Carlos, 29, from Ecuador: My Student Success Story in Adelaide
Why I Love Studying English
Studying English is the best way to practice all of the skills: Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing. I believe that if you master all of these abilities, you can become truly proficient in English. Every conversation, every task, and every opportunity to use English helps me improve and gain confidence in real-life situations.
My Original Inspiration to Study English
Movies have always inspired me to learn English. When I didn’t understand anything, I had to rely on subtitles, which meant missing some details. Now, I can watch movies without subtitles and understand about 80% of what the actors are saying.
When I was 7 or 8 years old, I saw Harry Potter and immediately fell in love with the story. By the time I was 19, I had multiple Harry Potter tattoos. I had read the books in Spanish, but I now hope to read them in English.
The first book I started reading in English was Sherlock Holmes. I bought a complete collection, highlighted words I didn’t know, and looked them up later so I wouldn’t lose the flow of the story. This method really helped me improve my reading skills gradually.
What I Like About Adelaide
Adelaide is a quiet, safe city, which reminds me of Cuenca, my hometown in Ecuador. People are kind and approachable, and you can walk around freely without worry. The climate is pleasant, the environment is beautiful, and life is much less stressful compared to big cities with heavy traffic.
Using English in Daily Life
I use English all the time—in work, study, and everyday life. Most of my friends now are either English speakers or from countries where Spanish isn’t spoken.
When I first arrived, I worked as a hotel cleaner. My boss was a local, so we communicated only in English from day one. Despite my limited English, I could perform my tasks effectively. Since then, I’ve worked at six different hotels, and all of them have been happy with my performance.
Successes and Positive Experiences
As a firefighter, I’m the only one on my team who speaks Spanish, so 100% of communication happens in English. I was a firefighter in Ecuador for 11 years, and I wanted to continue this in Australia. With the help of a friend, I was introduced to a captain, completed an interview, submitted some documents, and was accepted by the government. Now I can help people, which makes me really happy.
Meeting people in Adelaide has also been incredibly rewarding. Everyone is friendly, patient, and willing to wait while I find the right words. Developing the ability to understand and respond in critical situations takes time, but it’s essential in both my work and daily life.
My Goals for the Future
I love living in Australia and hope to stay. I want to become a resident, study nursing, and ultimately work as a full-time nurse or firefighter. In firefighting, you usually start as a volunteer before moving up to a full-time position, but I’m motivated to climb that ladder.
I also hope to travel more across Australia, visiting cities like Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Darwin. There’s so much to explore in this amazing country, and I want to experience it all.
Highlights of My Experience So Far
A few months ago, I traveled to Perth for a holiday and visited Rottnest Island to see Quokkas. It was an incredible experience. Perth is beautiful, and I would love to visit again, although it’s quite far from Adelaide. These experiences make my journey of studying English abroad even more memorable and fulfilling.
