Diana

Diana grew up in Bogota, the capital city of Colombia. When she graduated with her degree in architecture in 2021, she wanted to advance her career and her cultural knowledge by learning English and preparing for the TOEFL exam (Test of English as a Foreign Language). She found a cultural exchange au pair program and began working for a family in West Hartford. After a year of living in the U.S. and building her verbal English skills, Diana decided it was time to build her vocabulary and her written English skills. She searched for a place to help her study in a classroom environment, and that’s how she found LVGH.

“When I got here, I found what I was looking for, and that made me very happy. I dedicated myself a lot to being able to learn, to interact, and I think that this academic environment here lends itself to that exactly. There is space in the classroom for dialogue and interaction. I have also made a lot of good friends, so this is the best. It's a great community.”

Diana was placed in the advanced class and with the help of her tutors and classmates, worked hard to prepare herself for the TOEFL exam. “The tutors try very hard to prepare their lessons, to listen to us and to empathize with the fact that it is difficult for one to communicate and learn in a new language. People are here because they want to learn. And that also makes one appreciate and value and respect everyone’s effort.”

After months of coming to LVGH and expanding her vocabulary, improving her phonetic skills, and learning a lot about U.S. history and culture, Diana passed her TOEFL exam. She then applied and was accepted into a program to earn her Master’s degree in Spain. It’s always bittersweet to see a student move on from LVGH, but we couldn’t be more proud of the hard work Diana put in during her time with us, and to see her use her new skills to advance her career and achieve all that she puts her mind to. Congratulations, Diana!