La límonada de los limones

I’ve had big (and wonderful) changes lately in my life! A week or so ago I was struggling with my role and reasons for being in Spain. I came to Spain with the goal of improving my Spanish and while teaching English and enjoying life in Europe. After a month of working as a language assistant in el colegio I began to feel desperate – I spent most of my time sitting in a chair listening to a Spaniard teaching students in English and correcting the teacher’s pronunciation (I need to mention, though, that others here in the program have not all had similar experiences and some are being use effectively and correctly in their schools – more or less, I think it was luck of the draw).

Applying for this job I assumed I would have an active role in the classroom and would be provided with the opportunity to create lessons (or activities to supplement the content at hand) to improve students’ understanding of English and American culture, however, I felt that my position was far from my assumptions. Due to a lack of resources, communication and preparation, my role in the classroom was ineffective. Doing nothing has always been difficult for me – no matter the circumstances – thus, sitting in a classroom as a seat warmer day-in and day-out was not appealing (let alone beneficial to my students or me).

After much consideration, deliberation, and talking with the appropriate people I came to the conclusion it would be best to resign from my position and begin taking classes at a University in Madrid to use my time effectively. To quit this job was as much of a disappointment as it was a relief – I let myself down because I could no longer continue to teach students but in reality I wasn’t actually provided with that opportunity. I have signed up for sixteen credit hours at La Complutense in Madrid and will live in Spain through the Spring while teaching English privately to pay my rent ;)

I have already taken a week of classes and am amazed with professors and the university, thus far, and hope that I am able to use my time effectively while still being able enjoy Madrid. I’ll keep you updated – but hopefully this is the camino I’ve been looking for.

Un beso, Rachel

A singing bloke

After spending the vast majority of my college classes learning how to teach foreign language I was not surprised to learn at our two day orientation that the best way to teach grammar concepts, vocabulary, and the sort is through meaningful context. Initially I felt relieved finding out the methods I was expected to teach with by were aligned with what I had internalized the past few years in school.

As the day went on, however, I began to fear that my room for creativity in the classroom was shrinking with each speaker providing use with ‘helpful tips in the classroom’. To make it clear, my job here in Spain is not a full time teaching position. Instead, my presence in the classroom provides students with a genuine reference for the English language and corresponding culture. I will be working this next year alongside a full time teacher who, I assume, will choose the classroom’s direction.

At the end of our two-day orientation I had feelings of frustration as many of the speakers demonstrated ‘creative’ ways to incorporate music, art, and other content areas while teaching in the second language. Instead of demonstrating how to teach through a meaningful context, I felt as though we were being provided with numerous songs and games (a.k.a. ‘time fillers’) to use in the classroom.

I left orientation with a bitter taste in my mouth about the upcoming school year predicting that my time working here would be full of sing-alongs in British English - which, of course, is what auxiliaries could be required to speak. After some time, though, I realized that my outcome is heavily based on my outlook on the situation. I start teaching October 1st and am welcoming it with arms open as an optimistic educator with a background in foreign language methodology instead of a living (and singing) British English dictionary. But, on a brighter note, maybe there is a chance I could come back speaking Spanish with a British accent – talk about two birds with one stone!

Un beso, Rachel