Hello, I’m Ana!

I grew up in a French-Croatian household in a Swiss school system that had me exposed to lots of languages before I’d even noticed I was learning them. Languages were never a school subject for me, they were simply part of everyday life: something to hear, play with and use until they became my own.

That’s exactly what drew me to create Lingotot Hackney. Our approach mirrors that experience: children pick up a new language through immersion and play rather than through lists and drills.

A bit more about me

I hold a Bachelor’s in languages and a Master’s in social anthropology. This then led to years working in human-centered design, listening closely to people's personal stories and creating experiences that truly worked for them.

Then my daughter, Lily, came along and everything changed. I wanted her to grow up with the confidence, curiosity and sense of connection that come from living in a multicultural setting. And I wanted to share that with other families across Hackney and Islington too. That’s how Lingotot Hackney was born.

That same people-first thinking runs through everything we do. Every child learns in their own way, so we pay close attention to what makes each one light up and shape our classes so everyone feels confident, included and excited to join in.

What to expect

Our classes are full of songs, stories, games and movement, because that’s how children learn best: by doing, laughing and joining in. Lessons are led in the target language from the very first session, so children absorb sounds, words and meaning naturally, with no pressure and plenty of fun. Week by week, a new language stops being something new and becomes part of who they are.

Come and say bonjour, hola, hallo, buongiorno. We can’t wait to meet you!