An interview with my mother

In honour of Mother’s Day, we would like to share with you an interview given by one of our pupils, Hugo (Year 6), who has interviewed his mother, Melissa, who is a nursery teacher at Wellington. We hope their conversation will inspire you to record an interview with or about your own mum. It is not only a way to get to know your mother a little better, but it also shows how much we love her and appreciate their efforts, both at home and in the work place.

• How did you get into teaching?

“I never thought I would become a teacher, but during a long stay in hospital, I had to keep my mind busy and so I retrained to become a teacher after having studied Politics and European Union Studies at University in England. The airline I worked for closed after an accident and so I took up a teaching post in Madrid. The first day was exceptionally daunting, but that was seven years ago and I have never looked back. Teaching is definitely a lot more exciting than slot coordinating for an airline.”

• Why do you prefer Early Years teaching?

“When the children start in my class, they are like a blank canvas. Everything amazes them and they are so eager to learn. There is nothing better than the proud face of a three year old when he or she writes their name for the first time. What they learn with me stays with them for life, from reading their first words to discovering colour mixing. Early Years is all about creating the firm foundations for future learning. ”

• Which schools have you worked at and which is your favourite?

“I previously worked at two schools in Spain. One was a bilingual English and Spanish and at one I taught English as a specialist subject. Wellington though, is definitely my favourite as the opportunities on offer for my class are endless. The children are very privileged to attend such a fantastic school where there are sports, cultural and musical activities as well as academic brilliance.”

• Which is your favourite country and why?

“I moved to Spain when I was eleven and even though I have travelled to many countries, Spain is still my favourite. From the green valleys in the North to the sandy beaches in the South. Madrid, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza… every city is unique. The food, the culture, the people are all fantastic and it really feels like home as soon as I step off the plane.

• Why do you speak so many languages?

“I was born in Britain and my parents are both English. We moved when I was young to a small village in Mallorca, Spain, where they speak Catalan, and at school I learnt both Spanish and French. Since moving to China three years ago, I have also started to learn Mandarin. I think learning languages is very important, as it allows you to communicate and understand lots of different people, their cultures and their views.