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By júlia verdaguer, on març 25th, 2013% Bazilio comes from the UK and has spent the last 6 months as a Conversation Assistant in escola FEDAC Santa Coloma. He has had to finish the Programme early, but the school want to share their good experience with us, so here’s what Bazilio wrote and some beautiful photos that English teachers Verónica and Eduardo sent along with the text. Thanks a lot!
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How can I explain my time here? In a few words it is impossible to explain, but I can try and give you an idea of my experience.
7:00am my alarm goes off. I put it on snooze…..for 30mins. 7:30am! haha ok I need to get up now. If I’m not training for a cross country race or making pancakes for Pancake Day I don’t wake up until about 7:30. A ‘Good morning’. And I get ready.
8:00am I have breakfast, sometimes with Pau, if I can wake up early enough! My breakfast? usually something light. Then I brush my teeth and at 8:45 I get the go ahead that ‘it’s time’ or ‘it’s time to put your things away’ from Pau.
8:50am I pass through a crowd of parents and children, sometimes mixing up who I should say Hola to and who I should say hello to! I enter the school thanks to Xavi and hermana Concha who usually let me in and out the school. A mix of bon dia and hello as I walk around the school.
9:00am Now it’s time to start the school day. Since it’s not a Tuesday I don’t have a coordination hour with Edu and Veronica so I walk towards ESO. I get to the class and take a group of children from the class and we head to the reinforcement classrooms. What activity should we do today? Now I have been here for four months I can mix up activities, create my own, all depending on the group I am working with.
10:00am Next lesson. ESO. I just need to go to the floor below to collect the children from class. Since it is not a special holiday and there are no reasons for me to stay in the classroom, so I take a group of children and we do speaking activities suitable for their level.
11:00am Break time! Or breakfast number 2? haha A little bit different from England this is a sandwich or baguette and a drink. Until 12:00pm I don’t have lessons, so I can sit in the staffroom and go on my phone to use Whatsapp, do some work or relax and talk to some of the teachers around.
12:00pm Next lesson! But this time a little bit different. I have to cross over to the primary. I can cut across through a classroom upstairs. Sometimes I stay in the classroom to do different activities with the children and sometimes I take them out the classroom. In any primary classroom I can always expect a high five, a hug or to hear ‘mira, que alto!’ haha.
13:00pm Lunch time! I head downstairs where I wait for Pau’s class to come down. I high five him and we head off home for lunch.
13:03pm we arrive home, we took a bit longer than usual to arrive back. The few minutes before eating are reserved for playing games or doing work.
13:20pm Lunch is ready! Yes! Today is my favourite, lentils with chorizo. We sit down for lunch put on the television and talk about how our days are going. Finished! But I can’t forget to eat some fruit.
15:00 And we are back in school for the last part of the day. Today I have P on my timetable which means its ‘preparation hour’ so I spend time preparing work. I already have all the material I need thanks to the teachers so I can sit in the staffroom and get on with my work.
16:00 Last lesson of the day. Sometimes it can be tiring to have an hour or two more than you are used to in a school day. But it is also the lesson that leaves you with a nice feeling.
17:00 Home time! I meet Pau in the usual spot and we head home. After school time is spent doing different things depending on the day.
By júlia verdaguer, on març 19th, 2013% It is their first year in the Programa Auxiliars de Conversa, but in Col·legi Santa Anna they sure know how to make the most of this program! Their conversation assistant, Sean, takes small groups of Primary and ESO students to help them improve their English and encourage them to speak. Here are his thoughts on the Program: thanks for writing, Sean!
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Since my first day at Santa Anna, I have had an amazing time with both the students and the teachers in and outside of my classes. I have no doubt that this will continue until the end of the course in June, because everyone is so easy to get along with and most of the students are lots of fun to work with. My lessons consist of taking small groups of students out of classes from both primaria and ESO and improving their spoken English level, through exam practices, role plays and themed conversations, alongside other fun activities. I was so surprised by the level of English in the school, it is significantly better than I had originally presumed. I found that no matter what the student’s level of oral English, they will always try and have a conversation with me or ask questions, it is incredible to see such a large interest in a language.
