Having a playful nature and light-hearted frame of mind, I have always loved working with children. I started babysitting at a young age and grew up with young cousins I adore. Although I had never formally taught before beginning my program in Spain, it is something I always wondered about and wanted to explore. I had the expected nerves that come with doing something new and different, but after a few weeks of working in a classroom, I felt at ease and teaching came naturally. The program I secured my teaching job with is called Auxiliares de Conversación, you can learn more about it here . It is a program funded through the Spanish Government. In order to become a cultural assistant, you need to have a college degree and a passport from a native English speaking country (this may have changed since I started). As a cultural assistant, I worked in two primary schools – 2 days at each school per week. I worked with levels 1-5 and switched to a different group of students and classroom each hour. I never knew I could feel so loved by a group of people I had just met. My teachers and students welcomed me with the warmest hospitality and seemed so genuinely excited to have me there. Every day I would walk into the classroom and get swarmed by the students, giving me hugs and jumping up and down. I was mutually as excited to see them. Such a wholesome and pure joy to be a part of, and something as simple as a greeting made such an impact on my experience there. I worked with the teachers to create lessons, powerpoints, crafts, and games in English. I also would do a special activity for each American holiday to teach the students about my traditions, and they loved teaching me about their traditions as well. The schools always had a fun performance, parade, or celebration going on and I felt so lucky to get to be a part of it. I discovered that I do love teaching, but what made my experience so memorable and life changing are the people I met through it.
To make extra money, I also started doing private English conversation lessons in Jaén. I found students through a website called Tus Clases Particulares or through word of mouth. I had about 5 students each week, and they all became dear friends of mine. Two of my students were the sons of a very special teacher I worked with, named Vera. I would go to their house after school and Vera and her husband would cook a delicious traditional Spanish lunch for the family and me. We would sit around talking for hours, eating delicious food, and drinking wine. I will always cherish these moments together. After our lunch, I would spend an hour with her sons in an English lesson. All of my students were excited to converse in English and I loved talking to them and learning about their lives, while helping them improve their English. All of my students were so caring and wanted to help me with anything, as I was a foreigner in their home country.
Another way I was able to make extra money was teaching English online to children in China, through VIPKID. The interview process was a bit intense, but my friend Carla luckily helped guide me through it and once you are accepted, it is pretty easy to navigate and get work. It is a fun and easy way to make extra money, and you can work from anywhere and make your own schedule! Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or interest in getting started as a VIPKID teacher. You can also use my referral code TAYLO0490.
Teaching abroad has opened up doors for me that I never even knew existed and it gave me the opportunity to live in Spain. I would recommend the program to anyone, it changed my life in the best way possible.
Bailén
My students made special murals to welcome me to their school, so sweet!
The school yard.
Halloween festivities!
One of the thanksgiving crafts we did.
I wish I could post more photos of my adorable students, but to respect their privacy I won't be posting any photos of them.
Unfortunately I did not get to say goodbye to any of my students or the teachers I worked with because of my sudden departure due to coronavirus. I hope to go back in the Fall to visit them. Luckily, Granada is only an hour bus ride away.
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