CHARLOTTE Last has embarked on a new business venture teaching French to children and adults.
Manx-born Charlotte, 24, of Douglas has launched Parlez-vous Français? because she wants to share her enthusiasm for France.
She was most recently employed at the ICM Group in Douglas where she was an aviation assistant.
Charlotte, who lives in Douglas, told Business News: ‘I have launched Parlez-vous as I want to help others learn French in a relaxed environment.
‘I love teaching and want to share my enthusiasm for France, its vibrant language and rich culture. I myself began learning French at nursery school and I believe that learning a foreign language provides many opportunities and benefits throughout a lifetime.’
Charlotte, who received an Honours degree in French Studies at Lancaster University, has been on the Department of Economic Development’s Small Business Start Up Scheme which she found informative and important.
DREAM
She said: ‘I am following my dream of starting up my own business and giving it a go’.
Charlotte adores France and the area around Nice in the south is her favourite. She once worked as an au pair to a four year old French girl called Lola. She also spent some time teaching English to French youngsters.
Charlotte’s former boss and manager of aviation services at the ICM group, Martin Kennaugh, said: ‘We are sorry to lose Charlotte but know French is her passion and her natural ability to teach means we know she will do well.
‘As a French speaker myself I appreciate the advantages of speaking another language. Although most of our business is conducted in English, the ability to speak another language can put people at ease and be very good for client relations. We wish Charlotte well with Parlez-vous Français?’
Foreign language speakers are a major asset to Douglas based ICM Group, according to director and German speaker Mark Byrne. Mark thinks the benefits of employing staff who speak a second language are many:
‘Effective communication is vital to the success of our business, and while we are lucky to have English as our first language, the ability to speak other languages comes with many benefits.
‘It is not just communicating with someone in their own language but understanding their culture.
‘You can grasp how someone works and operates very quickly if you know their language.
‘Our contacts and clients often give credit to the foreign language speakers in our company as they can resolve issues quickly, translate documents and help speed things up considerably.
COSMOPOLITAN
‘On a personal level, I find that people with a second language tend to have a more cosmopolitan view of the world and are more open-minded and tolerant of others. If everyone could speak a second language the world would be a better place.’
The ICM Group has in-house speakers of Italian, Spanish, Russian, German, French, Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati.
Some staff use their language skills on a daily basis.
Annie Nédellec, a native French speaker who has lived in the Isle of Man for many years, manages a busy portfolio of French speaking clients for yacht specialists, Dominion Marine. She said: ‘I manage a portfolio of French clients, many of whom don’t speak English. They are all yacht owners with English speaking captains and crew so I can be their lifeline sometimes, especially in a crisis.
‘It is important that there is no breakdown in communication and I can help with that. English is my second language of course and I love to be able to converse fluently in both languages. In fact I think my English is even better than my French these days!’
Annie, Honorary French Consul in the Isle of Man, is concerned that foreign languages are not more prominent in schools.
NICHE
‘The teaching of French and other languages in schools seems to be on the decline. I think Charlotte will find a niche for herself. She is young, enthusiastic and has a lovely way with both children and adults.
‘I think everyone should learn French! There has been a lot of research recently that shows the advantages of learning another language, not just for children but even later on in life.
‘It would seem that learning another language stimulates the brain and aids memory, so if you have always wanted to learn French now is the time to have a go!’
Charlotte Last can be contacted via her website www.parlezvousfrancais.org.uk or by contacting her directly on 230876 or pvf@manx.net