In today’s article we will interview Javier, a 31 years old madrileño (born & raised in Madrid) whose travelling passion helped him launch our project. Let’s ask Mr. Garcia several questions about his story as a tour guide in Madrid. It will help us understand Cooltourspain and its’ connection to the tourism industry. Did you meet him personally or participated at any of the street art tours he organizes around Lavapies or Malasaña districts?
Why did Javier Garcia Colomo became a tour guide in Madrid?
First time that Javi travelled to a foreign country was back in 2009. It was when he turned 19 years old that he participated in a computing internshop in London, UK. He fell in love with the English language and the British culture, but the story did not finish there. Before becoming a tour guide in Madrid, he graduated as an EFL teacher (English as a foreign language) at Complutense University and continued travelling all aroung the world. Javier spent 4 years in the US working as a bilingual teacher at an elementary school in Odessa, TX and Denver, CO. It was by that time that the idea of a business project came accross. We could say that our story started there…
What does he like the most about being a local tour guide in Madrid?
According to his experience, meeting people from all over the world is what brings him joy on a daily basis. He loves learning about other cultures and meeting graffiti writers from all over the world. Javier mentioned “I’ll visit the homecountries of my guests at least once in life. I now have many friends who love in different parts of the world. I’d love to see them again!”. Becoming a tour guide in Madrid turned his life into a dream. He does what he enjoys the most too, which is talking to other people in English language. Did you check the reviews that others left about his job? What do people say? Have you seen his profile at Coolcousin?
What are the most important values a tour guide in Madrid should have?
There are common ideas that tourist guides should have, no matter the country where they are. First of all, he/she should have social skills. The person in charge of the group would be required to have communicative abilities. Of course, your tour guide in Madrid is mastered on it. Not only that your guide will receive you with a big smile, but will also give you tips that are not included at any guide books. As local specialist, Javier’s biggest channel is to say goodbye at the end of the visit and receive a compliment from his guests. He added that if he achieves on this, he would believe that his job has been amazingly done. Don’t you think so?
How many languages should a tour guide in Madrid speak?
As it happens with Javier, a local tour guide in Madrid must be proficient in 2 languages: English and Spanish (Mr. Garcia´s mother tongue). Then, a third language is required. He also speaks French language in a medium-level. On top of that, a fourth and fifth language is also welcome: Moroccan Arabic and Swedish are the other languages in which this former teacher can present himself. How many of those do you speak? In case you are interested in collaborating with Cooltourspain, send him your CV in order to work with us.
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