Current Events Trivia for the ESL Classroom When it comes to language learning, my main philosophy is that language is meant for communication above all else. Not to take an exam, not to demand perfect grammar at all times and definitely not to practice the present simple vs. the present continuous every single year forever…
Tag: #Language Assistants
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 🍷.
Ultimate Guide: Apartment Hunting in Tenerife
I´ve lived in the Canary Islands since 2014 and my first home was Tenerife. I´ve lived in both Santa Cruz de Tenerife and in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, and I´ve definitely learned a thing or two about apartment hunting in the islands.
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!
Score Big with 4 Super Bowl Activities for the Classroom
Touchdown! Score Big with These 4 Super Bowl Activities for the ESL Classroom The 2019 Super Bowl will take place on Sunday, February 3, 2019. To be honest there are very few things in this life I care less about than American football… (Sorry not sorry?? 😏) I suppose that’s why I was banished to…
Carnaval in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: Top 6 Must See Events
Vibrant colors, vivacious rhythms, dizzying talcum powder wars and the most diva-licious Drag Queen show I’ve ever seen – ya es Carnaval in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria!
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…
8 Fun, No Prep Activities to Rock the New Year in the ESL Classroom
Coming back to school after the holidays is tough.
Realizing the day before that you haven’t planned anything is worse.
Lucky for you, I’ve stock piled a few simple no & low prep activities to get you through the first few days.
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).
‘Tis the Season! Celebrating Christmas in Spain
Glittering fairy lights, oversized Christmas trees and the smoky scent of chestnuts and honey almonds roasting on an open fire. Dulce Navidad is playing in the shopping centers and long lines loop through El Corte Inglés. It’s the end of November and beginning to look a lot like Christmas all over Spain.
Six Years in Spain: Reflections of a Life Abroad
Sometimes it still feels like yesterday, sailing over the Atlantic en route to Barajas International Airport, mentally preparing to touch down for “a year” in Madrid.
ESL Activities: Native American History Month
Native American Heritage Month ESL Activities & Lesson Plans It all began when the English teacher I team-taught with insisted that I plan a “fun” activity for Columbus Day. After all, what’s more fun than genocide 🙄? Nope. This guy was already not on my list of favorite humans, so I wasn’t completely surprised with…
Day of the Dead Lesson Plans & Activities
As much as the littles (and even not-so-littles) love Halloween, it can get pretty tedious making the same old skele-pumpki-spiders every year.
Coming from Los Angeles, I’ve always been mesmerized by the colorful Día de los Muertos celebrations that are held all around the city and throughout SoCal. Especially when teaching in countries with less diversity, I think it’s imperative that we make an effort to showcase our rich cultural diversity.
The Golden Ticket: Certificado de Viajes for North Americans in the Canary Islands
Are North Americans residing in the Canary Islands eligible for the resident discount? Maybe. Read on for details!
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.
Get Up. Get Out. Get Lost. 