Name of Volunteer Speaker
Nicole |
Nationality
American |
Name of town/city where school is located.
Tarragona |
Experience in school including tasks, classes, relationship with students/teachers.
My experience at the school has been absolutely amazing! With nearly all my classes, my task is to pull small groups out of the classroom to have more casual and fluid conversation. It’s easy for me because it takes very little planning and structure and also very beneficial for the students because they practice their oral skills in a comfortable setting and discussing things they are interested in. The students have expressed that they really enjoy having this time outside of the classroom so my relationship with the students is very good. And despite spending most of my time outside of the classroom and not with the teachers, my relationship with all the teachers is good as well. They are super helpful and I’ve loved getting the chance to collaborate with them.
Experience living with your Host Family. Have they made you feel welcome, relationship, activities, etc…
My host family was very welcoming and made me feel right at home as soon as I arrived. I have an amazing relationship with my host mom, she is such a joy to spend time with and unwind with after a long day. The eldest son is very focused on English studies so I spent some time working with him one on one to practice his speaking skills. This can be difficult for me because it’s obvious he is being forced to do this and does not want to participate at times. The youngest boys don’t speak English yet so it is a little more difficult to bond with them. Other than eating dinner together, this family doesn’t actually spend much time together. I was definitely expecting more family activities but during free time between sports and other activities, which is rare, this family splits up for time to unwind solo.
Your general experience whilst on the program from prior expectations to your current experience
The city and school have by far exceeded my expectations. Tarragona is the perfect balance of small town and big city, it’s my ideal place. My school is also great. I couldn’t have asked for a better schedule, a better commute, or better community within the school. It has truly been perfect. Unfortunately, my expectations with my host family were not met to the same extent
Changes/Improvements in both personal and professional development
Although I’ve travelled a lot, this is the first time I’ve truly lived somewhere other than home and it has taught me so much. It takes a lot to settle into a new place and a new community and start over, in every single way. I loved the challenge this presented and I think I will continue to embrace such new challenges.
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.…)
If you’re in Tarragona, you are so lucky! It’s the vibe of a big city but as if it’s been shrunken down and everything is within a 20 minute walk from wherever you are- the beach, the mall, the main square, your school, your gym, the grocery store, literally everything you could possibly need. The only thing you need to leave the city for is to visit PortAventura, and that is a must! Also take advantage of the proximity to Barcelona! |
Advice for new/future Voluntary Speakers placed in your school?
My school has such an incredible community. The teachers are eager to help and the students are happy to be there. And the food is delicious 🙂 I don’t even have any advice other than to enjoy your time there!
Advice for new/future Voluntary Speakers in relation to living with your host family or Spanish families in general.
Even though you are an adult and maybe are used to an independent lifestyle, you are now part of a family. You will have your freedom but you should still make an effort to be an active member of your new family. Try to find a good balance of spending time with the family yet also recognizing when you need your own time and space. Try to sit down with your host family early into the experience to discuss rules and expectations.
Share some of the best moments in your school, host family and in general whilst participating on the program.
One of my highlights so far has been a family trip to PortAventura park. It was so fun to spend the full day with my host family. Also, during my stay, I got to experience my host family’s family reunion with all of their extended family and it was such a special moment for me to get to know everyone and exchange stories. Another highlight for me was getting to share some of my holidays and traditions with my host family, such as Rosh Hashanah and Halloween. As for school, I can’t pick out any specific moments but I have absolutely loved getting to know the students.
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?
I would definitely recommend this program. Especially if this is your first time doing something like this, three months is the perfect amount of time to test the waters and figure out what you want. This is not something that requires prior experience so as long as you are open to meeting new people, embracing a new culture, and have any interest in working with students, this is a great opportunity.