Stella Benech

Hello,

I'm Stella Benech. 

I was born in Rosario, Dpto. Colonia, in 1957 (yes, I'm Madonna's same age!!!😄).

The first time I studied English was after finishing high school, where we only had French at all levels of our "first cycle". My family was evaluating the possibility to move to Australia, so as I loved learning languages, I took an intensive course with a private teacher. A year later, as our trip to Australia failed, I enrolled in an exchange students programme -Youth For Understanding. After some time, and almost by chance, I found myself in a small and beautiful town in Arkansas, USA. ✈ There, I stayed for four months with an American family and attended Highschool. 

Back in Uruguay, during the late 1970s, the situation was very hard. Then, I moved to Montevideo with the hope to be able to finish Prep School and to study to become an English teacher. However, life took me to different paths: I worked for several years in the graphics industry 📰 and then, I was the secretary of a lumber company. In the interim, I got married in 1983👰, and in 1994 my husband and I moved to his hometown -Fray Bentos- where I had some entrances in several business ventures🎂. Simultaneously, I began giving private lessons to help Secondary School students to pass exams.

I remember going to the local IFD once in a while to ask if I could attend a course to learn about teaching, but they kept answering me "no, you can't, it's up to thirty-five years old" 😞. 

Then, I started working for an English Institute, as well as preparing my FCE, to which I sat in 2007. 

Finally, in 2008 they created "Plan 2008" that did not limit the age to register!!!! However, to be able to study I had to devote some years to learn how to use a computer !!!! 💻Meanwhile, I kept working at the English Institute, and eventually as a supply teacher in Secondary School.

I firstly enrolled in this course in 2010, but it didn't have any tutor for the English subjects, so I had to quik it, but in 2012 I started again.

I really love the experience I'm going through as a student through this blended learning system. It really teaches us to work collaboratively and cooperatively. I still can't believe it is happening to me now!!!!😊