 Working with a small group of students As well as taking the students for oral practice in my lessons, I have also been included in other activities. These include the school play, where I played a grandfather who tells the story of ‘Els Pastorets’, a traditional Catalan Christmas story, and most recently, playing the bass with some students in a music group for Peace Day (El Dia de Paz) and Open Doors Day (Puertas Abiertas). Being included in these events with the students has let me get to know the students better and helped to create a strong bond between us, which in turn encouraged them to participate more in class.
 Sean took part in ‘Els Pastorets’! I strongly recommend for any CAPS, new or current, to include themselves with as many activities with the students as possible as it is a very enjoyable and entertaining experience!
 Sean played the bass with a group of students for Peace Day While I will be staying in Catalunya I will be staying with a total of 3 families. The families I have already lived with have already been extremely welcoming and have treated me like another child in their home, and most weekends have been filled with enjoyable activities. Such activities include visiting Barcelona or going climbing in the mountains, and if we haven’t got any plans for the weekend I am never bored because the families always try and include me in their plans, or I go out and visit my friends I made from the CAPS program, who live in the same city as me. There’s never a dull moment in Catalunya!
In conclusion, if you haven’t applied for this course already, then you should straight away because it is an incredible experience and one not to be missed!
By júlia verdaguer, on març 14th, 2013% Col·legi El Carme is a school in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia. Rebecca, from the UK, is their first conversation assistant. Pupils and teachers are enjoying her stay with them, and so is she.
We thank Rebecca and her tutor, Núria, for writing and sharing these wonderful photos!
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My name is Rebecca, I’m eighteen and I’m from Cambridgeshire. This year I am the first conversation assistant at El Carme in Sant Sadurni d’Anoia. In the last 5 months I have learnt that El Carme is more than just a school. It’s a family. Being such a small school with only one class of no more than 28 students per age, you are able to get to know your students very well.
I work with the children from second of primary to fourth of ESO. I work with two teachers, Meritxell in primary and Nuria in ESO. I think this good as both teachers have a different ideas about how I should work with the students.
The activities I do in the primary school vary from day to day, at the moment, the children are learning about two childrens books “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” and “Elmer The Elephant”.
 Rebecca reading ‘Elmer The Elephant’ to some pupils
 Rebecca and her tutor Núria In ESO, I work alongside Nuria, usually I assist during the main part of the lesson and then do speaking activities for the last 20 minutes of the lesson. I run a speaking class every wednesday afternoon. I do short activities of no more than ten minutes with groups of 4 where the children have to speak English. In ESO, We are teaching the students about culture in English speaking countries.
In my time I am living with three different familys which have varying levels of English. Two are teachers who have children who are students and the other family had two daughters at the school. In my current family, I am not allowed to eat unless if I ask for the food in Spanish and the same for the children but in English. This is encouraging us all to learn quickly which is very important for me as it is difficult to learn Spanish in a Catalan environment.
As well as my English classes, I have also participated in things outside the classroom. In November I spent four hours teaching dance to children of ESO for the schools cultural day. I also have been on 2 school trips to Barcelona with secondary school students, which is great as the children always translate the things that I don´t understand. Recently I took part in the carnival celebrations.
 “Wear-your-pajamas” day during Carnival Week
By júlia verdaguer, on març 11th, 2013% Escola Anna Mogas has joined the PAC this year. Their Conversation Assitant, Amber, works with groups of students from P4 to 4th of ESO and is working hard to help everyone improve their English! Here are her thoughts about the whole experience
Hi! I’m Amber and I am a conversational assistant at Anna Mogas school in Granollers, Spain. I have always had questions in my head about being a teacher. Usually they were negative thoughts- ‘Can I really do this?’, ‘What if I fail?’, but from the very moment that I arrived at Anna Mogas school, all these thoughts disappeared. The school is a beautiful private building owned by nuns and from the outside is a scenic view. Only from the aspect of the school you get a good feeling. I was and still am overcome by how welcoming and helpful the teachers at Anna Mogas have been. Everyone was enthusiastic about having an English speaker and it didn’t matter if they couldn’t speak the language very well, they always tried to communicate. Being in the staff room is always a fun moment, as when you open the door you are welcomed with laughter and the lovely smell of coffee.
