Teaching/classroom assistant roles in spain

[Pesky Wesky]

Originally Posted by Alcalaina

Lots of foreigners live in their own language bubble and regard learning Spanish as an add-on activity, which they can fit in when they feel like it. But if you want to become fluent quickly, try and immerse yourself in the language - read the papers, watch Spanish TV, listen to Spanish radio, start conversations with anyone who's willing to listen (not difficult as most Spanish people love to chat!), talk to yourself in Spanish when you are on your own, and arrange your social life so you aren't spending every evening with people who only speak English. Good luck!

Love the way you expressed that - it's just what some people (those who are not very successful at learning the language) do

[Alcalaina]

It worked for me years ago when I spent a few months in France and hardly spoke English at all. After a while I was even dreaming in French. Not quite so successful this time because we speak English at home (and often listen to Radio 4 over the internet) but we spend two or three hours a day either reading, listening to or speaking Spanish.

I am quite pleased with myself this morning because I've had a fairly long telephone conversation with a plumber (who has a strong local accent) and arranged for him to come and fix the boiler - and I understood every word he said. I used to dread making phone calls in Spanish. Progress!

[beverleyp]

Originally Posted by stacey82

Hi I currently work as a teaching support assistant in England (I am white British) and was looking for some information on doing this role in Spain. I am keen to give my daughter a better life and crave to live in the sun and by the sea. Wondering if anybody could point me in the right direction I.e to find out what sort of qualification is required etc? Thank you Stacey

All I can say is that I know that there is a demand for Spanish youngsters to converse with English speaking people who have a standard accent. They learn grammar in school but don't get a chance to converse in English. They often need to be proficient in English to have a chance of getting a job. It wouldn't harm to make enquiries as to how you could do this and what qualifications you would need e.g. TEFL. Would seriously warn against teaching Spanish little ones though. They are soooo indisciplined it's untrue. All the very best...it is a lovely life in the sun and by the sea. Have you thought of moving inland not far from the sea though to a proper Spanish town, say Alhaurin El Grande/Alhaurin de la Torre on the Costa Del Sol? The coast is nice if you don't mind living in an apartment, but we prefer living inland and your daughter might prefer it inland as well. Depends where the international schools are I suppose. You need to do lots of homework to get it right and I don't mean school homework! Good luck.

[Pesky Wesky]

Originally Posted by beverleyp

All I can say is that I know that there is a demand for Spanish youngsters to converse with English speaking people who have a standard accent. They learn grammar in school but don't get a chance to converse in English. They often need to be proficient in English to have a chance of getting a job. It wouldn't harm to make enquiries as to how you could do this and what qualifications you would need e.g. TEFL. Would seriously warn against teaching Spanish little ones though. They are soooo indisciplined it's untrue. All the very best...it is a lovely life in the sun and by the sea. Have you thought of moving inland not far from the sea though to a proper Spanish town, say Alhaurin El Grande/Alhaurin de la Torre on the Costa Del Sol? The coast is nice if you don't mind living in an apartment, but we prefer living inland and your daughter might prefer it inland as well. Depends where the international schools are I suppose. You need to do lots of homework to get it right and I don't mean school homework! Good luck.

I have taught children here in an academies and I so much prefer teaching adults. I found the discipline difficult at times and the motivation, but I wouldn't say it was entirely the child's fault. Look at it from their point of view. They've been at school from 9:00 - 4:00 ish, have a snack, often in the street going from one place to another, and go to English. Nine times out of ten they're going to English either because they're doing badly at school, or because mum and dad want them to prepare for an exam. And with this extra English class they get even more homework to add to the never ending pile. After school classes are hardly ever allowed to be fun because of the pressures outlined above - pass at school or pass the Cambridge exam. The children rarely go because they enjoy English so much they beg mum and dad to sign them up for more. Put extra English classes next to football, basketball, or pottery and I know which I'd prefer!

[mrypg9]

The Alhaurins are heavikly populated by British immigrants, though, especially El Grande, aren't they?. A former resident once estimated that a third of the population is non-Spanish. La Torre seemed a pretty little place.
We visited both, and Coin,when we were looking for a place to live but found it too cosmopolitan. That didn't disqualify it from being 'Spanish', though, just as Rochdale or Birmingham, both heavily non-indigenous, are 'proper' British towns.
Seems we're back to that weary old chestnut of what constitutes a 'proper' Spanish town......

I agree about the importance of a 'standard' British accent although it may be difficult in these egalitarian times to specify just howe that sounds! Sadly, my experience as a MFL teacher and teacher of English is of many poorly-qualified 'teachers' of ESL.
That was certainly the case in Prague where the ability to use one's mother tongue, however ineptly, seemed adequate qualification for teaching it to others.

[jojo]

Originally Posted by mrypg9

The Alhaurins are heavikly populated by British immigrants. A former resident once estimated that a third of the population is non-Spanish.

Seems we're back to that weary old chestnut of what constitutes a 'proper' Spanish town......

I'll correct you on that

Alhaurin El Grande is a very "typically" looking Spanish town, but is inhabited by mostly expats from northern europe (Brits), altho in recent years that has declined and a few Spanish gypsies. It does have some lovely villas around its outskirts. Alhaurin de la Torre, is a modern, clean and affluent town and is inhabited by mostly Spanish, with a few northern europeans (Brits, Norwegians, germans....) Its locally known as Malaga's bedroom cos its where a lot of the wealthy airport workers live

Jo xxx

[jojo]

...... and this thread from PW, maybe more on topic and worth reading both for and against CAs?? Classroom sizes to rise by 20 percent as the education cuts are brought in

Jo xxx

[mrypg9]

Originally Posted by jojo

I'll correct you on that

Alhaurin El Grande is a very "typically" looking Spanish town, but is inhabited by mostly expats from northern europe (Brits), altho in recent years that has declined and a few Spanish gypsies. It does have some lovely villas around its outskirts. Alhaurin de la Torre, is a modern, clean and affluent town and is inhabited by mostly Spanish, with a few northern europeans (Brits, Norwegians, germans....) Its locally known as Malaga's bedroom cos its where a lot of the wealthy airport workers live

Jo xxx

It was you who once said that a third of Alhaurin's residents were British!! I'm sure that's the % you mentioned..
I remember you made a few other useful and descriptive comments too....
We looked at some villas at the edge of the town but they weren't what we were looking for.
I remember Alhaurin E.G. as a very clean looking town....Coin we didn't like at all....