Sailing into Kotor in Montenegro (Adriatic), early in the morning, on a huge cruise ship, was an amazing experience and then docking in Kotor with the mountains all around and the ship dwarfing the small town of Kotor. This possibly beats visiting the Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA.
Staff Spotlight: Ann Haywood
Title:
Director of AdministrationPhotos
Ann is a trained TEFL teacher with extensive teaching experience and a good understanding of students’ language needs. She works tirelessly to ensure that the enrollment process works smoothly; making sure that students are placed with suitable tutors; liaising with and supporting both students and tutors during the program to ensure that both student and tutor have the best possible homestay experience and outcomes. Ann speaks fluent French and managed the Eurolingua French language school in Montpellier, South of France, for seven years.
What is your favorite travel memory?
How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?
I have adapted my computer skills for use in managing tutor and student databases and to effectively arrange Eurolingua homestay programs for the student.
What is the best story you've heard from a return student?
It is hard to choose as we have so many good reports from students about their Eurolingua Homestay programs. Probably the best ones are when both the student and the tutor tell me that they have thoroughly enjoyed the program. That means that the program was a great success.
If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?
I would choose to go to St. Petersburg in Russia as I would love to visit the Hermitage or Irkutsk in Russia and I would like to visit Siberia. They are places I would love to see plus I could improve my Russian as I am a beginner.
What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?
Our company is unique because we make sure that each Homestay program is organized from the tutor meeting the student at the start of the program to the tutor returning the student to the airport at the end of the program.
I am especially proud of our team when they ensure that arrangements work smoothly for younger students and students with mobility problems. They make sure that all students know full tutor details and contact details, exactly where to meet the tutor and that students have emergency contact numbers for tutors and the Eurolingua Institute.
They also make sure that tutors know their student’s language, the student’s objectives for the program and have a current photo of their student. It is important to work with both student and tutor to ensure a successful Homestay.
Students choose their tutor, often based just on location, but should we feel the tutor is not an ideal match, we discuss this with the student before making a final placement. For example, the tutor may be in a 3rd floor apartment without a lift, or be in an isolated location, or unable to collect younger students at the airport.
What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?
Caring for our clients, organizing all arrangements for a program. Working with tutors who are qualified and experienced in teaching their language as a foreign language; who work professionally; and who enjoy hosting foreign students - often making friendships for life.