Student Stories: Valeria

Welcome back to Student Stories, a series where we talk with Bell English students about their unique experiences at Bell. For our fourth entry, we sat down with Valeria, a 19-year-old student from Mexico, to learn about her experience on our University Foundation Programme.

Valeria chose to study at Bell Cambridge to, as she explains, “…practise my English and get ready for university, because I would like to study here in the UK.” Valeria sees English proficiency as a key to her future, not only for academic success in the UK but also for broader career opportunities in Europe. “I think English is useful in every country, so it can help you for your future career,” she asserts, highlighting the universal value of English.

Valeria’s UFP programme includes Sociology, Maths, and Chemistry, each of which play an important role in her preparation for a future in Engineering and Management. For Sociology, Valeria finds a unique link between the subject and her future career, noting, “Sociology can correlate with Management because it gives you some skills to create your own company.” Maths and Chemistry, on the other hand, are essential for her engineering aspirations, with Chemistry serving as a refresher from her high school days, “I really enjoyed chemistry, but I didn’t really remember much!” Her connection with the teachers at Bell and the enjoyment of the modules significantly improved her learning experience, “I really connected with the teacher personally… I think if you like the teachers, you enjoy learning the module.”

“The teachers are one of the best things at Bell. They focus on how you are doing, if you have any problems, and they try to help in every way they can. They have helped me a lot.”

Initially, the challenge of transitioning from thinking in Spanish to expressing herself in English was tricky for Valeria. “I was less confident about speaking in English and I struggled a lot to say what I wanted to say,” she admits. Yet, the immersive English-speaking environment at Bell significantly boosted her confidence and proficiency. “I think that just being in an environment where it’s almost 24/7 speaking in English, you can improve your English a lot,” she notes, appreciating the constant practice that the programme offers. The supportive teachers at Bell Cambridge are another highlight of Valeria’s experience. “The teachers are one of the best things at Bell… They focus on how you are doing, if you have any problems, and they try to help in every way they can. They have helped me a lot.”

In particular, Valeria emphasises the support from the Bell team in navigating the university application process, and scholarships, “They’ve helped me a lot, in how to apply for unis, and especially in writing the extra things needed for scholarships… And they encourage us to focus on the path that we want to go, and I think that’s cool.”

Valeria’s experience at Bell Cambridge has been more than just academics; it’s been a journey of personal growth and cultural exchange, “It’s been different than I expected, but it has helped me to improve my English a lot and it’s gone really, really fast! I’ve enjoyed making new friends and just seeing how different cultures think in a different way.”

Valeria also had the opportunity to explore parts of the UK through Bell trips to cities like London, Oxford, and Brighton, which added a layer of cultural understanding to her studies. She fondly remembers her trip to Brighton, “I think the one I liked the most was Brighton. The weather was so nice. I enjoyed being there with my friends, staying at the beach, and enjoying the views.”

“I struggle a lot with self-confidence and I think that I was not confident enough, so I will just say practise makes perfection!”

Valeria passed on that she would recommend the programme, especially to her friends in Mexico, “For sure I will totally recommend it to them.” She encourages students to embrace English practice for greater confidence and fluency, “I struggle a lot with self-confidence and I think that I was not confident enough, so I will just say practise makes perfection!”

Valeria’s time at Bell Cambridge has been a journey of learning, growth, and making new friends. Her experience shows how studying English can open doors to the world, help us understand different cultures, and prepare us for the future. To hear more about Valeria’s experiences and insights, watch the full interview on our YouTube channel by clicking here.