We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tricia Horton a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Tricia, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
I have always been interested in different cultures and languages. As a young girl I created a vision board on the back of my closet door with pictures of the places I wanted to visit. Many of them have been fulfilled. Spain was one of them and that is where I live now. I studied Spanish in university and decided Spain would be an ideal place to live. Beautiful places, kind people and an amazing cuisine. When I arrived to Spain, I noticed everyone wanted to learn English. It was their ticket to having a good professional career. I started slowly and I am in the process of growing.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I started teaching English in Spain. I was good at it. I made people feel comfortable and relaxed. That was what I would base my business on, English teaching. I taught everywhere, schools, academies, companies, etc. After I had enough experience I decided I wanted to be my own boss and work for myself. Being a business owner is not an easy task. I have ideas that I want to share with the people I teach. I have seen how the Spanish put themselves down about their English skills over the years and I want to give them the confidence to learn my mother tongue. That is what my company is based on. “I help professionals gain confidence to communicate in English.” Covid hit and I had to reinvent myself. Online English was my next endeavour. I discovered social media and Instagram really caught my eye with the way it was set up. I liked the idea of acting and teaching people from all over the world. My passion for people started to bloom on Instagram. I was made aware that many people around the world need help and cannot afford individual classes so I decided to start giving LIVES on Instagram for those that wanted to practice their English acquisition at no-cost. With all of the questions my followers asked me about listening, reading and grammar skills, I started a membership website where they could practice anything from pronunciation to listening, grammar and vocabulary. This is the newest part of my business. I also help companies evaluate their interviewees’ English level in a job interview. I started offering interview practice on my LinkedIn account and my most proud moment is when the candidate gets the job after practicing with me. That is instant happiness. I want my followers to know I am an empathetic person. I care about how they are progressing, how they feel during class and how they improve with their English. There is never any judgement. As a language learner myself, I know exactly how they feel when having to communicate in another language. My creative side comes out with my new Etsy shop where English teachers can purchase English resources for their classroom at a minimum cost.
In 2023, I will be implementing group conversation classes to connect English learners around the world at a lowcost fee. I am excited to offer my students a more worldly experience through English.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
When I create a class with a powerpoint made on CANVA (I love this platform!) and my students tell me at the end of the session how much fun it was. That makes me feel I am on the right path. Learning should be fun. I want my students to have fun.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
When posting or creating a reel and family or friends complain that you have to make a specific time to get the engagement or reach you need and there is no support. They don’t understand that consistency is everything. It is not just social media, it is a platform for visibility and a place to reach others that need your help and experience. I wish there was more empathy for the entrepreneur on social media. My advice to people that do not understand businesses on social media is to be patient and supportive. That is all we need.
Contact Info:
- Website: tricialhorton.squarespace.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tricia.l.horton/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tricia.l.horton
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tricia-horton-01a8a892/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW32lx6SIsFLYXLMi_qpZqA
- Other: The novels I have written: Just Like The Rest https://www.amazon.com/Just-Like-Rest-Tricia-Horton-ebook/dp/B091NTRN8R/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3F29VDPPBVRLB&keywords=tricia+horton&qid=1667995351&sprefix=tricia+horton%2Caps%2C500&sr=8-2 Behind A Locked Door https://www.amazon.com/Behind-Locked-Door-Tricia-Horton-ebook/dp/B091MP99QN/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3F29VDPPBVRLB&keywords=tricia+horton&qid=1667995370&sprefix=tricia+horton%2Caps%2C500&sr=8-3 Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/Englishclassresource?ref=profile_header tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@triciahorton12