I am a native British English speaker with a passion for foreign languages and proud to be a Chartered Linguist with the Chartered Institute of Linguists.
While I studied German at school, I learnt Spanish “on the ground” in Mexico while participating in the Rotary International Youth Exchange Scheme. I went to on study both languages at the University of Wales, Bangor, leaving with a First Class Degree and the Dr. Barbara Saunderson Prize for German.
In addition to a year in Mexico, I worked for 3 months on the Costa Brava, I have spent time studying in Austria and Spain, as well as working closely with colleagues in Germany, Switzerland, Spain [specifically Catalonia] and Mexico during my time at Romo Fabrics. My travels also include three months volunteering on the Makaibari Tea Plantation in Darjeeling, India. I also work part-time for a local travel agency specialising in educational group travel. This keeps my active languages skills alive and involves regular visits to mainland Europe.
I love books and reading. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always had my nose in a book, sometimes ignoring the rest of my family while I “just finish this chapter!” The birth of my children in the early 2010s was a very definite turning point in my life – I stepped away from a career in export and switched instead to tutoring and translation.
It was during my Master’s Degree in Translation Studies at the University of Bristol that I realised I might be able to combine my two passions – languages and books!
Aside from my translation work, I volunteer in primary and secondary schools, talking to children about my experiences of a life with languages. In 2021, I was named Outreach Champion by the Institute of Translation and Interpreting. For more about this, please click here.
Claire Storey 