Name of Volunteer Speaker
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Shaun |
Nationality
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Irish |
Name of town/city where school is located
|
Tarrega |
Experience in school including tasks, classes, relationship with students/teachers
| My experiences in school have been nothing short of Brilliant and amazing, from the teachers to students everyone has been a delight to work with. The students will look at you as more of a friend than a teacher while still respecting you and having boundaries. The teachers are all so helpful and kind and if you need anything they won’t hesitate to help. My tutor has been especially helpful and a great help for me finding my way about coming to a new school. |
Experience living with your Host Family. Have they made you feel welcome, relationship, activities, etc…
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My experience with my host family has been phenomenal, from the first day I walked in the door they made me feel like I was a part of their family. They always take me to see new things and do fun activities (skiing, trips to different towns/cities, watching the kids football games) I feel I’ve built a great relationship with my host family and will forever be grateful for the opportunities and memories they’ve given me and will remember it for the rest of my life. |
Your general experience whilst on the program from prior expectations to your current experience
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My experience with the program has been Excellent and I found the team at Educados very helpful. From my Interview all the way to landing in Spain and meeting my family. Checking up on me now and again to make sure everything is going okay. |
Changes/Improvements in both personal and professional development
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I don’t have any changes I would make as I have had no regrets in this journey. |
Advice for the any new/future Voluntary Speakers placed in your town/city (best places to visit, things to do, activities with host family, favorite restaurant, bar, etc.…)
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My advice to anyone placed in my town is go and see everything you can, you’re placed in the Centre of everything and nearly anything you want is only 1 or 2 hours away. It’s a lovely town with great people and lovely restaurants and bars. A Favorite restaurant of mine was La Tagliatella. |
Advice for new/future Voluntary Speakers placed in your school?
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If you end up in my school, then consider yourself lucky! On my first day I was given a tour by the kids and all the teachers and students welcomed me with open arms. My tutor Carme was especially helpful and will always help you no matter how big or small the question is, she’s a great asset to have and an even better friend! |
Advice for new/future Voluntary Speakers in relation to living with your host family or Spanish families in general
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My advice would be to adapt to the changes, some things are done differently here, and you just need to respect it. There are no massive changes compared to being back home, just some small ones e.g. not always closing your bedroom door, what time you eat etc… At first it might feel weird but over time it becomes the norm, and you don’t even notice it anymore! |
Share some of the best moments in your school, host family and in general whilst participating on the program
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The best moment for me was participating in the school parade for carnival, seeing students and parents dressed up and having fun was a moment I won’t forget. |
Any regrets joining? Would you recommend the program to others? and what would you say to someone thinking about teaching English abroad for the first time and thinking about joining this program?
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I have absolutely 0 regrets about joining this program for so many reasons. The first one being the experience you gain from a teaching perspective is huge and if you’re looking to pursue a career in teaching and aren’t sure what you want to do, this is a great way to find out if you enjoy the environment. |