The 20th of November had been circled in red in our diaries for weeks.
Ever since that email landed back in September, you know the kind, the one that makes you blink twice and then read again, just to be sure. We knew we’d be bringing home a trophy. Bronze, Silver, or Gold. Guaranteed. Our little school, Languages United, recognised in the International Tourism Award category of the Bristol, Bath and Somerset Tourism Awards.
We were genuinely delighted just to be there. But of course, we were quietly dreaming, too.
Rewind a few months to spring 2025, when I (Slavenka, or my funky title of “Chief Inspiration Officer” as the team sometimes calls me!) decided it was time. Time to put our name forward. Not for the sake of vanity, but to shine a light on something that too often gets overlooked — the impact that language schools like ours have on international tourism.
You see, for nearly 20 years we’ve been welcoming students from all over the world. They don’t just come to learn English – they come to live it. They stay with local families, explore Bath’s cobbled streets, support our cafés and shops, dance at our karaoke nights, and chat about British humour over cups of tea. And then they return home, talking about Bath, this beautiful little corner of the world they now feel part of.
When the award assessor came to visit us, we showed him the stats and the spreadsheets, yes… but more importantly, we told him the stories. About our students from Italy, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Japan and more. About the teenagers who found their voices here. The Italian and Swiss groups who raised a combined £811 for charity with a bake-off and karaoke. The ones who told us they’d never heard of Bath before they heard of us.
He was impressed. And for us, that was already a win.
Fast forward to the morning of the ceremony. It was freezing. The chilliest morning of the year so far. Sanela (our wonderful “Head of Student Happiness”) and I arrived at the school carrying our awards outfits, a little nervous, a little excited, and more than a little proud.
Our Spanish and Italian students were finishing their courses that day. Certificates were being handed out, goodbyes said, hugs exchanged. But all eyes were on the evening to come.
“You’re going to win!” the students said. “You have to!”
Sanela was already convinced we’d get Gold. I quietly hoped for Bronze. Roman Baths and Gallahard were in our category, after all…
The event itself? Glorious. Over 25 categories. So many brilliant businesses working so hard to shine a light on this part of the world. Being in the room was magic enough. And then, our moment came:
Bronze!
We cheered, we hugged, we beamed. Honestly? We were thrilled.
Because this wasn’t just a trophy – it was recognition.
That language travel is tourism. That our work matters. That our students matter.
The next day, the school was buzzing. Everyone wanted to hold the award (our display table is starting to get very full). The students were over the moon – and so were we.
So here we are. Grateful, proud and full of ideas for what comes next.
Because if this award means anything, it’s that we’re being seen – not just as a language school, but as a part of what makes Bath so special.
And we’ll keep doing what we do best: welcoming the world in, one international student at a time.
