If your students are anything like mine, all they want to talk about this week is the 2022 Academy Awards fiasco. This speaking activity is a mixture of debate and class discussion to look at the historical event through the context of multiple angles, featuring topics such as: Will Smith, Chris Rock & the Slap…
Category: Teaching English in Spain
Class Discussion: La Palma Volcanic Eruption
By now I´m sure you´ve heard about the tragic volcanic eruption in La Isla Bonita, more commonly known as La Palma, one of the stunning islands in the Canary Island archipelago. Here in the Canaries, we´ve been inundated with the tragic news from our neighbouring island. Observing my students live, albeit indirectly, through this historic…
Teach English in Spain as an Auxiliar de Conversación Language Assistant
Spain is ramping up efforts to improve the nations´ English skills by inviting native English speakers into the classroom, and thousands of young people move to Spain every year to teach English, learn Spanish, explore the beautifully diverse country and of course, drink lots of Spanish wine 🍷.
BEDA Language Assistant Enrollment Fee: Confirm Your Placement
If you’re reading this, you’ve probably been accepted to the BEDA Language Assistant Program in Spain.
Congrats!! Once you’ve received your acceptance letter, you have just 7 days to confirm your placement as a BEDA Language Assistant, so it’s time to act fast!
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: MLK in the ESL Classroom
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: MLK in the ESL Classroom As Language & Culture Assistants in Spain (or wherever you may be teaching abroad), I think one of our most important duties is to share and encourage cultural diversity. Chances are, if you’ve been in Spain over the past few months you’ve seen some things…
Getting Lost in 2017: A Year in Photos
The end of the year always leaves me with notes of nostalgia, and this morning as I lazily sipped my coffee I got to thinking about all the places I’ve gotten lost in 2017 (and some plans for the coming year!)
Teach English in Spain: BEDA Language Assistants
These days, learning English is all the rage in sunny Spain, and between the many English teaching programs out there, almost anyone can find a way in.
I’ve spent 4 years working as an English Language Assistant with BEDA (Bilingual English Development & Assessment).
11 Ways to Overcome Homesickness Abroad
After the anticipation and farewells back home and the buzz and stress of getting started in your new ‘home’, it finally hits you. You’re here alone. Maybe you won the roommate jackpot or were blessed with a coworker that’s taken you under their wing, but if you’re like many brand new expats, this is probably the time that loneliness and homesickness are starting to set in.
Halloween Fun in the ESL Classroom
Kid’s love Halloween, and I love to get them excited about learning. There are literally thousands of ways to bring spooky Halloween fun into the ESL classroom, combining culture, relevant vocabulary and even grammar into haunted activities that naturally spark interest and curiosity.
Back to School: Easy, No Prep Activities for Your First Week
Even experienced teacher’s get first day of school jitters when starting a new gig. Not only do you have to meet a dozen or more new colleagues (in your second language), you also have to introduce yourself to anywhere from 300 – 1,000 (not exaggerating) new students who may or may not understand anything you’re saying.
Packing Dos & Don’ts for a Year Abroad
My standard packing style usually starts the night before I leave, typically after my despedida (farewell) dinner, and almost always after one-too-many glasses of wine. It’s one thing to rock that laissez faire lifestyle when packing for a month or two, but a year of living abroad is definitely higher stakes, as I learned moving to Spain as an Auxiliar de Conversación.
The Shelter Games: 3 Commandments for Finding a Flat in Spain
Apartment hunting isn’t usually considered fun. Throw in a different language in a different country with different customs and it’s, well, different. Luckily, you’re not the first guiri to make the move to sunny Spain, so save yourself the stress of making all the mistakes yourself and learn from some of ours before you.
Finding a Flat in Spain: The Basics
Finding a flat is essential.
Finding a flat you love (or at least like, hopefully a lot) will make a huge impact on your overall Spain experience.
No One Says Apartamento: A Piso Glossary for Spain
No One Says Apartamento: A Piso Glossary for Spain When I first moved to Madrid, I absolutely thought my Spanish was on point… until I started looking for apartments and had my potential compañeros de piso rambling on a mile a minute about fianzas, ascensores and gastos aparte. ¿Say what? For starters, you’re not looking…
Language Assistants in Spain: Getting Ready for the Big Move
If you’re reading this, you’ve probably received your regional placement as a Language Assistant in Spain… congrats! If you’re like most first-time auxiliares, this will be your first time living overseas for more than a just study abroad stint, and let’s just say… it’s different. Different in lots of good ways, and a few stressful ways, but absolutely different.
The truth is, there’s quite a bit that you won’t be able to do until you arrive – finding a piso (apartment) you love, setting up a bank account, securing a Spanish SIM card, etc. There are, however, a few things you can do now to make the transition a whole helluvalot easier when you arrive, and here are my top 3: consulates, cash & communication.
Get Up. Get Out. Get Lost. 