TEFL ahoy

My journey through the exciting world of teaching english in Spain.

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The end of an era

Wellllllll after 4 years of living in Cantabria I have reached the all important decision that it is time to move on *yikes*. (Important, but I’m not sure if necessarily correct).

I have spent the most wonderful 4 years here and I can’t believe its been that long it only feels like yesterday I was doing my first blog post about looking for jobs!!

Anyway this is not the end of my Spain journey, allow me to explain. As many tefl teachers know there comes a point when you have to decide how to make a sustainable living out of tefl, or to call it a day. I have decided that in order to keep living and working in my beloved Spain, that I must study study study so I can qualify as a primary school teacher,which in turn will allow me to work in the British schools in spain. The sensible me knows this is a good move and it means more benefits (12 month contract, higher wages, career progression etc), while the irrational me doesn’t want to leave 😭

Also knowing there are no British schools in santander means I won’t be coming back 😟 😦 I guess my journey will take me south!

Here’s to the end of my first Spanish chapter. It was a good one and I learnt so much about teaching, cultures, relationships, language and about myself (cheesy) than I ever thought possible.

So two more months , better make them good ones!!

o

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Eyes wide open

Haven't written anything for a while but I thought it time for an update on my new tefl job. Since September I've changed jobs and started working in the private sector. My job now involves teaching a variety of ages from 3years to adults at a range of levels such as pet and fce. It's interesting having such a variety this year and getting to learn a lot about the Cambridge exams. I've also grown a lot as a teacher as I've learnt a lot of new skills which come with teaching adults I guess. Highly recommend this to anyone deciding their Tefl pathway. My heart will always be with teaching kids but at the end of a long day its nice to have a lower energy class with adults and focus on really teaching content and having zero disciplinary things to focus on 🎉

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Holiday

Few weeks off ... Relax 😊

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My personal highlights of this year

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Well, that went quickly!!

With only 3 working days left of this academic year I find myself thinking once again, where did that year go?! As I look back on this year, it's been a weird one! I started working in a new school this year after a few personal hiccups. Got myself settled in a new flat and in a new school. Now something I've noticed, and I hope it's not just me, but of the three schools I've been in, the two bilingual schools made me feel the least welcome. That's to say I felt more of an assistant than a teacher. I don't know if it's because they already had their own systems and structures in place, and a good level of English already established. In my other school where they didn't not have bilingual status, I felt like a really important part of the team, able to put in place my own routines and structures for my classes. I'm not saying anything in particular just rambling really. A reflection of my three years as a "language assistant". Now for the big news My time has come to up the stakes, and I've successfully bagged myself a job in a very reputable language academy! Yuppeeee. From September onwards I will be officially movin on up. I feel like I've been very lucky actually, I've managed to get myself a great job based more or less on my experience which I've worked hard at gaining in my past three years. I mention this because it's useful for those of you who maybe don't have a celta or tesol and wonder if it's possible to achieve without... It is. Now I'm about to embark on my 4th summer camp, this time an epic 10-week stint! I think I'm gonna need a nice week away after that, suggestions anyone?!

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Third time around

It's almost time to begin my third academic year working in Santander! This years going to be a little different since the company I work for dropped a bombshell in the form of a huge wage cut. This left me to make a really tough decision about whether or not to continue working for them. Although the money thing obviously puts me in a really tricky position I decided to continue working with them regardless. It does however mean that now I've gotta take on a second job, in an academy. So I won't lie, the idea of working in an academy has always worried me a little. I think though, that I've managed to find myself a good one. It's relatively new and the owners are Irish and Spanish. I've managed to secure myself two days a week after school working with the "peques" which are the youngest age group 3+, ideal. Tuesday is my induction day so I'll have time to meet my new colleagues and get myself prepared for the week ahead. I'm ready for a new challenge, even though it means working a bit harder this year! 😪

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Romeo done

Man I've just finished 7 weeks at summer camp, I'm exhausted. But I loveeeeee teaching at summer camp, aside from it paying well I can see why people do it year on year. My second year was undoubtably better than my first. Having a years experience under my belt certainly came in handy. It also meant I didn't have those nerves when it came to the actual teaching part of summer camp. Over my time there We were able to visit London dungeons, oxford street, oxford, go ice skating, cinema, bowling, lazer tag, London eye, Tate modern, London walk, boat disco on the Thames, Thorpe park, theatre, wembley... As well as all the cool stuff we did on site like the inflatables, drumming, zumba..... Great 6 weeks. Now back to reality and it's my third year in Spain, however my company have cut our wages this year 😭😭😭 which obviously leaves me in a bit of bother! Nothing's ever simple is it?! I'll keep you posted

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I'm back!

Well I haven't posted for a longggggg time. Now I've got some time to breathe ill update this. Just finished my second year working as a TEFL teacher in Northern Spain. All is going well, so well I've signed myself up for another year. I seem to be getting comfortable there! I've been living and working in the same city for 2 years now and it's starting to feel like home. My Spanish is improving slowing but surely, seen an improvement this year. That said, there's PLENTY of room for more! Due to start my favourite teaching job tomorrow, summer camp! I get to work for 6 weeks with lots of lovely teenagers. It's going to be a challenge, I did 4 last year and it was pretty exhausting, it's good fun though. Over, and, out, Bye

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[eloloramandarinas]

Playa El Camello, Santander, Cantabria

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Love this photo. My local beach, the Camel.

