Abigail Silk

About Abigail

Degrees studied:

BA History and Politics

Year graduated:

2023

Please can you introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about what you've done since graduating.

I have been working as an English Language Assistant in Madrid for the past two years, and became a full-time English teacher this September in an academy, called Cambridge House.  

I started learning Spanish from a beginners level and have now achieved B2 level standard. However, in December I had my visa rejected and so have had to move home to the UK. 

Studying at Newcastle

Why did you choose to study at Newcastle University?

I loved the feeling of the city. I wanted to study joint honours and wanted to study on a city campus, and believed Newcastle ticked all of these boxes.

How do you think your course prepared you for your chosen career?

I believe my course equipped me with incredibly useful critical thinking skills and essay writing skills. In addition, the practise of public speaking proved useful in my role as a teacher.

However, I believe the most valuable experience I gained during my degree were the two internships I completed through the university; one with Tyne and Wear archives, the other with the Great North Museum.

What did you enjoy most about your time at Newcastle University?

I completed the University Wide Language Programme in my final year, which allowed me to continue studying Dutch after my year abroad.

This free programme is an amazing asset to the university and provided a welcome break to some tougher days of study in my final year.

Beyond this, I just truly loved being in the city and experiencing all that Newcastle has to offer.

Please describe your time at Newcastle University in three words:

Enriching, opportunity, friendship