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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.
By júlia verdaguer, on febrer 28th, 2013% Infant Jesús is a school located in Barcelona. It’s their third year in the PAC and they are hosting two Conversation Assistants: Emily, from the US, and Jessica from the UK. Thank you for sharing your experience with us 🙂
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Emily
 Emily with a group of Primary students Hi! My name is Emily Taylor and I am currently one of the Conversational Assistants at Infant Jesús Escola in Barcelona. I am lucky enough to work with all the primary English teachers and their students here at Infant Jesus. In collaboration with the English teachers, I plan oral activities for students aged 6 to 12 years old. I take small groups of students to participate in such activities, which include interactive games, role-playing, songs, and projects to help students to practice speaking and pronunciation.
Since I arrived in September, I have felt extremely welcomed into the community of Infant Jesus. My tutor, the teachers, and the staff have made me feel very comfortable here. I have lived with two host families thus far, and again they have made my transition and my experience at Infant Jesus, in Barcelona very rewarding. It has been a wonderful experience to be able to live with a Catalan family and be immersed into the Catalan culture.
Also outside of the school, I take part in private English conversation classes with some of my students. As a native English speaker, I think this is a great way to get to know my students better, while reinforcing pronunciation and vocabulary.
Jessica
 Jessica and some of her students Hi! I am Jessica Kilcoyne-Hall and I have been working in Barcelona since the end of September and during this time I have been working at the Escola Infant Jesús. Everybody at the school has been so welcoming and has helped me to settle in well, all of the students are lively and enthusiastic and I was surprised to learn that there level of English is so good. English is set as a high priority at this school and it is reflected in the students abilities. The teachers are all very supportive and have helped me on many occasions with lessons and have even sourced additional tutoring opportunities for me.
So far I have stayed with two families, one before Christmas and one after and they have both been amazing in helping me find me feet in a new city and I am very grateful to them for welcoming me into their homes as if I were a member of their own family.
Barcelona is an amazing city and I have found this to be one of the best experiences of my life. I am very lucky to be part of this program and very grateful to all those involved.
By júlia verdaguer, on febrer 26th, 2013% Escola Pia Igualada is a Certified Multilingual School that has been part of the PAC for three years. They currently host two conversation assistants: Charles and Izzalyn. Charles arrived at the end of September and has written about his first months in Igualada. Thank you!
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My First three months at Escola Pia
I have been at Escola Pia in Igualada for three months now and I am about to begin the new term. It has been one of the most interesting experiences of my life to date.
I have been teaching from primary to Batxillerat. The classes vary in size, from small groups of 2-4 children in ESO to between 6-9 students in Batxillerat and I take a class of 17-20 children on a Wednesday afternoon. I see children of all skill levels and all ages which keeps me on my toes and gives me the opportunity to observe and understand the many different ways people learn languages and the common mistakes made, this is also helpful for me as I am learning spanish.
I feel I am given a lot of freedom to teach the subjects the student are interested in and angle my lessons to fit their type of learning.
The family I am living with are amazingly understanding and massively supportive. I am leaving for a new family in February and I will miss the family I am with a lot, but I think the new family will be different but equally brilliant.
I would recommend this experience to anyone who is interested in learning how to teach English in a foreign country. However, you do need to be flexible and able to change habits. This is an amazing thing to be involved in but, as with all things in life, perseverance and dedication is essential.
By júlia verdaguer, on febrer 25th, 2013% Elisabeth comes from the UK and is spending this year as a Conversation Assistant in La Salle Figueres. This is how she feels about it:
Being a part of CAPS is a challenging but rewarding course. I came to Catalonia not knowing any Spanish or Catalan, but with the support of the school and my wonderful host families, I did not feel alone. Learning about a new culture and a new language has been fascinating and working with the children always makes each day different and interesting. I love it here. At first I thought not being in Barcelona would be a negative thing but I think it has worked out for the better. I’ve met more local people and been given a unique experience and insight into the Catalan culture. Although this is not always an easy programme, I would thoroughly recommend it because it’s a worthwhile and enjoyable experience.
By júlia verdaguer, on febrer 21st, 2013% Hello. My name is Montse and I´m one of the English teachers in FEDAC –Ripollet.
Rachel is an eighteen year old girl from Northern Ireland who arrived in Spain at the end of September and has been working with us for five months. During this time, occasionally she has been with the English teacher in the classroom with the whole group showing the students a presentation about celebrations in her country and the rest of the time she has been taking small groups with her to practise grammar and vocabulary. The students have improved their listening and speaking skills since she has been with them.
I recommend to all the schools to take a conversation assistant because it´s definitely good for the children.
Montse Barros.
Hi! My name is Rachel and I’m the conversation assistant in FEDAC Ripollet. I’m from Northern Ireland and I’m 18 years old.
I started working in the school in October and so far I have loved my experience here. Everyday I work with children from 3 – 12 years old.
 With P3 and P4 I stay in the classroom with the teacher and assist her in explaining activities, playing games and singing songs in English. From P5 to year 6, as well as working alongside the English teacher, Montse, I take small groups of 4 – 6 children at a time out of the classroom and we practice vocabulary, pronunciation and sometimes grammar. We also play games to make the lessons fun, interactive and get the children enthused to learn English!
 At times, I stay in the class and do presentations about holidays and traditions in my country. The children then compare the differences between the holidays in my country and theirs.
As part of the school’s multilingual project, I have been involved in playing piano and teaching gospel songs to the older children so they can perform for the rest of the school!
This experience has given me lots of new opportunities (such as tutoring after school and a job in summer camps) and the chance to meet new people. I had studied Spanish for many years and now I have the chance to actually put it into practice!
By júlia verdaguer, on febrer 19th, 2013% Dominique is a Conversation Assistant in La Salle Sant Celoni. It is the school’s second year in the program and everyone seems to be enjoying the experience. Teachers and students are happy to be able to share lessons with Dominique, said her tutor Sandra. Thank you for writing 🙂
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My experience so far
 My name is Dominique I am twenty-three years old and from a town called Bournemouth, Dorset in the south of England. I am currently working as a conversation assistant at La Salle in Sant Celoni, Barcelona. This is a lovely little town about 1 hour outside of Barcelona. My experience so far has been a positive one; the teachers at the school have been very welcoming and helpful and I have had a great opportunity already to improve my experience working with children and helping to teach English. I work directly with seven of the teachers assisting them with the lessons and teaching children of a variety of ages from 1st of Primary (6 years old) until 4th of Secondary (16 year olds). Working with such a wide variety of ages and abilities is a challenge but a great experience for me. Each term I am staying with a different teacher from the school and their families. Which has giving me the chance to practice speaking Spanish outside of the school and meet new people so I am slowly improving my Spanish which is fantastic.
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