I teach students from ages of four years up to sixteen. It is an understatement to say that I am in love with all of them. In Eso I take around eight students to an empty classroom and practice speaking activities with them. Usually, the lesson is around thirty minutes or more for each group as I found that they benefit more with longer time with me than if I did ten minutes for each group. I get them to sit around in a circle and we discuss modern topics or practice answers and asking questions with games that I invent. I rarely use internet resources, as I find it works best when I use my own imagination and of course now that I am familiar with the students I know what kinds of activities work and don’t work with the age groups. I usually think about what I loved to do in school and try and incorporate this in my lessons, to make it as enjoyable as possible. Every lesson is an enjoyable one, because I never leave the class without laughing. The students respect me and they are able to understand that I am a teacher and they have to follow rules but I am also a confident and they can share and express things with me that maybe they can’t with the other teachers. Being young is also an advantage, as I understand them and often they are interested in asking questions about me and asking for advice which is a pleasure. The conversation is always flowing, as I try to prepare lessons which will engage them and make them want to speak as much English as possible. They are spontaneous and I find myself always thinking about how I can improve the lessons with them. I have seen a great deal of improvement with Eso and look forward to watching them grow and progress for the following months to come.
Primary level differs slightly from Eso, as the subject topics aren’t so varied but nonetheless there is always a lot to talk about! With primary I tend to take around eight people every twenty minutes and depending on the day we either practice speaking and an exercise from the book that the teacher is following to combine efforts or I invent a topic. This is usually done more often with the older levels of primary 5 and 6, where we practice with vocabulary games, asking and answering questions about each other. With primary you get back in heaps what you give. They are always ready to learn and always with a smile. I have great communication with the teachers of the students and everyday discuss how the lessons went and which students are improving. I know that I can ask for help whenever I need it. They confide in me and allow me to be free with the students.
P4 and p5 were my biggest worry before I arrived to the school because I wasn’t sure how much they would understand with me. However, I now know that small children, whatever language they speak, need to think that they are playing rather than learning. I take groups of eight to a lovely big sports gym with a overhead projector to practice speaking and vocabulary with videos, songs, games and movement activities like Simon says. They love to move around and it’s surprising to see how much they pick up with songs and repetition games. They are lovely bunch, always ready with a big hug for me every day to give me energy!
To summarize, I am having a great experience at Anna Mogas and feel myself growing as a teacher. I am constantly thinking about new lessons, adapting activities and worrying about them as individuals, as I have become very much attached to everyone. I realise that this is because I am passionate about what I am doing and want to be the best for them and myself.
By júlia verdaguer, on març 8th, 2013% Escola Vedruna Tona has been in the PAC for three years. They have shared with us their thoughts on the program, both from the tutor’s and the Conversation Assistant’s perspective. Thank you, Míriam and Sofia!
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This school year, it was Sofia’s turn to come and help us with the oral part of the classes. As an English teacher in the school I had myself the chance to have her in my house for almost three months. It was a good experience for all the family. What I would like to stand out, though, is the effort I think they all have to do to adapt themselves to the cultural differences. It’s not only getting used to different habits in the street, but also learning and responding to a school very much different from the ones they might know, and different family systems every three months. Not an easy thing I guess. I do want to thank you all, and specially Sofia, for this effort, for your job among us.” (Míriam Duran)
Hola!
I’m Sofia and I am the conversation assistant at Escola Verdruna Tona,a small town in the heart of Catalunya.
