Professional secondary-school Spanish teacher with Degree & Post-Graduate Certificate. Spanish Conversation from DAY 1! Books and materials included.

Find out more about Matt

• Do you speak this language fluently because of your origins or because a teacher inspired you to learn?

  I grew up in Ireland and although I studied Spanish in secondary school, I really fell in love with it as an adult. I was volunteering in Tanzania teaching English in 2012 and learned some of the local language. I had some wonderful moments, translating for local people and volunteers, or forming friendships with local people in the community. After this experience repeated itself on different trips I decided to give Spanish another go, and go back and learn it as an adult.

• Can you name a living, historical or fictional character that you think is the emblematic representative of the language's culture?

  I think it is difficult to capture an entire culture in one person. Some might say Cervantes (The Spanish equivalent of Shakespeare) or others might name a famous footballer to show the country's love of sport. I think I would choose a singer. I am very interested in language, music, current affairs, and I feel a number of Spanish singer/songwriters do a fantastic job of combining these elements. Some of my favorites are Beret, el Barrio and Rosalía.

• Is there a typical word, phrase, tradition or behavior in the language that you particularly like?

  I love how direct Spanish can be. Coming from Ireland, saying something like " Give me that" or "tell me" can sound quite direct and sometimes a bit forward or rude. Learning to speak like this in Spanish really showed me that when you speak another language, you almost become a different person

• Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  Aside from all the wonderful people in my life whom I speak Spanish with, and the fond memories and experiences I have had through the language; I believe that learning a second language really helps us grow as a person. Along with being able to travel confidently or enjoy foreign music and tv shows, you can also really integrate into a new society. The Spanish-speaking world is notorious for welcoming people who make an effort with their language, with open arms. I truly believe that I wouldn't be the same person, had it not been for Spanish.

• What is the main difficulty in learning this language and what can help the process of learning?

  I think (especially for native English speakers), we are afraid of speaking the language. We focus so much on grammar, vocabulary and rules that we forget how important and fun it is to actually speak the language. That's why in my classes, not only do we improve our grammar and vocabulary, we also place a huge focus on increasing our speaking confidence so we can see the progress that we are making.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your language learning or your days at school.

  This is an easy one for me. I got a C in my GCSE Spanish and didn't even do Spanish for A-level, now I teach children to do these examinations! I remember going on a Spanish trip to Barcelona for 5 days with the school and not speaking a word of Spanish. I was really put off languages at school and that's why I think it is very important for adults to realise that language learning is fun, and that it is a great adventure, with much more than lists of vocabulary and rules.

• How has travel or a specific trip helped you to increase your skill and knowledge of the language?

  Living in Spain for a number of years really taught me the differences in culture. Before, I thought culture was a buzz-word that people used to sound elegant, or to talk about music and dance. Spending so much time with people from other cultures really made me appreciate that other people approach the world in a different way and that if we learn the language, we gain access to that vision.

• What makes you a Superprof in language?

  My new year's resolution for 2014 was to go back and learn Spanish, and I haven't looked back since. In the past decade, I have lived in Spain for 5 years, completed numerous Spanish-language certificates and went back to do a degree in Spanish and French at university. I am now a qualified secondary school teacher in the UK, I am a qualified examiner for the Instituto Cervantes in Madrid, and have my own online teaching business. I feel that my passion for languages, my experience with teaching and also the complete contrast with my life as a child learning languages really gives me a unique perspective into language learning and teaching.