27-year-old Tugba Cildir came to Ireland in March 2021 as part of City Language School’s EnglishPlus Work Placement programme. The French native has been living in Temple Bar since her arrival and, with the help of City Language School, she has found employment in a café in Howth.
We got the chance to sit down with Tugba and find out about her experience both at the school and at her work placement.
“I arrived on the 7th March this year,” says Tugba. “I studied Anthropology at University so I wanted to explore a new culture and learn English. I originally had planned to go to Canada but that was too far. There was also the risk of there being too many French speakers there. Then I thought about London but they left the European Union so Dublin was an obvious choice then.”
Tugba spent two months studying online with our star teacher Maria and says she had a lovely experience.
“My experience was very nice,” says Tugba. “Maria was very nice and all the people at the school, like Sophia and Luca, were very nice. I did classes in the morning and then we had the extra lunchtime seminars which were great. I am finished for the moment but I might take more courses later.”
EnglishPlus Work Placement with City Language School Dublin
Not only did City Language School improve Tugba’s English but as part of her EnglishPlus Work Placement Programme we also found her a job.
“We were delighted to be able to help Tugba,” says Luca deSantis, Work Placement Coordinator at City Language School. “Tugba joined our classes for two months and during that period we ran a few workshops focussing on designing her C.V., coming up with interview strategies and doing mock interviews.”
These workshops helped Tugba to prepare her application and when the time came to go for the interview, she was ready. City Language School contacted our list of companies on her behalf and securing an interview but the rest was up to Tugba.
“They liked her and they hired her,” says Luca. “We were then able to support her as she started working. So we helped her with her PPS number and getting all of her documents sorted out and when she had questions we were there for her.”
Living in the heart of Dublin
“I work in a café in Howth,” says Tugba. “It’s a nice place to work. I work on making the panini. People are nice but it is hard work. The customers are nice. I’m learning some English here too. There is a mix of Italians and Georgians working here. I live in Temple Bar with two Indians, a Slovak and an American so we have to speak English at home. That is good for me. It’s a cool apartment too in the middle of everything.”
Between work in the café, her lessons at City Language School and her mixed nationality apartment, Tugba’s English is coming along nicely. Her confidence has grown and with a friend she recently won a school video competition in which they both had to present to camera. Such is the success of her time here, Tugba has decided to extend her stay.
“Yes I was originally just staying for four months but I want to stay on. I think I want to stay a little more, work a little longer and keep practicing my English.”
Dublin is lucky to have her as its guest.
Your Language School in Dublin City Centre
City Language School is right in the heart of Dublin City Centre. Dublin is the proud and vibrant capital of Ireland and with its cosmopolitan and modern feel, it has repeatedly been voted Europe’s friendliest city by Trip Advisor. Dublin boasts strong links with literature, music, dance and storytelling. As you walk through the streets of Temple Bar, you can absorb the musical tradition which spills onto the streets from the many bars and restaurants; truly a city of enormous beauty! Dublin is surrounded by breath-taking natural scenery that will leave you with lifelong memories. It is perfectly located on the eastern coastline of Ireland and is a convenient gateway to the rest of Europe.