School Location | Province of Tarragona in Catatonia | Voluntary Speaker | Stan from South Africa |
Why did you decide to host a native English speaking Voluntary Speaker?
We were looking forward to an experience like this with our children. |
How did you learn about the opportunity to host a Voluntary Speaker?
Through information from the school. |
What benefits do you think hosting a Voluntary Speaker brings to your family?
The first would be the language, but apart from that we believe that having a person living with us brings many other values: respect, adaptability, sharing, etc. |
How has the Voluntary Speaker improved your family’s English skills?
The kids have started pushing themselves to learn and practise out of necessity, as they realize that if they don’t speak English they can’t get along with Stan. |
Have you noticed any positive changes in your children’s academic performance since hosting an English language assistant?
Our children are very young, they are 8, 6 and 3 years old, but yes, it has certainly been positive for them. |
What has been the most enjoyable or rewarding aspect of having an English language assistant in your home?
Sharing and getting to know each other. |
What activities have you and your family engaged in to make the most of your time with the English language assistant?
Well, spending time with family and friends, and visiting places around us. |
Have you encountered any challenges while hosting an English language assistant, and how did you overcome them?
None |
What advice would you give to other families thinking about hosting?
It is important that all parties feel welcome, you need to give each other time to get to know each other. Let everyone have their spaces and moments. |
Would you recommend hosting an English language assistant based on your experience, and why?
That the experience is very enriching, for young and old. It is important to realize from a young age that it is important to learn other languages in order to communicate better. |