Tag: Marlborough School of Languages

Marlborough School of Languages to Hold Second Fiesta

It’s always nice to hear when an inaugural local event is successful, especially one as unique and original as Marlborough School of Languages’ annual Fiesta. Triple so when being bilingual to me means I can switch between English and gibberish!

Marlborough School of Languages offers a range of services to suit language development at any age and stage, in small groups or one-to-one at their school on Marlborough High Street, and online. With regular Spanish, English, French and Italian lessons, bespoke workshops, exciting conversation, film, food and book clubs and sociable cultural drinks evenings, last year founder Maria Gonzalez decided to create their first language summer festival; conveniently the school abbreviates to SOL, the personification of the Sun in ancient Rome!

 “We are beyond excited to be launching the second edition of our Languages’ Summer School: Fiesta 2026,” Maria explained. “Last year we wanted to end the summer term with a special event that would inspire our students to continue their learning journey with us in September, and create something appealing for potential new learners.”

“Despite the heatwave, we delivered 15 hours of Spanish, Italian and EFL lessons, served five wonderful meals at La Bobina, The Marlborough Pub and at our High Street premises, and organised five afternoon activities, including Chinese calligraphy and a wine tasting led by some of the area’s most talented professionals from Thames Valley Wines.”

This year’s Marlborough School of Languages Fiesta will take place on the 6th to 10th of July. Building on last year’s success, Fiesta 2026 promises another vibrant celebration of language, culture and community.

Guests can look forward to a programme of engaging Spanish, Italian and EFL sessions in the morning, delicious meals shared in great company, at the best Marlborough High Street eateries, and a selection of inspiring afternoon activities led by talented local professionals.

Above all, Fiesta is designed to bring people together in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere where learning, conversation and cultural discovery go hand in hand.

Tutors in both Italian, Claudia Marin and Spanish, Maria Gonzalez along with English as a foreign language tutor Matt Gow, will take classes from 9:00 am to 12 pm, followed by lunch, and workshops in the afternoon. Some details still need confirming at this stage, but they anticipate the paella making workshops will be back, and there will be a theatre workshop where the three language groups will each prepare and perform the same short play in their respective languages. 

For further details go to the Marlborough School of Languages website HERE.

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Marlborough School of Languages to Hold Summer Fiesta

Pot pourri, Rodney, mange tout! If we’ve brought to your attention as large a variety of local festivals as possible, here is one that is completely unique, and you will learn something from, rather than, like me, remaining speaking French with the fluency of Del-Boy!

Marlborough School of Languages is the newly branded Marlborough Language Tutors’ Hub; a group of independent language tutors who offer a wide range of courses and workshops for secondary school students and adults. They are now taking bookings for the 2024/25 academic year. But as well as these workshops and a Spanish student exchange program, over the week from the 7th to the 11th July they are holding a summer fiesta across Marlborough’s grand high street; a unique week of language, culture and fun!

The fiesta is an immersive summer experience designed for language enthusiasts of all levels, it includes morning language lessons in Spanish, French, Italian and English as a foreign language with expert tutors. There are afternoon cultural talks and workshops in language, culture, and gastronomy, and to really twist your arm, you will also enjoy meals at top local restaurants, a paella feast on Wednesday, and a finale celebration of wine tasting, tapas and live music the tutors call the “Battle of the Nations.”

It must be a challenge second only to teaching pet hamsters quantum mechanics, to teach the average English person a foreign language! Personally, I assume shouting in the same English what has already been misunderstood, while ingeniously adopting a wonky foreign accent will generally suffice! But you should be rest assured the team at Marlborough School of Languages are a dedicated bunch.

There are eight fully-qualified tutors at Marlborough School of Languages. Valérie Calder for French, who comes from Champagne, Italian tutor Claudia Marin from Venice, Laura Simons who teaches English, Welsh and French, Kate Browne from Canterbury, who teaches English, and four Spanish tutors, Nazaret García Val from a town in Zaragoza, Nacho Panadero Carroceda from Vigo, newest member Ignacio Vargas online only from Cantabria, and the founder María González.

“After years of tutoring students of all ages in Wiltshire and London, I decided to offer the locals the opportunity to make their learning experience a social event too,” María explained, native Spaniard from Lugo, in the beautiful Galicia who has lived in the UK for twenty-five years, teaching at Marlborough’s St John’s Academy, organising Spanish learning clubs in local primaries and is now working at the Department of Modern Languages in Marlborough College.

María González

Maria said, “We aim to give our students, whether secondary school pupils or adult learners, a chance to really immerse themselves in the language and understand a little about different cultures from our base in the picturesque Wiltshire market town of Marlborough and online. We offer them the opportunity to engage in cultures and perspectives beyond their immediate environment.”

“The tutors at the fiesta will be Andrew Brown (French), Matt Gow (EFL), Claudia Marin (Italian), and I will teach Spanish,” Maria continued, “Andrew and Matt both worked at Marlborough college and they are just doing this event with me. They have 30 and 25 years of experience so, over the moon with their input!”

This could be the golden opportunity to broaden your horizons and learn a language the fun way, discovering new cultures, and making unforgettable memories. Always a silly sausage, I struggled with languages in school truth be told, troubling with English even, but had my teacher brought in a paella feast things might have been oh so different!! 

There are limited spaces available for this, so secure your place with a £100 deposit HERE. The cost overall is £345 per person. Book now at: www.marlboroughsol.com

Contact Marlborough School of Languages at info@marlboroughsol.com or call 07940910821 for more information…. or información, con su permiso mi amigo… okay, there’s no fooling you, I used Google translate, but you might not need to after this and the world will be your oyster, or ostra!