Posts Tagged ‘Scholarship’
APPLICATIONS are being accepted from Monday 1st March 2026 to Friday 24th April 2026
Do you have a basic knowledge of a foreign language (Minimum GCSE Level 7/CEFR level A2) or A level)? Do you want to work in the export trade or related service industry? Would you like to spend time abroad, studying the language, learning the customs and gaining valuable experience to help you with your chosen…
Read MoreNew Scholarship opportunity for wool/textile industry language student
An opportunity has arisen for the John Speak Language Trust to offer a language Scholarship to one lucky student. To apply for this scholarship you must be studying textiles/fashion design with direct connections to the UK wool industry. Are you/do you employ/do you teach a British-born citizen currently learning another language who has aspirations for…
Read MoreCase Study: Joshua Hillis , Amman, Jordan – 2018-2019
I had studied Arabic as an extracurricular course, during my undergraduate degree at Oxford University. These weekly classes had given me a good grounding in Arabic grammar but I knew my spoken Arabic needed some work. The support of The John Speak Trust enabled me to devote three months to improving my Arabic, through an…
Read MoreHolly Henry: Case Study – Mexico 2017
During the first semester of my year abroad, I spent 5 months studying at UNAM in Mexico City. Looking back, I see in as both a turbulent but very exciting time. I experienced almost the worst weather the world could throw at me: hurricanes, tropical storms and earthquakes, along with a few stormy moments myself…
Read MoreGraham Moulson – Case Study 1963 to 1964
At age 72, looking back and having studied several foreign languages I have learned that language learning is similar to a jigsaw puzzle; learning one foreign language certainly helps when learning another. “Once you start dreaming in a foreign language it means you must have learnt it”. I was fortunate to have an Italian Professor…
Read MoreOliver de Planta – Case Study, Germany 2014 – 2015
During my studies at Sheffield Hallam University I undertook a year abroad in Germany from June 2014 to March 2015. I began my year abroad in Munich, Bavaria working for Robert Bosch GmbH then for the second half I moved to Berlin to work at Siemens AG. The scholarship from the John Speak Trust afforded…
Read MoreGeoffrey Padgett – Case Study, France 1953
In 1953 at age 22, I was fortunate to receive a Scholarship from the John Speak Trust to assist with my French studies. The Scholarship provided a small amount of funding towards my travel, lodgings and food during six months abroad. I received a mere £30 per month. I worked in the wool trade (salary…
Read MoreSiân Summerton – Case Study Barcelona, Spain (2015)
Thank you to the John Speak trust for their invaluable support during my time in Barcelona As I chose to study French, Spanish and EU Studies (MA Hons) at the University of Edinburgh, I was aware that this would involve a year working or studying abroad in 2014-2015. The idea of working had always appealed…
Read MoreJo Dawson – Case Study, France (1992)
Looking back, I can probably say that the 3 month scholarship from the John Speak Trust was one of the key defining points of my life – something for which I am extremely grateful. One of the many memories that I have of my John Speak Scholarship time in France was talking to the lorry…
Read MoreCalling all previous John Speak Trust scholars – tell us your story
Have you received a John Speak Trust Scholarship or did/do you know someone who has? We would love to hear from you. Please contact the Trust and tell your story. Derek Platts received a Scholarship in 1954 and has very kindly provided his Case Study – read Derek’s story
Read MoreJosie Holley – Case Study, Geneva (Nov 2013 – May 2014)
My advice to anybody considering a bursary to travel abroad would be to grab the opportunity while you can! After having finished my degree in French and Spanish with Interpreting at the University of Sheffield, I knew where I wanted my career to go. Since the age of 16 I have wanted to be a…
Read MoreA final report to say “Muchas gracias y hasta luego” – by Hannah Phillips
My John Speak scholarship took me the capital of Spain, Madrid, to support me as I took part in a year’s internship within the Spanish multinational company NH Hotels. After previously studying in the North of Spain for 5 months, my year working as a trainee Buyer within the International Purchasing Department of NH was…
Read MoreEdward Mortimer – Final Case Study
My John Speak Scholarship took me to Pakistan for a period of ten months to perfect my command of the Urdu language; widely accepted as the lingua franca of the Indian Subcontinent, a rich blend of Persian, Arabic and Turkish vocabulary with a Hindi grammatical base. Much like the English we speak today it could…
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