So it’s halfway through the
placement and what an interesting, challenging and fun few weeks it’s been!
I’m in a primary school
north of Valencia in a rather suburban area. The first week was all about
settling in and getting to know my school, their way of working and the
students. The commute from Moncada to school was a bit burdensome at first, but
I’m actually quite pleased that I get to see more of my surroundings and work
in an authentic Spanish environment.
One of my biggest fears
post-CELTA was working with young learners (quite an understatement really!)
Two weeks in and I can already say that this experience has shifted my
perspective and feelings about YLs (thank you Jen for all the brilliant ideas,
games and tips). It turns out that I have more patience than I realised. My
students are enthusiastic, keen to learn English and are generally adorable which
really helps J
My school has adopted the
bilingual approach so half the curriculum is taught in English and the other in
Spanish. In addition to English, I also teach Science and assist with Art. To
anyone in the next placement doing CLIL subjects - don’t be afraid! The course
books and scheme of work offers plenty of guidance and isn’t hard to get to
grips with.
On the other hand one of the
most challenging things for us EFL teachers has been witnessing teaching
methodologies that differ from our own. I think we’ve all had to come to terms
with finding the balance between teaching in the way we’ve been trained to, and
acknowledging how things are done on the ground. I’ve tried some of the games
and activities that we discovered at Newland Park and my students absolutely
loved it! Hangman, chants, you name it….On a personal note Valencia is fab. I visited the city two years ago and am thrilled to have a longer stint here. There’s plenty to see and do. The Bioparc comes highly recommended from Caroline and I (but will set you back €24). Ruzafa is great for drinks and dinner, and seems to be the locals’ place of choice. You’ll find everything from tapas to sushi and burger joints.
Until next time
Raynal xxx
No comments:
Post a Comment