Ignacio & Maria from Spain, share their experience at Lexis Sydney Manly.
Find out more about their time at our campus!
Every week at Lexis, we welcome students from all over the world, each bringing their own ambitions and stories. What connects them all is a shared passion for improving their English and embracing new experiences in Australia. Today, we’re excited to share Ignacio and Maria’s journey at Lexis Sydney Manly!
This adventurous couple from Spain made the exciting decision to move to Sydney and begin studying at our campus in October. Since then, they’ve fully embraced life in Australia, building meaningful friendships, taking part in social activities, and exploring everything Sydney has to offer. Studying together has made their experience even more special, as they supported each other while creating unforgettable memories along the way.
During their holiday break, Ignacio and Maria also took advantage of Sydney’s proximity to Southeast Asia, travelling to the Philippines and Thailand for even more incredible experiences. Being based in Sydney has given them the perfect opportunity not only to discover Australia, but also to explore nearby countries and cultures, making their time abroad even richer and more unforgettable.
Read more about their experience at Lexis below:
What inspired you to study English abroad at Lexis and why did you choose Sydney, Australia?
Ignacio (24 years old) and Maria (22 years old) are from Madrid, Spain, and chose to study at our Sydney Manly campus to improve their English while experiencing life in Australia together. Coming from a big city, they were especially excited to embrace a completely different lifestyle by the beach. Living so close to the beach has been a highlight of their experience, giving them the chance to enjoy the relaxed Australian lifestyle – and for Ignacio in particular, it’s been the perfect opportunity to practice his surfing.
During their time with us, they’ve not only developed their language skills but also gained confidence using English in everyday situations. They’ve enjoyed meeting new people, taking part in activities, and making the most of everything Manly and Sydney have to offer.
“We decided to study English at Lexis because of its awesome location in Manly. We were looking for a quieter place, especially somewhere close to the beach but still not too far from the city. Coming from a big city like Madrid, we really wanted to experience the beach lifestyle. We chose Sydney because we saw more job opportunities here, and we think it’s a beautiful and iconic Australian city.”
Why did you decide to do this experience together?
For Ignacio and Maria, choosing to study abroad wasn’t just about improving their English, it was about taking on a new chapter of life together. After finishing university, they saw this as the perfect opportunity to step outside their comfort zones, grow as individuals, and share an unforgettable experience as a couple.
“When we decided to come, we had been together for three years. We had both just finished university, and we really wanted to share a unique experience with each other, living in a new country and having the opportunity to travel to new countries together as well.”
What do you love most about living in Sydney/Manly? How would you spend your time on the weekends or in your free time after class? What are the biggest differences you have noticed between life in Spain and Australia?
Ignacio and Maria have embraced life in Manly, enjoying a relaxed beach lifestyle while also noticing some clear differences between Spanish and Australian culture. Living by the ocean has encouraged them to slow down, spend more time outdoors, and adopt a more active daily routine. They shared what they’ve experienced most during their time in Australia, from cultural differences to the things they enjoy most about living in Manly.
“What Nacho loves most about Manly is surfing. As soon as he arrived, he started learning, and since then he spends time every morning before class surfing and enjoying the ocean. What María loves most about Manly is the sea, having it so close and being able to enjoy both the sunsets and sunrises. One of the biggest differences we’ve noticed is the active lifestyle in Australia and how early people wake up. Back in Spain, we would have thought it was impossible to wake up at 5an to watch the sunrise and exercise, but now we’ve embraced that lifestyle too.”
What are some of your favourite moments/experiences of your time in Sydney?
During their time in Sydney, Ignacio and Maria have made the most of everything Sydney has to offer, enjoying incredible local experiences such as Jervis Bay and the Blue Mountains, while also using their time here as a gateway to explore nearby countries. Coming from Spain, where travel to Asia is much further and less accessible, they’ve especially valued how easy it is from Australia to discover new destinations during their holidays.
“One of our favourite memories is a spontaneous trip we took to Jervis Bay with eight friends we met here at Lexis. We went camping, saw kangaroos for the first time, spent time in nature, and had so many laughs together. We also visited the Blue Mountains with friends from Lexis, which was another incredible experience. During our holidays, we took advantage of Australia’s location to travel to the Philippines and Thailand, where we went scuba diving, visited an elephant sanctuary, and explored so much more. Each trip has made our experience even more unforgettable.”
How much has your English improved since you first started studying in Sydney? And what are some of your best memories as students here at Lexis?
During their time studying in Sydney, Ignacio and Maria have not only seen a significant improvement in their English skills, but have also built lasting friendships with people from all over the world. Their experience at Lexis has given them the opportunity to connect with students from diverse backgrounds and reflect on some of their most memorable moments as international students.
“We’ve met so many people from different nationalities here, and that’s largely thanks to Lexis. New students arrive every week, so there are always opportunities to meet someone new. Everyone who comes to Australia and studies at Lexis shares similar interests, which makes it easy to connect from the very beginning. Thanks to this experience, we now have friends all over the world, in Brazil, Japan, Argentina, Italy, Switzerland, France – places where we know we’ll always have someone waiting for us. We’ve also improved our English a lot through Lexis and living in an English-speaking country. We started at a Intermediate B1+ level and, after nine months, we’ll be finishing at a Advanced C1 level. A special thanks to our teachers who have all been amazing!”
What advice would you give to other couples/other students thinking about studying abroad?
Ignacio and Maria share some thoughtful advice for other couples and students considering the experience of studying abroad. Drawing from their own journey together in Sydney, they highlight both the personal growth and relationship lessons that come from stepping into a new country and lifestyle side by side.
“We’d say don’t be afraid, it’s an incredible experience where you learn so much about yourself and your surroundings. If you come with your partner, you’ll also learn a lot about your relationship. It’s important to remember that living together all the time isn’t always easy, and this experience teaches you how to adapt, be more patient, and set healthy boundaries.”
What do you planned next after your time at Lexis?
Ignacio and Maria will finish their studies in June, so we were curious to hear what’s next for them after Lexis and their time in beautiful Australia. They shared their exciting plans for the future below:
“Before going home to Spain, we’d like to explore more of Australia and then travel to Indonesia. Once we’re back in Spain, we plan to continue with our studies and careers.”
Ignacio and Maria’s time at Lexis may be coming to an end shortly, but their journey is only just beginning. We look forward to seeing all they go on to achieve in the future and will always consider them part of the Lexis family.
A big thank you to Ignacio and Maria for sharing their wonderful experience at Lexis!
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