Tag: Spain

I can’t believe it’s already November! My time here has flown by and I feel like I’ve adjusted to my new life and schedule well.

My first day of work was Monday, Oct. 4, as I do not work on Fridays. I work with the US equivalent of 7-11th graders in a variety of subjects.

How did the first week go?

Great! The most challenging part of my first week was simply figuring out where I needed to be. I had a timetable with my classes listed, but it did not include a teacher name or classroom number. Luckily my school is rather small and all of the teachers know each other well. Each one was able to guide me to the next.

My coordinator asked that I prepare a PowerPoint so the students in each class could get to know me better the first week. I used Canva to put together something colorful in hopes of keeping the kids awake and engaged for our very first time meeting.

I received a few interesting questions, which I hear is quite common as a Language Assistant. Here are some of my favorites:

• Why isn’t Donald Trump the President anymore?
• Do you know the Dallas Mavericks? Have you met Luka Doncic?
• Do you like fútbol? What is your favorite team? 

For the most part, I’d say it was a warm welcome. Some students were quick to speak to me. I love walking into a class and hearing, “Hello Casey! Good morning Casey. How are you?!?” It makes my day that they want to practice with me. Others could care less. I continue to make an effort with them of course, but those who are eager to practice naturally get more practice.

Here is a look at my schedule:

• Monday – Technology, History and Geography, Music
• Tuesday – Chemistry and Physics for 2 different grades
• Wednesday – History and Geography, Math, Physical Education
• Thursday – Physical Education, Technology, Philosophy, Art

How do you teach so many classes in English?

Friends and family have asked how I teach these subjects and why I’m not just teaching English. As a Language Assistant, I assist the teachers in the classroom, so while I do some lesson planning in a few classes I am not fully responsible for how the class runs. Instead, I work with some teachers to plan a combined bilingual lesson in advance and in others I simply teach vocabulary.

For example, in chemistry and physics, I do a lot with vocabulary. I often read a portion of the lesson in English so the students can hear my pronunciation. They will repeat it back and then the teacher will have students take turns explaining what it actually means in Spanish. This helps them to learn the concept in case they don’t fully understand it in English. In history and geography, I have added to the teacher’s explanation of the 13 colonies and the American Revolution. In physical education, I am primarily responsible for warm-ups and stretching. I typically come up with a warm-up game so they can listen to my directions in English and then play. We’ll then stretch in a circle so they are exposed to the vocabulary for different parts of the body.

I really enjoy trying to find new ways to keep them engaged and having fun when I can. Sometimes vocabulary just isn’t all that fun, but when I have some flexibility to be more creative, I most certainly try.

Challenges as a Language Assistant

I’m really happy with the way everything has worked out. Each class is challenging in a different way. Some I find difficult because the age group is simply not interested (8th graders – oof!). Others are a bit of challenge simply because I haven’t seen the material in more than 20 years. Either way, I can’t say that I have a favorite or least favorite day. I enjoy them all for different reasons and I cannot say enough great things about the teachers I work with. I LOVE them and they have been so incredibly welcoming.

Sometimes I ask myself who is actually learning more here. Being in the classroom and hearing the explanations of concepts in Spanish has helped improve my own Spanish vocabulary and listening skills. I also have the opportunity to take breaks with the teachers at a cafe across the street. Being exposed to Spanish in a more casual setting has also helped me tremendously. You can’t beat a mid-day café con leche with a side of language learning!

That said, one of my goals is to improve my Spanish so I’m able to build stronger relationships with the teachers I support.

How I’m Learning Spanish

Prior to leaving the US, I used Rocket Languages and iTalki to learn more Spanish. However, with all the things I had to handle before heading to Spain I didn’t have nearly as much time as I would have liked. I continue to listen to Rocket Language lessons while I’m here, but the majority of my Spanish learning comes from simply being immersed in the language. I’ve learned more in one month of working here than I did in three years of Spanish during my school years.

At the Gym

I joined the gym around the corner from where I live and I typically go 4-5 days/week. In addition to working out on my own, I attend a variety of classes, including yoga, a strength training class, and Zumba. I’ve learned a lot of basic vocabulary this way and it’s also a fun way to interact with other native Spanish speakers. We recently had a Halloween-themed Zumba class where the teacher had us put on makeup and do a dance to Ghostbusters. We made it on the gym’s Facebook page. Does that count as my 15 minutes of fame in Spain? Jokes!

