Lucas ranked 7th out of more than 700!!!
After several years of hard work and meticulous planning, with a crystal-clear goal and unwavering determination, Lucas passed one of Spain’s most prestigious exams—the one that grants entry into the diplomatic service. He received his certificate from King Felipe VI and has now taken up a position at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Why did you need to work on your French to pass the entrance exam for a diplomatic career?
Because it’s necessary to be absolutely fluent in at least two foreign languages. There are therefore oral and written language exams on topics related to international relations. The first time, I scored 3.5 out of 5, which wasn’t high enough, so I looked for a method to make significant and lasting progress. Pascal was recommended to me by an international platform specializing in language immersion. They selected his profile specifically to meet my need for expertise in two areas at once: advanced French and international relations. Like me, he’s passionate about history and geopolitics.
Why would you recommend me, Lucas?
Because you take a holistic approach to teaching, focusing on what’s important. For example, you place crucial importance on pronunciation. He is one of those teachers who goes out of his way to improve students’ pronunciation with a view to their future oral interactions in a high-level professional setting. Also, you quickly identify students’ needs—and even their weaknesses—and then focus on them until they are completely addressed.
I had the opportunity to take an intensive course to better prepare for my exams, and I must say that the location of the immersion program is great because the atmosphere is relaxed. This way, we can focus specifically on the learning exercises and fully immerse ourselves in them without being distracted by everyday life.
Why did you decide to continue with distance learning?
For me, it’s an opportunity to practice my French at the highest level in geopolitical conversations that deal with business and international relations. Pascal always provides me with texts tailored to my level and my professional and personal interests. Although I have very little free time, I always set aside a weekly slot to cultivate “my French,” with the goal of maintaining my proficiency—especially my speaking skills—so that I’m always ready when needed.
Do you have any advice on how to achieve a level of excellence equivalent to levels C1 and C2?
When you have a truly solid grasp of the language’s structures but need to go even further to stand out, this requires acquiring a much richer and more varied vocabulary across all language registers. That’s why I recommend using a vocabulary-building app, such as “Anki,” for example, so you can review the words over and over again to better internalize them. There’s also a conjugation app called “Conjuu” that I highly recommend. Also, like Pascal, I had another teacher who was passionate about idioms, Gallicisms, and proverbs. He would give us entire lists to learn. This is also a form of memorization that allows you to engage with the language in a more vivid way, helping you see and understand certain situations through the eyes of the French.
How has this personalized coaching proven effective?
Having one or more sessions per week helps you stay focused on your goal—as Pascal would say… He never gives up; he’s always there, pushing us, motivating us, sending resources, and selecting texts, videos, and exercises tailored to our needs. What’s also great is that he’s available and flexible, accommodating our extremely busy schedules. He manages to organize himself to meet our expectations. His ability to adapt to my approach to the exams was an undeniable asset in the strategy I implemented to pass this exam.