Spanish and everyone asks her why being Italian she speaks with a Latin accent to which -to make the explanation quicker- she answers that she learned Spanish watching Mexican soap operas like "Rebelde" and "Corazón Salvaje". If you ever see her around school, ask her to recommend some, she's a big fan of soap operas!
Accommodation
Xandra
Xandra spelled with X and not with S - she is used to confusion when spelling her name - was born in Getxo. It is a small town in the province of Vizcaya famous for its beautiful beaches and famous gastronomy. {{...}}That's why, now that she is in Madrid, she misses the typical dishes of her homeland and whenever she returns to her hometown she takes the opportunity to dive and enjoy her city. Since she was very young she has known that she was going to dedicate herself to something related to tourism and travel. Therefore, she fulfilled her dream when she graduated in Tourism and specialized in other branches related to this sector. As it could not be otherwise, her favorite thing to do in the world is to travel and she keeps a souvenir of every place she visits in her memory and on her skin in the form of a tattoo. If you ever see her around the school, ask her for her favorite. She'll be happy to tell you about it!
Brenda
Brenda is an energetic, sweet, and extroverted person. She also totally fits her Brazilian heritage: she loves Samba and is always on the hunt for decorations with vibrant colors, just like the ones at home during the Carnaval festivals. {{...}}She really identifies strongly with her culture, as Latin America is full of friendly and warm embraces. Her first trip to Venezuela was unforgettable, and is where her journey with the Spanish language began. She has also always loved the ocean and felt connected to its crashing waves. Even though there’s no beach here, she decided to move to Madrid and enjoy the beautiful museums and lovely people, like our family at AIL Madrid. And as a good madrileña, Brenda knows you can take the train and be at the beach in less than three hours. She’s got all the tricks you need to know about life in Madrid!