“First Dates“

You may be laughing, but let me tell you why a dating show is a great way to learn a new language! First of all, you can read facial expressions and body language to help you figure out what’s going on. Second of all, people typically spend first dates discussing things like their name, where they’re from, what they do for work, and what they enjoy doing in their free time. These are great basic conversations to listen to repeatedly. I can’t even tell you the amount of words I’ve learned by watching this show in Spanish with the Spanish subtitles on. My flatmates love to laugh at it, too, so if I don’t understand something they’re quick to point out exactly why they’re laughing.

So, the Spanish is coming along. I learn a few new words and phrases each week and I Google Translate what I can’t figure out on my own.

Finally, I had my very first visitor! My friend Nadia came to visit me from London. I met her while we were both traveling solo in Canada in 2015. We’ve stayed in touch over the years and it’s much cheaper to reunite while I’m in Europe! We spent several days at the beach and consumed a lot of coffee and gelato.

I still go to bed each night grateful that I made the decision to take this leap. Every day brings a new lesson, experience, or connection. I can’t wait to see what month number two has in store for me.

I arrived in Cádiz and hit the ground running because I had so much to figure out. I needed a new phone number, a bank account, an apartment, an appointment for my Tarjeta de Identidad Extranjero (TIE), and all of the documents necessary to obtain my TIE.

The program I’m a part of doesn’t help participants with these things directly. There were a few webinars in Spanish and (thankfully) a guidebook in English. I used those and harnessed the power of social media and blogs to figure out everything else. Where there’s a will there’s a way and all that jazz.

Not So SIMple

Before arriving, I researched plenty of options for phone service and decided to settle on Vodafone. I found the location nearest me and walked up to a counter to ask for a SIM. Lucky me…I managed to pick a location that doesn’t deal with SIM cards. I changed up the plans and found a competitor, Orange, and was in and out in 10 minutes or less – Spanish number in hand! My first major task was out of the way. I decided to celebrate with gelato.

Bank On It

I researched banks before arriving as well, and my neighbor in Dallas – who was conveniently from Madrid – recommended Santander. I mapped out the nearest location, grabbed my passport and proof of work, and headed in when they opened one morning. You’re probably wondering how you open a bank account if you don’t speak the language. Ahhh…the power of Google Translate. I took a number and headed to a desk when my number showed up on the screen.

“Hola, lo siento, mi Español es malo pero necesito abrir una cuenta bancaria. Soy un nuevo profesora de inglés.” I told the bank employee that I’m sorry my Spanish is bad but I need to open a bank account. I’m a new English teacher. Before I could pull out any paperwork, he was off to Google Translate on his computer. He typed out every single question, concern, you name it. The entire process took around 30 minutes, but the most memorable part came as I was preparing to leave. He spent an extra 15 minutes typing out everything he recommend I see in Southern Spain. I attempted to show my appreciation, but I don’t think that man will ever really know how much that extra bit of time and kindness meant to me during my first week in a new country.

A Home Away From Home

Next up was apartment hunting. I used the website Idealista to look for apartments within my price range. After staying at my hostel a few nights, I knew I wanted to live within walking distance of the city center, but not right in the thick of it all because I like to sleep. I found an apartment I was interested in and the listing mentioned they were looking for another teacher. I took a deep breath, called from my new Spanish number, and again apologized in Spanish for my lack of Spanish before asking if I could view the apartment. I lucked out! The sweet voice on the other end quickly let me know that she spoke English and I could come by that afternoon.

The location was perfect – a 15-minute walk from my school, a 15-minute walk to the beach, 20 minutes to the city center, and located near all the major shopping I could need. I had a chance to look around before my second future flatmate would arrive. I found out she spoke no English and was worried she may not feel comfortable with me. My fears quickly disappeared when we all started making jokes about how living together would improve her English and my Spanish.

Finding available apartments in the area can be quite a challenge, but I’d been warned by other people not to take the first place I saw. Intuition kicked in though and as I walked back to my hostel, I knew I’d just found my new home. I decided to end the apartment search and instead started all the necessary bank account transfers and worked on planning my move-in date.

I LOVE my flatmates. The language barrier matters less than I ever imagined and I felt at home immediately.

Holy Paperwork, Batman!

A few days after moving in, the landlord came into town so we could all sign the contract together. Once that was complete, I needed to head to the Ayuntamiento, or town hall. In order to get a TIE, you need to register in the city. This was the first time I encountered anyone that didn’t exactly appreciate my Spanish efforts. It was the least pleasant experience I’ve had, but she found another employee who spoke English and he was incredibly kind. It all worked out in the end. One step closer to my TIE appointment!