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The Gruffalo

So, this little beaut is great. I have been reading the book, following it with the video and I have some flashcards too.

Enjoy

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Continuation

I haven´t written for a while, so here goes.

Winter has well and truly arrived now in Santander. That´s not to say that I don´t like it, just, it´s very prominent. The famous Santander fur coats are slowly appearing (1st December BAM - fur coat central), there´s snow on top of the mountains (c´est très beau!) and the heating is on of a night time or i´ll be waking up with frostbite. I do wonder though how Spanish people manage in the apartments here, theyre so cold the walls are made out of paper for sure. My new apartment luckily has double glazing, something my old landlord was clearly not familiar with! THANK GOD there´s a lot less of the dreaded rain this year, last year there were times when I thought I might actually drown walking to work!

My new school is going great too. So glad for the change. The class sizes are lovely, small enough that behavioural problems don´t escalate too much and you can give enough 1-to-1 time to each child for them to actually learn some English. WIN.

With regards to teaching I´ve bascially been focusing a LOT on repetition, same routines, same songs, same games, same videos, same stories (all in rotation of course). The kids seem to be learning LOADS in comparison to last year. They´re learning to speak in sentences too and not just abstract words, which is really nice. So much support from the teachers has made a huge difference to making my life easier and it benefits the children.

My biggest challenge has been my wednesday workshops which I run after school in English. I´m more or less given free reign to teach anything I like. I like to use this time to create something crafty. The children are waaaaaay too tired at 4.30pm to be doing anything demanding. This weeks workshop saw us making christmas tree´s from card, green paper, glue and glitter.

This weekend i´m off to Bilbao. Don´t get me wrong, I love Santander but i´m beginning to get a bit of Cabin Fever! Get me outta hereeeeeeeeeeee (for a few days at least :))

Anyway that´s enough for now.

Adios

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España numero dos

Hola a todos! Back in Spain now and well and truly settled in. I´m working at a new school this year, again a Colegio Publico but this time I´m in the city, which is amazing for me as the commute last year was gross!

My new school is such a contrast from the old one. For a start, this year in my classes I have no more then 12 students in total, which is every teachers dream! some of my classes consist of 7 children. The school are amazing too, i´ve been given all the resources I need for the year so preparation is little to none (win)! I´m working more hours this year but I have such an easy timetable that I can´t complain! I have an hour each day to tell stories, an hour to play bicycles with them....etc! So ideal.

The teachers this year are lovely too, so welcoming and want to speak to me. Although they all seem to think i´m more or less bilingual, which they are soon to find out that I barely speak a work of Español! haha. Theyre all so keen to help me learn and to help with with everything I need. What a contrast!

The new apartment too is amazing, last year we lived in a place where every few minutes something would be guaranteed to break (water, shower, lights, doors, blinds, appliances...you name it!) and It was a long walk up what we liked to call "the hill of death" to get home every day. Anyway this year we live in a lovely little apartment right in the centre of town. Its clean and bright and all functioning! 

Ive made some new Spanish friends this year too which have been really helpful when it comes to my one million questions a day (what does this mean? where can i buy this? What does this do? etc.....).

So to sum up, Spain year two is looking goooooooooood, apart from of course i`ve caught the dreaded lergy! 

Until later...

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Birthday boy

I had a wonderful wonderful birthday. Very lucky to have lots of lovely people in my life, reminds me what I'm leaving behind! However one must carry on with mission to learn Spanish!

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Movies movies movies

Although my summer has been pretty boring to say the least, I have had the opportunity to watch LOADS of movies!!! Some of which were favourites of mine, some of which I’ve never seen before but all of which were great!! Including the following -

Hick, Free samples, Jeff who lives at home, Mary poppins, Mar Adentro, Casablanca, White men can’t jump, Tres metros sobre el cielo 1 y 2, my girl, miss Bala, Maria llena eres de Gracia, the intouchables, el laberinto del fauno, shadow of a doubt, the birds, psycho, Romeo and Juliet, ted, Friday, nikostratos, django, monsters university (don’t laugh!!), breakfast at tiffanys, the bodyguard, alpha papa, just go with it, and loads more.

Anyway I thought I would share as they are all great movies.

Back to reality in just under two weeks, sorted my new housemates, now just need to find somewhere to live…. A little bit homeless at the moment! Meh. Watch this space!

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Hello! I was wondering, are you American? I've been looking into working as an ESL teacher in Spain after I get my ESL degree, but I've discovered that it's much harder for Americans to work abroad since we're required to have EU work permits. I was wondering if you knew how to get the permits? ^.^

As much as I'd love to help I don't know how you go about it I'm afraid, I'm English so it's pretty simple for me to work in Spain. But I will say there was loads n loads of Americans in Spain last year working as teachers, I guess if you find the right company they will guide you through it. Government run schemes are probably your best bet.