Meet this months Happy Student, Anna!

Anna was with us at Lexis Byron Bay for 4 weeks in total. She was an absolute ray of sunshine who embraced Byron Bay and Australia wholeheartedly. she went skydiving, surfing, travelling around the area, and of course improved her English. She is now continuing her Australian travels throughout Sydney and Melbourne. She had an incredible time over the last month, I interviewed her to get to know a little more about her, and her experience here!

1. Tell us a little about yourself.

Hi everyone! I’m Anna Zolotareva, I’m 22 years old, and I’m from Russia. I am a professional actress and opera singer. My main goal is to improve my English skills to maximize my creative potential and, of course, have fun in my surfing lessons! I am open and sociable, and I always enjoy meeting new people.

2. Why did you choose Lexis Byron Bay?

When I decided to choose our school, I thought about one thing: where in Australia could I take surfing and English lessons together during the winter, where I could feel warmer, more relaxed, and enjoy myself? I searched the internet and asked my friends who knew the best places to feel confident and happy. Of course, it was my lovely Byron Bay and the best school, Lexis!

3. What has been your most magical moment in Byron Bay so far?

I had three magical moments: First, it was when I went surfing with dolphins. There was a cute family of dolphins with baby dolphins; they were so close to me—about 5 meters away—and they swam with me! It was amazing; I cried tears of happiness! Second, it was when I saw whales jumping out of the water. It was an adorable feeling to witness them!

And the third was when I tried skydiving! That was incredible and unforgettable! I felt like a bird soaring in the sky. I was thrilled to do it! The parachute jump became not only a physical challenge for me but also a real internal overcoming. Now I know that fear is just a temporary state, and true freedom awaits us beyond it. If you want to turn your life around 180 degrees, don’t hesitate! Go boldly! This is an incredible experience that is worth trying at least once in your life.

4. What are your favorite things about Lexis?

I think my favorite aspects are the English lessons and all the people at our school! My time studying here has been amazing; I love the English and surfing lessons as well as the teachers and my classmates! My English and surfing skills have improved significantly here, my level has risen, and my soul is full of love and happiness!

5. What were your weaknesses in English before coming to Australia?

Before I came to Australia to study English, I had many fears—I worried that I wouldn’t be understood, that I wouldn’t be able to explain myself, that I wouldn’t understand what people were saying, and that I wouldn’t receive any support at all. Fortunately, this turned out to be untrue! Before arriving at Lexis, I had very little practice in spoken English and no grammar lessons at all, so I was quite anxious. However, when I started studying here, I realized that all my fears were unfounded, and my level of English began to grow, which made me very happy.

6. Tell us about your teachers and classes!

I studied here for one month, which I found to be ideal—not too little and not too much. The teachers from the first days of study have been very helpful, responsive, and kind; this is very important for all students, especially newcomers. Here, I found many great friends with whom we went on various excursions, explored together, exchanged experiences, and of course practiced English. Friendship is one of the most important feelings in life, and I found it here at Lexis.

7. How is your accommodation?

I lived on the school campus downstairs. It’s a very convenient location because you don’t have to waste time getting to school—all you have to do is wake up in a good mood and go up the stairs! This is wonderful! The rooms are comfortable, the neighbors are friendly, and the environment is lovely. There’s a shared kitchen, vending machines with food, a laundry area, and everything you need for a comfortable stay. There are also managers responsible for ensuring a pleasant experience; you can always contact them for help and support, which is very reassuring!

8. What are your favorite things about Byron Bay?

What I love most about Byron is its nature—the ocean, kind people, delicious food, healthy lifestyle , surfing, English lessons, and so much more! I can list it endlessly because I’ve fallen in love with this place with all my heart and will definitely come back here again!

We love our happy students!

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Not studying with us yet, but would like to?

Lexis Byron delivers academic excellence in arguably Australia’s most desirable study location where you can combine your studies with the great outdoors. Studying at Lexis Byron is more than an experience, it’s a lifestyle! Lexis Byron offers an unrivalled afterschool activity calendar that includes surf lessons, cooking classes, artistic activities, afternoon escapes to surrounding hotspots and full-day weekend adventures. If you want more information on the courses that we offer, click here.

Learn English in Byron Bay. Lexis English students study General English, IELTS, FCE, CAE, and English plus Surfing in a friendly and professional school right in the heart of Byron Bay and only 15 minutes from the beach.