After that, I had to fill out two more forms online and go to a bank to pay a small fee for one of them. I also made A LOT of trips to a print/copy shop because of all the necessary paperwork. The woman in the shop recognized me after my first two trips and told me my Spanish was improving. Highlight of my week!

Finally, after about three weeks of attempting to translate every form, paying fees, making copies, and more, I arrived at my TIE appointment 30 minutes early. Clearly, I have not adopted the “no pasa nada” way of life yet! I stood outside and waited for my turn with a few other foreigners. I was so nervous something would be incorrect or missing. I’d heard plenty of stories about people having to go back because of errors. I’m happy to report that everything went great and I got my TIE on the first try! I’m waiting on my official card to arrive in another four weeks or so.

I really like to knock out the hard stuff before I enjoy “‘play time,” so it was a huge relief to get all of this done as early as I did. Moving to a new country is no easy feat, but if you want something bad enough it helps to keep the end goal in mind. I had to get over the fear of using my terrible Spanish and feeling quite stupid at times to get to the end goal of remaining in Spain legally once my 90-day Visa expires. Now that the worst is over, I’m more focused on my work, my new friends, and the beach.

I recognize quitting your job has become quite popular over the last year, but the decision to leave mine was more about a lifelong goal than a revelation that came about while working from home. For the last 13 years, I have dreamed of living abroad; however, it was important for me to accomplish some goals first and to be at home for family during difficult times. It simply never felt like the right time until more recently.

One Thing Always Leads to Another

I’ve worked as an English language conversation partner in various ways over the years, so right before the pandemic came along, I decided to get TEFL certified. Why? 1) I knew I could use it to work abroad and 2) it would be helpful with my volunteer work no matter what.

As part of my certification, I was required to complete 20 hours of practicum. I signed up to volunteer as an English tutor with Paper Airplanes in June 2020 expecting to complete my hours, but I fell in love with the process of working with my student. We ended up working together a total of 14 months. In that time, she received numerous additional job offers – several of which were due to her English skills. Just two months before we finished working together, she negotiated with her current company for an outstanding (and well-deserved) salary increase!

The Big Decision

My entire experience with Paper Airplanes is what led me to decide the time was now. I was feeling more curious about/challenged by my volunteer work than my job, so I decided to take the leap. On top of that, several of the skills I used in my day-to-day work translate to the TEFL world quite well. Much like training leaders or developing new recognition programs, I spent a lot of time strategizing, problem solving, planning, and being a cheerleader to my student. We discussed her career direction and future goals, and I was motivated by knowing my efforts were making a difference in her life.

Why Spain?

Spain offers the North American Language and Culture Assistants Program (NALCAP). Those who are accepted as Auxiliares de Conversación work a limited number of hours and receive a grant and health insurance from the Ministry of Education. There is some structure around the program, which is what I wanted. I also have additional free time to work on my own Spanish, learn about the country and culture, and travel. It was the perfect balance for me.

The Departure

So, after applying, receiving an offer, and preparing and mailing a lot of paperwork, I made the decision to move to Spain. My last day of work in Texas was Friday, Aug. 6. I told a few of my colleagues about my future plans prior to departing and wasn’t sure what to expect. Thankfully, many of them know me so well they were incredibly excited for me. I am forever grateful for their enthusiasm and well wishes!

And the Arrival

I arrived in Madrid on Tuesday, Sept. 21, and in my province of Cádiz on Wednesday, Sept. 22. At this point, I have found an apartment with 2 Spanish teachers (that I absolutely adore!), registered at town hall, toured my school, opened a bank account using nothing but Google translate, and lugged 75 pounds worth of luggage over cobblestone streets. I’m feeling confident, capable, and excited to start work!

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I have so much to say, but school starts tomorrow at 8 a.m. and I imagine I’ll have even more to say after that. I plan to continue writing here to share the highs and lows of this experience, photos of the nearby beach, and all of the new things I’m learning.

In the meantime, here are the most frequently asked questions and their answers:

• Have you ever been to Spain before? Nope!
• Do you speak Spanish? Not well, but I’m determined to learn more and it’s going great!
• What did you do with your stuff? I donated, sold, or stored it.
• What are you going to do when you get back? One step at a time

Here’s to never giving up,

Casey