TALENTED linguist Elouise Noakes has spent a working holiday in Spain as one of the youngest English language teachers at a holiday camp.

The 13-year-old from Covingham spent a week teaching Spanish teens aged between 13 and 18 at the Aldeaduero school in Salamanca on the Portuguese border.

The Kingsdown School pupil applied to take part in the free programme on a whim, and could not believe it when they offered her an opportunity.

She said: “It was something I wanted to do, because I want to be a Norland Nanny, which means I’d be a nanny to children like the Royal Family.

“My mum found it when she was looking for ways for me to practice Spanish on the internet. It meant I could go to Spain to teach English.

“I filled in the application and I had to have an interview and I had to give a presentation. I didn’t think I’d get it, but last week I spent a week in Spain teaching English.”

The youngster flew on her own to Madrid before travelling another five hours to the camp’s location, where she was one of around 40 people from around the world who’d also gone there to teach English to Spanish teens.

“It was so much fun,” she said.

“It was a great experience and it was amazing to meet so many different people.

“I’ve been learning Spanish since I was in Year 7.

“And the classes were supposed to be one-on-one, but because there weren’t enough people it was more like two-on-one.

“It was quite scary to start with, because I was the youngest there, and we had to get into groups,” she added.

“It meant I was working with people who were a lot older than me. It was different to what I’m used to.”

It was also a nerve-wrecking experience for mum Linda, since it was the first time the teen had travelled on her own.

“I’m so proud of her,” she said. “I didn’t think she would get it to be honest, because she is so young.

“I was a bit nervous, I think I was more nervous than she was, because it was the first time she’d gone anywhere on her own. She has travelled before but she’s always gone with me before.

“It was a massive achievement for her. I’m just really proud, she’s learned so much and made so many friends and I think it’s been a fantastic experience for her.”

To find out more about the programme, visit http://www.diverbo.com/en/volunteer-abroad/teens