Language Champion Spotlight: Claire Storey ‘It’s more than just the words you speak.’

But First, How did the Love of Language all Begin?

Early tours with the Nottingham Youth Orchestra to Germany and Austria as well as family holidays really helped! French and German at school followed and then that linguistic toolkit was further upgraded when she learnt Spanish in her A levels – where she lived in Mexico for a year as part of an exchange programme.

To strengthen those incredible talents Claire’s next step was studying French, German and Spanish at university, with a focus on German and Spanish from year 2 onwards. Then in 2015 Claire started distant learning with her Masters in Translation. And then she started learning Catalan in the last few years. As multi-lingual skills go, they’re a real blockbuster!

‘I did 6 months in Innsbruck, Austria, for the skiing season and then the summer in Spain. Also worked on the Costa Brava for 3 months as a camp site rep.’

Claire Story, Product Executive & Language Champion

Language Learner. Then a Language Teacher!

‘I started doing language tuition and it really gave me a sense of identity.’

Claire Storey, Product Executive & Language Champion

Language, the Gift that Keeps on Giving…

Claire’s incredibly passionate to get across the value of language not just as a way of confidently talking with another native speaker, but also how those skills can help you in everyday life!

From understanding other people’s perspectives, appreciating their direction, their way of living and ultimately, showing respect for other people’s culture – linguistic skills give countless transferrable skills.

‘You see the broader context and it shows how people live differently. It opens your eyes and it opens empathy for other people. It’s a respect for other people. And being able to see that from within their language – it removes that barrier.’

Claire Storey, Product Executive & Language Champion

Definitely NOT Lost in Translation

Claire’s language toolkit certainly doesn’t end there! Building on her Masters in Translation, she translates young adult (YA) novels in a variety of languages. Oh, and she also speaks at conventions promoting those very same books (check them out below).

Front, centre, all languages engines are going non-stop!

‘Both are YA novels, one from Austria and translated from German and the other is from Uruguay, translated from Spanish. The Uruguayan author and I both spoke at the Young Adult Literature Convention as part of Comicon.’

Claire Storey, Product Executive & Language Champion

Language Skills to Pay More than the Bills – to Create Your Tour!

Bursting with linguistic talents, it’s clear to see Claire is incredibly gifted and passionate about language and language learning.

But how do her skills help you?

Easy! As a Product Executive her role includes communicating with suppliers, excursions, accommodation and maintaining and developing those relationships so Rayburn are rock solid sure about the integrity, authenticity and value to your trip.

‘From a product side it’s about developing relationships – so much of what we do is about building and maintaining relationships. And if you can do that on their terms…’

Claire Storey, Product Executive & Language Champion

As Claire so eloquently put it, ‘Language is more than just words’, and it takes a talented linguist to understand and truly appreciate the weight of that phrase.

By knowing on a core level the nuances and intricate nature of each language from a cultural perspective, she can communicate with the right words that have the correct meaning and she also deeply gets the RIGHT way of phrasing and delivery.

Essential parts of any lines of communication. Especially when crafting your brilliant and unforgettable tour.

Undeniably Lyrical. Undeniably Valued.