How The Idea of Tailored Retreats Was Hatched

In April 2022, as my first students arrived from Germany and Switzerland, I couldn’t believe my luck that the sun was actually shining…certainly not something to take for granted in the UK, known for its unpredictable weather and endless drizzle. 

Each student was making their way down to Cornwall which, for anyone that has ever made the trip, it is an adventure just getting from London.

Yet as each student arrived and checked in at the hotel, I could see how delighted and surprised they were from this southwestern tip of England with its stunning coastal beaches, natural landscape and rich history.

Luckily, the old Manor hotel, with its impressive ornamental dogs guarding the door and ancient wooden stairs, made an impression too—especially for a country that, at times, makes it surprisingly difficult to find a good coffee spot."

Lessons took place in the hotel library and it was fantastic to see how quickly friendships were formed and that each student enjoyed the hotel facilities and location in a way that best suited their own needs and requirements.

With all students in this group having German as a native language, it was imperative that we had spoken, prior to the journey,  about the importance of only speaking English upon arrival.

Yet I was amazed how everyone was determined to fully immerse in the experience and, as it turned out even on the trip home, both on the train and at the airport, the language that everyone continued to converse in was English, which was a proud moment for me.

Certainly one of the objectives of every retreat is the fully immersive experience and I always find it rewarding,  when students, whether visiting for 3 days or two weeks, report back that ‘after arriving home, I finally felt confident speaking English at meetings with colleagues who had previously lived in English-speaking countries’ or ‘ I now have the confidence to relax with native speakers’. From day one this has always been the aim!

Book your personalised coaching lessons here

One of the ways that I also achieve this is through arranged excursions and, back in Cornwall, this involved a day out in lovely St.Ives ( I even got my sister and brother-in-law involved in this one!) with its glorious beaches, lovely pubs and a guided tour of Tate Gallery and Barbara Hepworth’s sculpture gardens that never fail to impress. Whether meeting with locals or asking questions from the exhibition’s guided tour or indeed, chatting with the minibus driver, it's these authentic conversations and small talk that bring even the most advanced learner of English to a deeper understanding of how to use, navigate and explore the language in new ways.

Since that first retreat, my location has moved to Cardiff and I have had the pleasure of introducing students to the UK from the Welsh border. Certainly travelling from nearby Bristol or Cardiff airport is much easier now and students can visit easily for a quick weekend course if required. 

I adore being able to offer my students the flexibility that works best for them. One student at the end of 2024 opted for an air b&b whilst my most recent enjoyed the central location of his own-souced  hotel  (one main stipulation being that his hotel room did not have carpet ‘like the majority of English hotel rooms!’) 

The length and time of the retreat must work entirely for the student, whether to overcome ‘learning blocks’ during a work vacation, fit in an immersive long weekend, or travel with two work colleagues to all improve English skills and knowledge together. As a freelancer, I can adapt, book, and support students as they shape the retreat entirely to their needs.

For some students, this will include one or more excursions (and certainly Cardiff and nearby Bristol have a lot to offer) or a retreat with a specific theme, I was recently asked to check out the local golf courses to combine with English lessons, whilst other students will be happy to just meet up daily for specific lessons and enjoy making their own plans for the rest of the time here.

In January 2025, arriving from Switzerland, my student's goal was to use the time between two employment positions to finally overcome his fear of English grammar. In his own words, he had previously had many lessons and many teachers, but still struggled to overcome the 'block'. Yet interestingly, I believe it was the combination of intensive tailored lessons daily and his enthusiasm to immerse himself in the location of  Cardiff that enabled this learning ‘block’ to finally be overcome.

With the result that he was able to go home, have his interview with a US global company, secure the job and feel confident going forward for meetings with colleagues and clients in English. 

This is the unique opportunity that I offer with my English retreats and the kind of successful results that I like to help my students achieve.

Book your personalised coaching lessons here