Today we’d like to introduce you to Angelique Glennon.
Hi Angelique, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
A handful of great decisions is the short answer. I was born in France and lived very near Spain for many years, so I visited weekly. At 12, I wanted to be a French teacher, but for French people! I became very ambitious in my teens in multiple aspects of my life. I discovered myself as an artist at 24 then had my first business in France. I yearned to excel in art, in business and in fitness and always had an abundance of ideas. I think it has to do with my culture.
There was something else I wanted: to live my life speaking English. I was exposed to different cultures and was aware at a young age of the presence of languages, cultures, and different races in the world, and wanted to travel. I, however, lacked guidance on how to achieve financial success to fulfill my goals. I was fired from every job I attempted! I told myself: “I am unemployable.”
But the way my life is today is due to taking on opportunities that came my way by chance and leveraging my diverse skills in my business. However, it took time!
Some people may be afraid to leave behind their family, friends, culture, and language. I was not. I did not view it as leaving them behind. I viewed it as a rebirth. I came to the US in 1988. Later, I had the opportunity to do a seminar on Personal Development and Training and I never stopped learning. It left a profound impact on me. I started my language instruction business by placing a magnetic sticker on the back of my car and also transformed and expanded my already innovative artwork. I continuously studied personal development. Now, I use my knowledge to help my students overcome embarrassment, nervousness, feeling foolish, or anything else that stands in their way when it comes to speaking a new language.
From initially typing and preparing lessons just before students arrived to now having multiple options of materials for both French and Spanish, I’ve developed a comprehensive approach that incorporates several proven concepts for language learning.
Creating structured teaching plans means having organized knowledge. Students work with the concepts of learning a new language, which involves first understanding the concept, engaging in fun study exercises to build skills and vocabulary simultaneously, and listening to pronunciation guides and readings. It provides access to the culture. The big reward is the enjoyment of being able to converse, as I have designed different conversation methods over the years that enable people to truly speak. Additionally, I share all my secrets with students to enhance their learning experience!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
In the beginning, and for quite a while, it was very challenging. I had to brave communication barriers despite being fluent in English when I first came to the U.S. People spoke so fast that I couldn’t understand anything for six months! I kept in the back of my mind that I would never want someone to go through what I went through. I was younger and so passionate about many things besides languages. I knew that what I was doing at the time, which was art, bodybuilding, and philosophy, wasn’t going to be enough to live on in the long run and that I would eventually have to do something else to earn a living. I also didn’t want to do a job I would dislike. So, I took a career planning class and saw that was best for me was to teach. But a lot of people were not as interested in learning a foreign language in the 1990s as they are today. So, establishing my French language instruction business, Speak It Like A Native, was tough; I had to find my own innovative marketing, like distributing thousands of flyers around the Westside. But it took a lot of footwork, and only a handful of people even called me.
In the late 2000s people began to realize that learning another language was a necessity. I ventured into teaching Spanish in 2008, something I had not thought about formerly despite being fluent in the language. Then, the Yelp and Google reviews started pouring in. It took over a year to gain momentum, but eventually, it became a success. I worked very hard to earn every review I received.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in designing and teaching French and Spanish language programs for Speak It Like A Native for adolescents and adults. My objective is to demystify the complexities of language learning. Drawing from my artistic background, I infuse creativity into my teaching, making it engaging for all students. I create a supportive environment where students feel empowered to speak confidently. Embracing a ‘pretend and make-believe mindset’ is one essential aspect to speaking a foreign language proficiently. I offer group instruction online and private instruction both in person and online. My goal is to equip students with the skills and confidence to communicate effectively in French or Spanish.
What does success mean to you?
To me, success is personal and subjective, not defined by societal norms. It’s about applying, in my own practice, what I do for myself in my life. It’s about being present with my students and also being grateful and kind. It’s not about me. It’s about them. For students, being happy because they are able to speak means they are having fun on their trip.
Being conscientious about how I write the programs of Speak It Like A Native is very important because people trust me with the information I deliver, and that alone is a success. In addition, I am able to put myself in the place of the student and understand whatever their challenges with the language might be in the moment. My father taught me how to be, as we say in Europe, “autodidact,” which is a “self-taught person.” I taught myself how to be a teacher and an artist. Writing my own materials requires having developed myself as an individual who has discipline and persistence. So, I teach the students how to learn.
Success is also showing my students how to develop their willpower and attention to detail. They carry their skills into other areas of their lives and love it. Using my French legal education, I maintain organization and structure in my teaching. Additionally, I draw from my personal development training to empower and uplift students, especially during challenging learning moments.
I am happy to serve as an example for people and show them that by learning a new language, it’s possible to realize the dream of living abroad.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.speakitlikeanative.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpeakItLikeANative/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/speak-it-like-a-native-santa-monica-2
- Other: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Speak+It+Like+A+Native/@34.0285487,-118.4940609,16z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x80c2a4b6f4194f37:0x8602dd268b1c5406!8m2!3d34.0285487!4d-118.4940609!16s%2Fg%2F11g01sk_vq?entry=ttu
Image Credits
Lynsey Shimara
blandinejoannic
alansherin
JuliusH
pixajopari
jairojehuel
