Mimi's spanish adventure

Wow, I seriously don’t even know where to start! So much has happened in such a short space of time…

I remember seeing the advert for the project on TEFL.com and showing my mum. She’s very cynical and immediately thought it was a scam “It sounds too good to be true” she said…well…turns out it definitely has proven to be too good, as well as true!

I’m still in awe at the fact we got fully funded training, flights, accommodation and a month’s allowance for food. I feel extremely lucky to have gotten a place on the scheme as it has opened my eyes and made me realise that you just have to ‘go for it.’ If you’re active in applying for jobs/schemes you never know where it might lead you in life!

I feel like this experience has definitely had an impact on my life already…

Starting out with an unforgettable training week in a beautiful school in Denbigh where we were made to sing, dance, act, colour, draw monsters/desert islands, play aeroball (so fun!) rock climb and generally made to feel like kids again – as well as being fed enormous amounts of food…I couldn’t have asked for a better training week (as well as having fun at night singing karaoke in denbigh's fine choice of pubs :P )

Michael, Jacqui and Caroline are sources of endless teaching knowledge and experience, really helping you to think outside the box and making sure your students have a great time in your classes.

The amazing thing about the scheme as a whole, is that you’re all in this together. 30 newly-qualified teachers are all put into the same boat, and are all enthusiastic about meeting new people and helping each other out as much as possible. You feel really supported the whole way through, with Michael pouring out his fountain of ideas and everyone soaking them up as much as their brains can hold (lol).

Added onto this is the wonderful feeling I got every morning walking onto the bus to San Alberto Magno school with all the kids smiling and calling out our names. Teaching primary school kids is so rewarding, they see you as a role model and are so interested in getting to know everything about you. It’s been a journey ranging from complete chaos with excited children shouting and running around the class miming ‘flying a plane’ ‘riding a bicycle’, ‘driving a lorry’ etc. (as they practice the present continuous) to more relaxed classes where they created their own bands/raps/poems and sang along to songs.

During the training you’re also taught really helpful classroom management techniques which I’ve used during the placement. These include counting down (5…4…3…2…1 – the kids seem to think something terrible might happen like an explosion), putting your hand on your head, clapping to a rhythm, standing completely in silence and giving everyone ‘the stare’, and of course bribing them with stickers, which they go crazy for.

If I could sum up the Spanish adventure in a few words I’d say it’s a teaching experience filled with sun, sea, beaches, bars, paella, palm trees, cana y tapas, clubbing, waffles and ice cream, all shared with your newly found group of friends. What more could you want? 

Advice I would give: keep an open mind, don’t be afraid to make a fool of yourself whilst teaching, make good impressions at your schools, practise the language as much as possible, help each other out with lesson plans/ideas, and just generally make the most of the experience as it’s truly a unique opportunity!

Carpe Diem and Carpe Nocturn! 

*Also who knows where it may lead you…this project has given me the guts and confidence to move to Spain as soon as possible…I can’t wait for the future ahead :)

** Finally, thanks to Celine and Michael for making this experience possible.