Elizabeth from America. This experience has taught me a lot, not only about teaching but also about myself. It has made me feel more prepared to take on new experiences.

Elizabeth

USA

Berga

In the classroom, I was primarily in charge of taking out small groups for 10-15 minutes at a time. With the younger kids, I usually practiced flashcards with them, took turns asking them questions, or just spent some time speaking with them in English. With the older kids, I came up with some easy projects (related to their class materials/subjects) to work on throughout the trimester.

In the school, I also had the experience of going on several excursions with the students. I spent three days away at a school camp with the kids; I also accompanied them on several smaller excursions during the school days such as hikes and a trip to the theater.

When it came to the relationships I developed throughout my time in the school, my expectations were not quite met. At many times, it felt very difficult to connect with the other teachers and I struggled to find my place in the school; the English level at my school was very low among the teachers, which likely contributed to this. With the students, it was also difficult to connect at times because I was with so many students for such short periods of time. I would have liked to be able to develop more of a relationship with my students, but it was simply not possible with the amount of time I got to spend in each class. However, I think that it was very beneficial for me to accompany them on excursions, because it allowed them to get to know me outside of the classroom and to see me as more than just a stranger in the school.

I have had the most wonderful experience with my host family and feel very lucky with my placement! From the very beginning they made sure I felt welcome and comfortable; I have my own space in the home, and I feel that we struck a very good balance between family/kids’ time and personal time. I eat meals with them and help around the house but also have plenty of freedom to go out on my own.

They are a very active family, so I regularly joined them for hikes, runs, and walks. They also planned many activities outside of school, such as a trip to Barcelona, a big hike in France, and even a family trip to Malaga (adults only)!

In all honesty, I had zero idea what to expect prior to this experience, so I did not have many specific expectations. In the school setting, I did expect to feel more comfortable and welcomed by the teachers, and to be able to form a closer relationship with the students. I also expected to love volunteering in primary school (because that is what I prefer at home), but learned that in a TEFL setting, I think that I would prefer secondary school/older kids! The primary school is much more challenging than I had expected, though not in a bad way.

I also am really grateful to have been placed at the same school as another voluntary speaker and genuinely think that this could be a good idea to implement moving forward. Especially at the start of the program, having another English speaker close by made the experience less scary and more comfortable. It was also wonderful to be able to share this experience with another person.  

This experience has taught me a lot, not only about teaching but also about myself. It has made me feel more prepared to take on new experiences and has also shown me how to adapt when things don’t meet my expectations exactly. It has also taught me how to overcome and work with language and cultural barriers.

Professionally, I now better understand what it is like to teach English as a foreign language and have more skills/ideas/lessons that I will be able to use in the future. I have taken notes and ideas from observing the other teachers that I think will make me a better teacher overall.

Berga is the perfect town for active people, as it is right at the foot of the mountains. My personal favorite activity here has been hiking to Queralt and finding different trails through the mountain. Taking walks has also been lovely – the views never get old. This is also a famous paragliding area, and I would highly recommend giving it a try! It was one of the coolest things I got to experience here.

My favorite restaurants here in Berga include Magrana (the best frappes I have ever had, and lots of healthy sandwiches/pastries) and Corpus (lovely for drinks during the day, and a nice, local meal at night).

I was lucky enough to have a host family who planned plenty of activities. We did a lot of hiking, running, and even biking. I joined them for cycling classes at the local gym several times, and we also took some day trips to places such as Barcelona and Puigmal mountain in France! France, Andorra, and cities like Barcelona and Girona are all short trips from Berga.

Embrace the differences and enjoy it while you’re here! This position is a great way to explore teaching as a career without making a long-term commitment – so whether you love it or realize it is not for you; it is only a short amount of time. Take advantage of the experience either way and have fun with it, because it will be such a unique season of your life!

In Berga, the English levels are very low, so know that it is going to be a challenge, and that it may feel uncomfortable at times. Just do your best, remember that this is a new experience for everyone involved, and never hesitate to ask for help from the other teachers, the host family, etc.

Spain is very rich in culture so be prepared for some adjusting! In my experience, the people were extremely friendly, warm, and welcoming – and like to keep busy! Food and drink are a major part of the culture, and mealtimes are a lot different here than in other places.

My host family has been amazing, and if you get placed with them you are going to have a great experience! They were warm and welcoming from the start, and are so goofy, fun, and active. They planned a lot of activities for us to do together and made sure I got to experience Spain to the fullest.

For me, the highlight of my time in school was the several specific students who were always excited to see me and interact with me. Though not all of the students were engaged or interested in learning English, these few students always made my day; knowing that I was able to give them a positive experience made all the difference. Another highlight of the school was the hike I took with the 6^th grade during one of my last weeks. The students really came out of their shell on this hike and were so talkative with me; it was the perfect opportunity to get to know each other outside of the classroom.

Some other highlights included paragliding, reaching the top of Puigmal mountain after a long, challenging hike, and the (many) frappes I drank with the other volunteer that I was placed with in Berga.

I have no regrets joining this program and would absolutely recommend it to others who are considering joining. I feel that this has been the perfect opportunity for me to try out TEFL teaching, and to get an idea of what it could be like without having to make a long-term, expensive commitment. It also has been a great way to see what it is like to live in Spain as a local, as opposed to just visiting Barcelona for a week. I have learned so much about myself, about Spanish culture, and about teaching through this experience, and would recommend it to anyone who is on the fence about joining.