Melania Trump used to inspire Croatians to learn English

18 Sep 2017

First Lady of the United States Melania Trump’s image has been used by a Croatian school to promote their English language teaching.

The Zagreb-based Američki Institut or American Institute last week put up a billboard advertising its services with Melania’s portrait and the caption “just image how far you can go with a little bit of English.”

The advertisement aims to highlight “the importance of knowing the world of languages and how much knowledge is essential for international success,” said Institute co-founder Brett Campbell, as quoted by The Telegraph.

Cars drive near a billboard advertising a language school with the image of U.S. first lady Melania Trump in Zagreb, Croatia, September 17, 2017. Source: Reuters/Antonio Bronic

“We are witnessing the great wave of emigration of Croatians who are looking for their fortunes in Anglo-Saxon countries, such as Ireland, Canada [and] Australia.”

Mrs Trump was born Melanija Knavs in Slovenia and worked as a fashion model before marrying Donald trump in 2005. She is the first naturalised US citizen and just the second woman born overseas to become the First Lady.

On Friday, the Američki Institut announced it had “entered the billboard game.”

https://www.facebook.com/americki.institut/posts/855188137990776

It has since been covered by the UK-based Telegraph, and major American publications like Newsweek, The Hill and The Washington Post.

The school was established in 2010 with the goal of “bringing the American education system closer to Croatia.” It provides English classes for all ages from kindergarten to advanced-level conversation for adults.

“There are different opinions about Melania Trump, but the fact is that she is the first lady,” said Ivis Buric, a spokeswoman for the American Institute as quoted by The Washington Post. “It’s a positive campaign, nothing negative.”

“She had to do a lot, including delivering speeches in English and addressing huge crowds in a foreign language.”

Having made global headlines, surprised staff from the Institute took to Facebook on the weekend and posted: “Boy that escalated quickly.”

https://www.facebook.com/americki.institut/posts/856014044574852