I work with both Primary and ESO students, so my days are always varied and interesting! The kids were a bit shy speaking to me at first, but they soon got used to me and now they really seem to enjoy speaking English!! Sometimes I will take groups outside to do grammar or conversation activities, and other times I am with the whole class, explaining things about life in the United Kingdom. I also help out with I.T lessons, as they are taught in English at this school. This is fun, as the kids don’t realise they are working and therefore are always happy to be there! I also get to join the children on some school trips: I have been to the theatre, a roman museum and Barcelona so far! The whole school and teaching staff are very friendly and I really enjoy working with everyone here.
During my first three months I lived with a teacher’s family. They were lovely and really made me feel at home, for example I would go to the grandparents’ house for Sunday lunch, or play football with the children. Their flat was in Vic, a city close to Tona. This was useful as I was able to meet the other Conversation Assistant there and got to know other people- we are now really good friends and spend most our weekends exploring Barcelona or the restaurants in Vic. I have since moved to Tona itself, which is a lot quieter. Sadly, the buses don’t run very often, so I only see my friends at the weekend, but I am keeping myself busy with Pilates and Catalan classes.
Overall, I’ve really enjoyed the scheme, as I have met a lot of lovely people and have learned so much from this experience. Before I came, I had no knowledge of Catalunya, now I can say that I have truly experienced life in Catalunya.
By júlia verdaguer, on març 6th, 2013% News from Vilafranca!
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Col·legi El Carme – Sant Elies de Vilafranca del Penedès has joined the PAC this year for the second time. We have a conversation assitant from the United Kingdom, Rachael. She has written to explain what she does at school, and what her general feelings were at the beginning of the program and how they have evolved.
I decided to participate in this programme because I am interested in learning about other cultures, and after completing an anthropology degree living abroad for a year doing exactly that seemed like a good opportunity.
I have been in Vilafranca now for four months and will be here until the end of June. On arrival I was really nervous about living with host families who didn’t speak the same first language as me and who had different life styles, however my host families have welcomed me in to their families with open arms. The first family introduced me to Catalan culture; showing me what Catalonia is like for the locals and not just the tourists that visit every summer. Seeing more of Catalonia is something that I hope to do with my next two host families. Whilst with the second I am getting a chance to actively practice the Spanish that I am learning as part of the CAPS programme and furthering my knowledge of Catalonia.
I am thoroughly enjoying my time at El Carme: Sant Elies: I assist in teaching students from p4 – 4th ESO helping students with their pronunciation of difficult English words, playing English games like bingo, Chinese whispers and mimica and assisting teachers with organising of activities to do in speaking classes. I am available for students to talk to at break and lunch times; this encourages the students to speak to me in English in an informal setting outside of the classroom and is something that I enjoy as I learn more about the interests of the students, and something that the students enjoy as they get to speak in English, have fun and at times be very silly. On a normal day I work from 9- 5 including 25 hours of classes and some time for lesson preparation. At school all the teachers and support staff are very friendly and helpful, if I have any problems with students the teachers are always available for me to talk to.
In my free time I like to meet up with the nearest CAP to me and visit different towns in Catalonia and share our experiences about our schools. I also attend fortnightly English conversation sessions with locals who wish to improve their English, this gives me a chance to engage with locals in Vilafranca, talk about a variety of different subjects and make new friends.
I am thoroughly enjoying my time in Vilafranca as a conversation assistant, the people here are very friendly and welcoming: it is always nice to see children wave to me when I’m walking in town. This experience has given me a chance to learn about a different culture, is increasing my confidence in living in a foreign country away from family and friends and improving my communication skills. I am learning new things every day and hope that the rest of this year is as good as the first half.
By júlia verdaguer, on març 4th, 2013% Ellie is a Conversation Assitant at Escola Mare de Déu de la Mercè in St. Feliu de Llobregat. It is their third year in the program and they’re having a great experience with Ellie.
They have sent us pictures of an activity she did with the 3rd ESO class: making biscuits! She gave instructions in English and the students ended up with a nice batch of biscuits. It looks like everyone had fun too! Click here to see all the photos.
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