Student Stories: Nicole
Welcome back to our Student Stories series, where we share the unique experiences of students from around the world who have joined us at Bell. In this edition, we are delighted to introduce Nicole, a 16-year-old from Mar del Plata, Argentina. Nicole spent her summer on the Summer Explorer programme at Bell Badminton School, where she improved her English, made friends from all over the world, and experienced the rich culture of Bristol and beyond.
Nicole describes her time at Bell Badminton School as a truly enriching experience, filled with opportunities to connect with others and explore new ideas. “At Bell, I’m enjoying my time with new people. I’ve met a lot of cool people here, I’m very happy,” she says. One of the standout aspects of her experience was meeting students from different countries. “I got to know people from other countries, and learn things about their culture, that I didn’t know before the trip.”
Our Summer Explorer programme offers an immersive environment where students engage in project-based learning and interactive activities, which Nicole found highly rewarding. “My English classes are very interesting, I really enjoy them. The topics are very cool,” she notes, adding that she feels she has learned a lot. She also speaks fondly of her teachers: “My teachers are very kind, I think that they are very cool teachers!”
Beyond the classroom, Nicole enjoyed a wide range of electives and activities, which added to the fun of her summer. “We have a lot of options to do. I did volleyball, drawing, art, and a lot of sports. It’s very fun,” she shares. In addition to these activities, students at Bell Badminton School have the opportunity to explore the UK. Nicole recalls the excitement of visiting nearby cities, saying, “We went to the city of Bath, and we saw a lot of things in the museum. And then we went to the city of Bristol, and it’s very beautiful.” She particularly enjoyed Bristol, describing it as a beautiful city with much to offer.
One of Nicole’s favourite memories from her time at Bell was meeting students from different cultural backgrounds. As the only Argentinian in her group, she felt this was a special part of her experience. “I really learnt a lot from other students, and this is my best memory,” she says, valuing the friendships she made during her stay.
For Nicole, learning English is a key part of her future success. She believes that English is “very important for the future. English can open a lot of doors.” Her time at Bell Badminton School has helped her gain confidence in her English skills, which she finds both enjoyable and essential. “I enjoy talking English, I think it’s very important for the future.”
Reflecting on her experience, Nicole highly recommends Bell Badminton School to others. “I recommend Bell to other people. It was a really cool experience here,” she says. She speaks warmly of the entire Bell community, saying, “The classes, the people, the staff, are very cool, they are very cool people. And I am very happy to stay here.”
To see our full interview with Nicole, watch on YouTube by clicking here.