Teaching abroad was easily the best decision I have made in my life! I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a change and an opportunity to travel.
How did I learn about Teaching Abroad?
I was in my last semester working toward my degree but didn’t quite feel ready to start my teaching career, in a typical sense. Although always interested in a study abroad program, I never had the opportunity to do so. Between collegiate athletics and student teaching, I found i couldn’t participate in the limited study abroad options that my University offered. I was left with an itch to travel. One day I was sitting in my apartment, considering my future, and I decided to google (no joke) “how can I get paid to travel?” The first result was CIEE Teach abroad. I researched the program and decided it would be the perfect fit for me. This program would give me the opportunity to teach (which utilized my degree in education) and travel, all while living somewhere new and interesting. I SIGNED UP IMMEDIATELY.
The cool thing about CIEE is that they offer programs worldwide, including Thailand, Spain, Budapest, and many many more. I decided to apply for the program in Madrid, Spain and it was phenomenal. CIEE was extremely helpful through the visa process and the residency process once you landed in Spain. The program also introduces you to hundreds of other people with a similar mindset….. ready to travel and equally as anxious to start their new life in a new country.
Not having taken Spanish since High School, I opted for the 4-week inclusion option. This involves 4 weeks of Spanish courses while in a homestay with a Spanish family. I had a fantastic experience with this program and homestay, I was lucky that I was placed with a welcoming and helpful host family. Within these 4 weeks, my Spanish drastically improved. The homestay gives you a great opportunity to dive into the Spanish language, and to learn how to navigate the extremely fast-paced and stressful housing market of Madrid. What does Teaching in Spain entail
Once settled, it was time to begin teaching. The duties were varied depending on the school you were assigned to. The position is essentially a teaching assistant for English-speaking courses. Within Madrid, this also includes science, social studies, and art. In a primary school, your position is mainly to help students practice their conversational English with a native speaker. From what I understand, If you are placed in a Secondary school you have more responsibilities. At my school (shout out Carlos V) we often worked one on one with students or worked with small groups leading speaking activities. Also, the other assistants and I worked together to do presentations and experiments for the holidays.
The work is pretty stress-free, and WOW do I miss my two-hour lunch break!
An added bonus to being an Auxiliar (or language assistant) in Spain is the schedule. You only work 4 days a week and the majority of schools guaranteed a 3 day weekend EVERY weekend. Additionally, Spain has an immense amount of National and Local Holidays where the schools are closed, often giving you 4 or 5 days off at a time. What a wonderful life!
Would I do it again? In a heartbeat!
If you are interested in Teaching abroad check out the CIEE Website