About Us

SARA MARTIN, Head.

Sara Martin is a qualified English teacher. She runs Hamilton Idiomas, a Language School in Sopelana, a town near Bilbao and Hamilton School, in Bilbao.

From a very young age, her English grandmother shared with her the love for her country, language, culture and people. Sara had lovely memories of many childhood summers in England improving her English, so she decided to give her students and friends’ children the same opportunity. For over 30 years all the students she has brought have been referred to her by previous customers. This level of customer satisfaction could not be achieved without the personal attention that Sara and her colleagues in England, dedicate to the welfare of the students.

Sara interviews the Spanish students to make sure that they understand what it is involved and that they are mature enough to undertake the trip. During the interview Sara learns about the child’s interest, personality and family environment. This interview is very important as it helps to find the best match for that child in England.

In the summer, Sara travels to England with the group and stays here a few days to make sure everyone is settled. She comes back at the end of the stay to take the children back home. In the meantime her proffessional colleagues make sure everything runs smooth for everyone involved.

CARLOS ARTURO MOGOLLON PEREZ, Host Family Organizer.

Carlos has a robust and rich intellectual profile: on top of his original university training as physicist, he is currently in his fourth year of philosophy at the University of Paris. His interests cover a wide range of areas, from politics and arts to education, sciences, cooking and writing. Multilingual (English, French, German, Italian, Latin and Spanish), he has worked as a translator and as a language teacher. He has a genuine interest in people’s problems and concerns, hence his strong experience of working with the community. His love for traveling and his language skills are a testimony to the importance he places on cultural exchange as a privileged means to develop our potential as fully aware, open minded, well-equipped and autonomous persons in today’s global and complex world.

This and his interpersonal skills enable him to act as a strong and reliable link between all the actors taking part in our Language Exchange Program; and to secure all the necessary support to children, families and schools so that it becomes the optimum experience you all expect and we are thoroughly committed to guarantee. Carlos and his wife (an islander) have two daughters aged 17 and 13. After many years in Spain, France and Colombia, they decided to move back to the Isle of Wight where they have been living for the last five years.

TRUDI ROBBINS, Host Family Organizer.

Born in Kent in the UK, moved to France at age 8 and attended a French country school in the South West of France in Gironde. With Anglo-Indian heritage Trudi has a broad understanding of multiculturalism. She went on to study French and Business at University, and then completed a Post-Graduate degree to become a Languages teacher. She is also TESOL trained and more recently completed a Masters in Education. Trudi has led languages departments in several mainstream schools in the UK and is currently leading a languages department in West Sussex. Trudi has much experience in supporting and organizing exchange programmes through her role in leading languages departments.

Trudi lives with her two children aged 12 and 15 w ho have both experienced the Hamilton Idiomas exchange programme first and have built life long friendships thanks to the programme.  

Trudi´s skills and connections in mainstream education allow her to support both the host families and the students to ensure that all involved have an experience of a lifetime.

MARIA GONZALEZ, Host Family Organizer.

Maria moved to the UK in 1999. She lived in London working as the Volunteering Services Co-ordinator for the Camden Society, recruiting and training volunteers in different roles. Later, she moved to Marlborough, Wiltshire, where she had her two children.

A native Spaniard from Lugo, in the beautiful Galicia, Maria speaks Spanish and Galego natively, English fluently and can converse in Portuguese. Her teaching career began in 2011 and from September 2019 she has been a member of the Department of Modern Languages in Marlborough College, as well as running Spanish courses at the prestigious Marlborough College Summer School. The same year, Maria founded Marlborough School of Languages -now the successful Marlborough Language Tutors’ Hub- working alongside other European teachers, organising workshops and cultural and social events, and tutoring private students.  

Apart from running her company and teaching, María also works as a consultant for other education companies on cultural exchanges and language immersion trips. Her family has also enjoyed hosting students for Hamilton UK in the past so she understands both sides of the business well.

In her spare time, Maria enjoys yoga, travelling and is a dab hand at traditional paella. 

LAURA SMITH, Host Family Organizer. 

Born and grown up in Costa Rica, Laura has always had a passion for teaching Spanish. She enjoys working with people of all ages to help develop their language skills and understanding of the Spanish language and culture. She has over 16 years’ experience teaching young people and shares her enthusiasm through a Spanish after school club, which she set up 14 years ago. 

Laura currently lives in Somerset, enjoying everything that the English countryside has to offer. She currently works as a private Spanish tutor, interacting with, and teaching people from across the world. In her spare time Laura enjoys spinning and travelling with her friends and family. Cooperating with Hamilton UK since 2024, her vast experience and skillset make Laura a great asset. She is able to support both the students and host families to ensure an easy and enjoyable process for all parts involved.