Interview with Winner of French Intensive Course in Paris: Vanessa Esposito of Diageo

Company: Diageo (www.diageo.com)
Delegate: Vanessa Esposito
Position: Global Mobility Advisor
Course: Intensive French

Communicaid offered several prizes as part of its participation at the Totally Expat Show 2012. The winner of a one-week Intensive French course at our Paris training centre was Vanessa Esposito of Diageo. Vanessa undertook her French course from 4-8 June 2012.

Vanessa (right) talks to her French trainer Anne-Laure Menard

What language knowledge did you have prior to attending this intensive French course with Communicaid?

None unfortunately.

What did you enjoy most about your programme?

The trainers and staff. They were incredibly friendly, helpful and supportive and made the week a really enjoyable experience.

What did you find challenging?

I really struggled with the pronunciation. There were some sounds that I wasn't familiar with and which didn't come naturally. Thankfully, I had a lot of help in this area from my trainers, Anne-Laure and Valerie.

How did you get on with the intensive format of the programme?

Completing 30 hours of training over 5 days is challenging - there's a lot to process and take on board. Having said this, it is designed to be a fun experience and through such intensive exposure to the language you're learning, you can really see the benefits

What have you learned, both linguistically and personally?

From a linguistic perspective, I managed to learn a lot of vocabulary and grammar in a very short time. From a personal perspective, I learned a lot about the French and their fantastic food!

Based on your experience, what advice would you give to a Diageo assignee looking to learn a language?

Learning a language is a long and sometimes difficult process but the rewards and benefits are really worthwhile, both from a professional perspective and also personally.

What parts of Paris have you discovered?

I loved Versailles, a really beautiful place with some great markets and places to eat.

Any tips for anyone coming to live, work or study in Paris from your own experiences?

Enjoy it! It’s an amazing city full of history, art, culture and food.

Are you going to continue learning French after this experience?

I plan to. I’d really love to become fluent in French

How do you think that this training will help you in your daily work?

As I work with a number of French speaking countries, what I’ve learnt should help me to communicate more effectively with colleagues and partners

About Communicaid

Communicaid is a culture and communication skills consultancy. We enable our clients to create profitable international relationships by building cultural bridges that enhance understanding and establish trust. Founded in 1992, our clients include many of the world's leading corporate, public and international institutions.

With training centres in London, Brussels, Paris, Frankfurt and New York, combined with a worldwide network of trainers, consultants and partner organisations, we are uniquely placed to meet the global culture and communication skills needs of international organisations.

For more information, please visit www.communicaid.com