Ermal Nasi:
My name is Ermal and I'm from Albania. I'm studying at South Bank University. I'm studying part-time and I'm working four days a week for a surveying practice in Angel, where I am practicing all the theoretical knowledge I'm learning at University.
The main barrier...I mean when I came here I could speak Italian and French - I only knew the alphabet and how to count to ten in English.... but using the books and using the help and support and managing as well to speak to people and thinking that the English was my foundation. I bought two English books which taught me grammatically. I bought a dictionary, and I used these to get passed the first level.
Ed Melia:
So you taught yourself English?
Ermal Nasi:
Yeah - when I came here. It wasn't easy but I think it wasn't hard as well, because I was among English people and English-speaking people. I finished my GCSE's and I got four A to C's. C in Maths, C in English, A in French and A in Italian.
Ed Melia:
So how long had you been in the country before you got your GCSE's?
Ermal Nasi:
Two and a half years.
Ed Melia:
While you were doing this learning what jobs were you doing as well to support yourself?
Ermal Nasi:
I did work in the kitchens; I did work as a waiter; I did work as a concierge for 3 years during the nights and I was doing a twelve-hour shifts which was quite hard but I was studying during the days so I had to work during the evenings.
Ed Melia:
That's an amazing amount of commitment to work all night and then study during the day. What kind of effect was it having on you?
Ermal Nasi:
Well physically - sometimes I was feeling tired, but for as long as I knew what I wanted that's what kept me going. For as long as anyone wants to learn, they will do it.
Ed Melia:
What happened after you GCSE's? What kind of feeling did you get when you got those results.
Ermal Nasi:
I was very happy because I had to study quite late at night and I felt under a lot of pressure. I wanted to get good marks, and I knew I only had one shot. I didn't want to fail. We were doing Shakespeare, we were doing maths, we were doing foreign languages, which were all interesting as well, which I liked so that's what really pushed me to get the results. After the GCSE's I took some time off but I was back to study's four years ago. I had to deal with financial issues and all the life issues that we face every day. I couldn't have a balances life style were I could continue with the studies - I had to have a break off at some point and then start all over again.
Ed Melia:
What was the thing that made you start learning again?
Ermal Nasi:
Education makes every person a better person. So the ambition as well of having a good job and doing a job that I like, because I did so may other jobs where I thought "I could do better". That's the reason why I started this career now - the surveying career. I contact the Chartered Surveying Training Trust, I went through their procedures. I successfully passed all the tests. They helped me to find an employer who could provide me with the training for four days a week and who give me day-release, for one day a week so I could come to University and study as well as work at the same time. I will be doing this for the next four years.
Ed Melia:
And then what?
Ermal Nasi:
And then I'm looking for work to be Chartered by the RICS (The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors).
Ed Melia:
How does it feel to be talking in these terms - that you are looking forward to a whole career like this?
Ermal Nasi:
It's good to have an aim, because I have been in positions where you are young, you don't have any point of direction, you don't know what to do, now it's just different - I know what to do. I'm focussing myself on that direction.
Ed Melia:
Was this always your dream when you came over to England, when you made that big move from your home? Was it always your dream to get to this stage?
Ermal Nasi:
It was. My father was an engineer so he was always my inspiration and he privately paid for me when I was at home and he was always keeping my eyes open towards the education.