Why you should sign up for the Teach in Spain Volunteer Program

Before choosing this program, I switched my program application TWICE. First, I signed up for the Thailand program, and then for the paid teach in Spain program. However, I ultimately settled with the volunteer program because it was the cheapest option and I thought living with a host family would be an interesting experience. I was in the winter program which was from January 13-March 29. Even though this was only three months, I was still determined to travel around Europe frequently, and I did! But, I will save my travels for other posts, this is just the program per se! 

First two days

All the volunteers flew into Madrid and met up at the airport, where our in-country program coordinators greeted us and gave us 카지노사이트 goodie bags. We then loaded up in a van to go to Valladolid, the place of our orientation. Our first day, everyone was badly jet lagged so we took some time to rest when arriving at the hotel in Valladolid. Then, we took a walking tour of Valladolid but it was kind of hard for me to enjoy since it was cold and I was tired. Valladolid was nice, though, but hard to see because it was dark. 

Dinner was also provided to us afterwards by the hotel staff which consisted of unlimited bread and olive oil, wine,  tuna salad as an appetizer, and chicken wings and fries as the main course. The olive oil was soooo addicting and the chicken wings and fries were very fresh and delicious! 

The next day was our orientation at a nearby education center and immediately, we were escorted to a classroom. Our in-country coordinators did a presentation about laws in Spain, emergency contacts, what to do in an emergency, visiting the doctor in Spain, etc… They also went over cultural considerations while in Spain and how to behave around our host families, as well as teaching expectations. This orientation was a great way of preparing us for the program, and I definitely learned a lot of useful information during the presentation. Information includes that Spanish families often hang out for a bit after a meal, tipping servers in restaurants is not mandatory, and Spain has a daily siesta time. 

We were served lunch at the orientation location which consisted of Spanish omelette, various meats and cheeses, and bread. Our school coordinators also met up with us during lunch and we got to chat with them. My school coordinator told me all about my host family, as she is very close with them and promised me that I would love them. Shortly after, all the volunteers and I said goodbye to each other and were transported to our assigned locations by our school coordinators. 

Living with a host family

For daily life in the school and with the host family, refer to my From Classroom to Community Article. But for this, I will mention that applicants for this program will be given a list of preferences in terms of schools and host families. Applicants can choose whether to volunteer at a primary or secondary school, I chose primary and got it. They can choose if they want a host family with teenagers, little children, or no children at all, and this often coincides with the type of school you choose. For example, I chose primary school and got placed with a family that had primary school aged kids. Other preferences included if we cared about our host parents smoking or not, and if we had any food allergies and dietary preferences. There is also an option to order your most important preferences, and the earlier you apply, the more likely all your preferences will be met. 

Although this program is unpaid, it is still much cheaper than the longer teach in Spain program because living with a host family gets you free housing and meals! It is also more immersive to live with a family from another part of the world, because you get to experience a different culture. You will also have a chance to bond with the family whether it is playing games with them, going to bars with them, or even traveling with them. Every host family is different and mine met my expectations, even though they did not travel. They supported my decisions to frequently go on weekend trips, though and provided me rides to and from the train station. Living with a host family wasn’t too stressful, as I did not need to worry about paying rent or buying groceries. The other teach in Spain program is paid, but it is much more expensive all together than this one, and housing is not included. I switched to the volunteer one because I wanted more cultural immersion and because it was significantly cheaper. 

School 

Your host family will either drive you to school, or you’ll walk if it is close enough. I did a bit of both! Every school is different, but your school coordinator will write a weekly schedule for you. I personally loved my school and while some other 카지노사이트 programs require you to be the lead teacher, this one just has you be an English teacher assistant. In addition, a TEFL is NOT necessary for this program, so no extra studying or money! At school, you will learn how to interact with small children, become familiar with a classroom setting, and different fun ways to teach English to students. Your patience will be tested during this program, but I believe that it is the most convenient way to do so. 

More Application Items 

The application process is not hard, but there are a few things that cost a bit of extra money and require you to see your doctor about. 카지노사이트 also gives specific instructions for the more time-consuming tasks. One of these is a physical signed by your doctor, just showing that you are healthy enough to do the program. Another is a background check that you can retrieve in a couple different ways, but I went the easy route and did an in-person fingerprinting. When I applied to the Thailand program, I needed two letters of recommendation that were a pain in the butt to wait on, but that is not required for this program! The teach in Spain paid program also requires a Spanish consulate that is not required for this program either. 

In terms of booking flights, 카지노사이트 does not give you flight instructions until placement, which is about a month before departure. However, I would recommend booking your flights sooner than that because the closer to the program date you book it, the more expensive it is. I know I could’ve gotten a cheaper flight if I hadn’t waited til December! 

So what did I learn? 

• I learned how to be more patient, as little kids are still learning but learn best through people who understand and care about them.
• I learned that the best way children learn is through fun, which is why I played a lot of videos for them and played games with them.
• I gained a lot of classroom experience and became more confident in lesson planning and interacting with children.
• You can still travel a good amount during this short-term program, and you have some time after the program ends to stay in the Schengen Zone. During this program I went to Madrid, Valladolid, Segovia, Lisbon, Granada, Barcelona, Paris, and London and Rome the week after the program ended. So I visited all the places I wanted except Switzerland!
• I learned how to be a good solo traveler, as nearly all of my weekend trips were solo. Always be aware of your surroundings, stay in female-only hostel rooms, and don’t talk to anyone suspicious. Europe is one of the safest places for solo travel, and Lisbon and Barcelona are good places to start.
• I also learned how to more effectively budget, as this was necessary in expensive cities and while I was unemployed. I spent about 3,000 while in Europe, which I have been told is impressive! Staying in hostels and doing economy flights is a great way to stay within a limited budget.
• This experience also inspired me to pursue a job as a preschool assistant teacher once I arrived back in the United States. The one that gave me a job offer was impressed with my time in Spain, so this program will open up a lot of opportunities!