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With winter term complete and sunsets at 9pm, spring is officially here. Our most recent time count has us nostalgic as we realize we have only 6 weeks left after we return from our Semana Santa Italy trip. We can't believe how fast time is whizzing by!
We wanted to post an update about our schools, something we haven't done since we first arrived in September. We feel we're loving our school environments, co-workers and students more and more each day, and wanted to give future Auxiliares an inside scoop into the program by explaining what work is like at our two schools: IES El Batan in Mieres and IES Santa Barbara in La Felguera (Langreo). Feel free to drop us emails with questions about the program. (clapoma@gmail.com and rharperoregon@gmail.com)
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School: Each auxiliary is assigned a tutor when he/she arrives (usually the jefe of the English department) who will provide support, answer questions and assist with organizing class schedules. Our tutores, Conchi and Paco, have done all that and more, even helping us find a piso in Oviedo before we arrived!
We work the 12 hours/wk auxiliares are allowed, occassionally less, and divide our time between all grades, ranging from the youngest, Primero de la ESO, who are 11/12 and in their first year at secondary school, and Primero/Segundo de Bachillerato, the equivalent of Jr. and Sr, in US High school. Each class is an hour long, and 6 of the 12 are English classes. The other 6 are Technology, Math and Music, three subjects taught in English for the students who chose to enroll in Biligual Section. It has been alot of fun, and often a challenge, teaching Technology and Math after not having taken these subjects for quite some time, but we work with the teacher and usually read through lesson plans out loud and help with English vocabulary during class (while the teacher explains the specifics). Music class is a blast, and we especially enjoy when we listen to typical Asturian music and dance "la jota" -- we're learning as much as the students are!
We plan the activities ourselves, depending on where the classes are in the curriculum. We've found interactive speaking games and activities have been especially valuable, and it gives students a chance to break away from workbooks and COMMUNICATE! It's taken a few months for them to build up confidence and feel good about their speaking skills, but they've really improved! They love asking questions about Oregon and travels. English activities are plentiful, either in our English departments or online. The orientation in Madrid also gives great resources.
Not to mention, our coworkers are all amazing friends, each giving us an inside perspective on life here and inviting us to their homes or out to dinner. We miss 'em already!
Private classes/downtime: We also teach private 5 English lessons/wk each. They are very easy to come by, as each family has a friend who wants lessons, etc. We've had to turn many down. Classes are a great way to supplement the wage we make as auxiliares (700 euro a month is just enough to get by, if you cook most meals at home and pay around 250 euro/month in rent). The extra 15-20 euro/hr we make with these English classes has helped support our travels to Morocco, Switzerland and Italy -- with a bit of savings from home.
Money: Speaking of savings, it is VERY important to have at least $1,000-$2,000 dollars available in your US bank account when you arrive. Spain is a bit slow when it comes to governmental issues, and the Consejeria de Educaccion was not able to pay us until the beginning of December. This required us to use our savings and borrow money from our institutes for the first 2 months. Unfortunatly, this seems to happen every year, and should be noted.
We've really loved working as auxiliares! This program provides a perfect opportunity to gain international teaching experience, live abroad, travel, and practice Spanish while making connections and creating friendships with Asturianos and other internationals in Oviedo.
We wanted to post an update about our schools, something we haven't done since we first arrived in September. We feel we're loving our school environments, co-workers and students more and more each day, and wanted to give future Auxiliares an inside scoop into the program by explaining what work is like at our two schools: IES El Batan in Mieres and IES Santa Barbara in La Felguera (Langreo). Feel free to drop us emails with questions about the program. (clapoma@gmail.com and rharperoregon@gmail.com)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
School: Each auxiliary is assigned a tutor when he/she arrives (usually the jefe of the English department) who will provide support, answer questions and assist with organizing class schedules. Our tutores, Conchi and Paco, have done all that and more, even helping us find a piso in Oviedo before we arrived!
We work the 12 hours/wk auxiliares are allowed, occassionally less, and divide our time between all grades, ranging from the youngest, Primero de la ESO, who are 11/12 and in their first year at secondary school, and Primero/Segundo de Bachillerato, the equivalent of Jr. and Sr, in US High school. Each class is an hour long, and 6 of the 12 are English classes. The other 6 are Technology, Math and Music, three subjects taught in English for the students who chose to enroll in Biligual Section. It has been alot of fun, and often a challenge, teaching Technology and Math after not having taken these subjects for quite some time, but we work with the teacher and usually read through lesson plans out loud and help with English vocabulary during class (while the teacher explains the specifics). Music class is a blast, and we especially enjoy when we listen to typical Asturian music and dance "la jota" -- we're learning as much as the students are!
We plan the activities ourselves, depending on where the classes are in the curriculum. We've found interactive speaking games and activities have been especially valuable, and it gives students a chance to break away from workbooks and COMMUNICATE! It's taken a few months for them to build up confidence and feel good about their speaking skills, but they've really improved! They love asking questions about Oregon and travels. English activities are plentiful, either in our English departments or online. The orientation in Madrid also gives great resources.
Not to mention, our coworkers are all amazing friends, each giving us an inside perspective on life here and inviting us to their homes or out to dinner. We miss 'em already!
Private classes/downtime: We also teach private 5 English lessons/wk each. They are very easy to come by, as each family has a friend who wants lessons, etc. We've had to turn many down. Classes are a great way to supplement the wage we make as auxiliares (700 euro a month is just enough to get by, if you cook most meals at home and pay around 250 euro/month in rent). The extra 15-20 euro/hr we make with these English classes has helped support our travels to Morocco, Switzerland and Italy -- with a bit of savings from home.
Money: Speaking of savings, it is VERY important to have at least $1,000-$2,000 dollars available in your US bank account when you arrive. Spain is a bit slow when it comes to governmental issues, and the Consejeria de Educaccion was not able to pay us until the beginning of December. This required us to use our savings and borrow money from our institutes for the first 2 months. Unfortunatly, this seems to happen every year, and should be noted.
We've really loved working as auxiliares! This program provides a perfect opportunity to gain international teaching experience, live abroad, travel, and practice Spanish while making connections and creating friendships with Asturianos and other internationals in Oviedo.
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